Instead of fighting it, professionals need to lean into uniquely human skills that are hard to automate.
AI is coming for your job. Or is it?
At a recent Mac’s List and University of Oregon’s School of Journalism & Communication sponsored event exploring AI in the world of work, panelists tackled this question head-on.
Esteemed Panelists Included:
- Gary Grossman, EVP, global lead of Edelman AI Center of Excellence
- Sara Roth, former senior editor, digital for VERIFY
- Megan Notarte, partner, VP at Cloud Four | co-founder of AI Portland
Here are a few of the valuable insights panelists shared:
The Human Advantage: What AI Can’t Do
While AI can get you part of the way there, the part that requires EQ, strategic thinking, judgement, and foresight—still belongs to us humans (thankfully!). In a world where AI lowers barriers to entry, making competition fiercer, the ability to anticipate change and position yourself ahead of it is more valuable than ever.
As was shared at the event, using AI to draft a proposal, resume, or presentation can save time, but we are now seeing first-hand how many resumes and cover letters have that “ChatGPT smell;” they are grammatically solid, but are missing the warmth/human element and are now sounding quite robotic.
Critical human skills in an AI-driven world include:
- Emotional intelligence (AI doesn’t do relationships)
- Strategic thinking (helping clients see around corners)
- Storytelling and story-mining (AI can generate content, but it lacks narrative intuition)
- Creative problem-solving (AI follows patterns, but humans break them)
- Taste and discernment (AI generates options, but humans decide what’s good and appropriate)
- Ethical judgment (AI has inherent biases—sanity check is everything!)
(Photo by Andie Petkus)
As an executive search and advisory firm, we see the impact of AI on hiring every day; some roles are evolving, others are disappearing, and many are shifting toward higher levels of human expertise. The key to staying relevant? Knowing where AI excels—and where human skills remain irreplaceable.
The Messy Middle: A Time for Exploration
Right now, we’re in the messy middle: AI is changing how we work, but we’re still figuring out how to use it effectively.
While some tools, like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude, are excellent for brainstorming, summarizing, and drafting, they often are missing the warmth, unique voice, originality, and authentic personal branding elements that make a #resume compelling – and stand out from the rest of the pack.
Other AI tools like Adobe Firefly and Getty’s AI tools are reshaping creative industries. But again, AI isn’t perfect—it can struggle with accuracy, voice, originality, context, judgement and bias. Employers have mixed feelings on AI, and job seekers need a clear strategy on how to leverage it to their benefit.
AI as Your Assistant, Not Your Replacement
Used strategically, AI can enhance productivity without replacing human expertise. For example:
- Headline Writing: ChatGPT generates multiple variations—great for refining job descriptions and LinkedIn posts, but still needs a human’s judgement to be effective.
- Cover Letter Editing: AI can suggest improvements, but you must tailor it to reflect your unique voice – a resume strategist can help with this.
- Resume Gaps: AI can help identify missing elements, but you should still craft your own story (again, a professional resume strategist with a recruiter’s lens can help).
- Interview Prep: AI can simulate questions, but your responses should be authentically you.
- AI in Hiring: Companies are using AI for resume screening, phone screenings, and skill assessments. Understanding how these systems work can give you an edge.
The Future of Work: What’s Changing?
Some roles, particularly in back-office functions like payroll, are likely to shrink. Project management may also become more automated. But jobs that require human connection, creative thinking, strategic thinking, judgement, and deep expertise will prevail. The bar for productivity is rising, and AI is setting new expectations. Instead of fighting it, professionals should lean into uniquely human skills that are hard to #automate.
A Call to Action: Stay Curious, Stay Human
This is a “hard fork” moment—the workforce is splitting between those who embrace AI and those who resist it. Staying ahead means staying informed. Free AI courses (like those from AI Portland), and Mac Prichard’s book and podcast Land Your Dream Job Anywhere are helpful. Generative AI Optimization is emerging as a hot career path, focusing on developing AI-driven but compliant and ethical workflows.
We are still human-powered, so the best way to secure your place in the rapidly shifting world of work is to blend AI’s efficiency with your irreplaceable human skills. Now is the time to figure out what you do really well and double down on it. What are you doing to future-proof your career in an AI-driven world? Let’s discuss.