Soft skills are still largely topping employers' list of valued skills in workers new to their careers — but a solid grasp of artificial intelligence tools is also increasingly expected, according to a Robert Half report released April 16.
“Foundational workplace behaviors” that help new professionals stand out include time management and punctuality, a professional appearance and strong communication skills, survey results indicated.
But amid the wave of AI, entry-level workers may be lacking the soft skills required by their jobs, according to a General Assembly report released last September. Only 22% of company leaders surveyed said entry-level workers were very or completely prepared for their jobs.
While more than 1 in 3 experienced professionals surveyed by Robert Half said that job seekers should be ready to demonstrate their knowledge of AI tools, a similar number also cautioned against using AI to overstate skills or experience, per the report.
“Proficiency in AI is rapidly becoming a baseline expectation,” Dawn Fay, operational president of Robert Half, said in a statement. “What will define early career success is how someone can apply judgment and accountability to their work.”
Notably, companies are increasingly expecting to replace entry-level roles with AI, a Korn Ferry report from last October said — but doing so could create leadership problems in the future due to a lack of a development pipeline, Korn Ferry said.
“Employers don’t expect first-time professionals to have everything figured out on day one,” Fay said. “What stands out is a willingness to learn, an understanding of professional expectations and a focus on building skills and relationships that drive long-term career success.”
