Employers want students with generative AI skills for work, but students just want to use it for fun

• Employers are prioritizing entry-level workers with generative AI skills.
• Job descriptions mentioning generative AI have tripled on Handshake's portal over the past year.
• But students are hesitant to use the technology for more than personal tasks.

There was a time when you needed a polished résumé, stellar interview skills, and a long list of contacts to land a job straight out of college. Now, you might only need to know how to prompt a chatbot.

Employers are prioritizing entry-level workers with generative AI skills amid rapid advances in the technology. On the student job and internship portal Handshake, the number of job descriptions that mention generative AI tools has more than tripled over the past year.

According to a recent survey from Microsoft, 71% of business leaders said they were more willing to hire a less experienced candidate with AI skills than a more experienced candidate without them. About 77% of leaders said AI will help early career workers take on more responsibilities.

Yet students don't see AI as a ticket to full-time employment. According to Handshake's data, most students are still using the technology for personal tasks or fun. One recent graduate told Handshake they were "hesitant to use generative AI because it doesn't seem 'officially' accepted or commonplace yet, and I would feel lazy and guilty for using it to do work for me."

The corporate world, however, is rushing to use AI in part because it can take on the tasks no one else wants to do. So it's up to schools to help students embrace the technology, Valerie Capers Workman, the chief talent officer at Handshake, told Business Insider. "I believe that in three years, every role will require tech skills, regardless of the field," she said. "So it's more critical than ever that institutions and employers support upskilling and provide training opportunities."