Top reasons to learn AI skills in 2025, according to a job recruiter

By: Janice Mejías Avilés, Edited by: Marie Custodio Collazo

Published: August 27, 2025

Change can feel unsettling, especially when it transforms the way we work. But according to Dan Howie, a senior recruiting specialist at Red Ventures, continuous learning and a healthy dose of curiosity could help you comfortably add AI skills to your professional toolbox.

"Change is scary. But rather than immediately fearing it, find ways to craft your current work around the benefits of these new tools," Howie said.

Howie states that leaning into AI today may transform uncertainty today into a career opportunity tomorrow. Here's why learning AI should matter to you this year.

Reason 1: AI skills are the new normal

Proficiency in AI is quickly turning into a baseline expectation rather than a bonus. As Howie says, knowledge of AI tools is becoming as standard as familiarity with Gmail or Microsoft Office.

Employers expect candidates to have at least a basic understanding of these emerging technologies, viewing them as essential for efficiency and productivity.

"[Learning AI skills] is important because it will become table stakes. Companies are going to start integrating ways to save time, create efficiencies, and help create a more capable workforce, handling more human-oriented tasks and leaving routine tasks to AI," said Howie.

Reason 2: Learning AI shows employers your willingness to adapt

Implementing AI tools and strategies in your work is also about demonstrating your capacity for growth and innovation. Employers increasingly value candidates who can leverage AI skills as an opportunity to contribute more strategically.

"Employers will not only expect people to have experience experimenting with these tools but also want candidates who are comfortable learning new tools, comfortable with change, and willing to lean into technological advancements," Howie noted.

Reason 3: AI empowers you to create the career opportunity that you want

Perhaps the most compelling reason to embrace AI is the opportunity to redefine your professional path intentionally. Howie suggests that those who proactively integrate AI tools into their work may shape their careers according to their true strengths and interests.

"The people who are going to be successful at pivoting and finding ways to develop their own career path through the utilization and exploration of these tools are those who say, 'Hey, let me look at the cross-section of what I have on my plate, what my job description is, and what I want to do," Howie said.

"I think there are a lot of people who, in their ideal state, want to craft a job, to more accurately model their ideal job opportunity."

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