AI is already a core skill. The next generation of candidates will be AI-native: fluent in prompting, iterating, and guiding outputs. But the real signal is not whether someone has "tried ChatGPT." It is whether they can use these tools to produce production-grade results.

The most common mistake is to treat AI like a vending machine. One prompt in, one bad output out, and they give up. Strong candidates know the first output is just a starting point. They iterate, refine, and push until the tool produces something usable.

That is why communication skills matter more than ever. Working with AI is a conversation. The people who are articulate, precise, and iterative unlock leverage. The ones who shrug and move on get left behind.

Even a little hands-on technical fluency matters. Candidates who understand the basics of what is easy versus hard to build, or who have tinkered with Git or design systems, are already ahead. They can guide AI outputs and collaborate with engineering in ways that pure craft interviews never reveal.

Enterprises are already catching on. Fortune 5 companies have started building AI competency checks into their interview cycles. Across industries, most executives say they will prioritize candidates with AI skills over more experienced applicants. Canva's cofounder put it bluntly: they are actively hiring AI-savvy college students regardless of whether they finish their degrees, because fluency with these tools matters more than pedigree.

This is what good AI use looks like in an interview, a short loop of clear feedback that turns a rough draft into something you can ship.

Thank you for registering!

Your next steps

Here's the latest

Get the latest from Builder.io

Platform

Developer Resources

Frameworks

Resources

Popular Guides

Company