Majority of business leaders agree that AI skills, such as having experience with ChatGPT, boost the resumes of recent college graduates.

Are AI skills more important than degrees?


Majority of business leaders agree that having experience with ChatGPT boosts the resumes of recent college graduates

Key points:

Nearly half of business owners (49 percent) say they believe experience with ChatGPT could potentially hold more value than a college degree, according to a report from Intelligent.com.

Conversely, 36 percent of respondents disagree with this perspective, while 12 percent remain uncertain. Additionally, when considering candidates for entry-level positions where ChatGPT could be used, 80 percent of business leaders deem having experience with ChatGPT as “very valuable” or “valuable.”

The report also sheds light on the rationale behind certain companies mandating ChatGPT experience for entry-level roles. The survey garnered responses from 800 business leaders in the United States.     

“Over the past 18 months, ChatGPT and other generative AI tools and applications have dominated headlines and sparked endless debates about the future of AI in the workplace,” says Intelligent.com’s Chief Education and Career Development Advisor Huy Nguyen. “The blazing pace of innovation and technological progress is reshaping what employers value in job candidates today.”
 
The survey results also indicate that experience with ChatGPT elevates the resumes of recent college graduates. Eighty-three percent of business leaders say that ChatGPT experience provides resumes with a significant or moderate boost. Likewise, 88 percent of business leaders concur that taking ChatGPT-related courses “greatly” or “somewhat” benefits a candidate’s hireability. Furthermore, 84 percent of business leaders emphasize the importance of workers engaging in self-learning of ChatGPT. 

While a college education provides a strong theoretical foundation of knowledge, the ability to learn and adapt new tools like generative AI, large language models, and automation in real-world scenarios has become increasingly vital across many industries. This is especially true for entry-level positions, where the ability to leverage AI for problem-solving, increased productivity, and innovation can set candidates apart. The demand for such specific skills is a growing trend in employment sectors that prioritize real-world experience and technological fluency that can have an immediate impact on a business.

Among business leaders at companies currently hiring for entry-level roles, 7 percent state that their company mandates ChatGPT experience for all positions, while 24 percent require it for many positions, 19 percent for some positions, and 13 percent for a few positions. The primary reasons cited for this requirement include enhancing worker productivity, increasing worker knowledge, and fostering creativity.

Finally, the report found 79 percent of business leaders say in 2025 it will be more important than it is today for entry-level candidates to have ChatGPT experience.

This press release originally appeared online.

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Laura Ascione