If you’ve started job searching recently, you’ve probably noticed employers asking for AI skills or AI fluency. But what does that even mean?
For some reason although AI is widely adopted in many workplaces today it still feels controversial to put it on your resume or brag about your experience with it. Many job postings include AI as a buzzword without clearly defining what skills they’re looking for. And that can leave students and new grads wondering how (or if) they should add AI to their resumes at all.
AI Isn’t Cheating, It’s Learning
Obviously, employers aren’t looking for you to say “I copy-paste my assignments into ChatGPT.” They’re looking to hear about the thoughtful and intentional ways you use AI to supplement your work.
For example, cheating with AI might look like having Chat write your entire essay word for word. Learning with AI might mean asking Chat to explain a complicated topic in simpler terms, or help brainstorm ways to structure and layout your essay.
I like to think most students fall in the second category. Though AI only became a big thing as I was finishing university, I think AI has become such a great study buddy – it makes it really easy to better understand what you’re learning and speed up the work you’re already doing.
What “AI Fluency” Can Look Like on a Resume
Since “proficient in AI” is incredibly vague, I think the best approach is to be very specific. Instead of just tossing “AI tools” in your skills section, think about how you’ve used them in any or all of your roles.
Here’s some examples that could apply to some different skills and experiences:
Research and Learning: “Leveraged AI tools to summarize journal articles, saving 10+ hours of reading time and allowing for greater focus on data analysis for a capstone project.”
Organization: “Applied AI scheduling tools to map assignment deadlines for a 5-person group, reducing missed tasks and helping to submit every project milestone on time.”
Creativity: “Used AI to generate 30+ initial campaign ideas for a marketing project, then refined and developed the top three into final concepts and strategies.”
Final Thoughts
Employers don’t want “AI replaces all my work.” They want “I know how to use modern tools to do my job better and more efficiently.”
Overall, I think it’s a good idea to put AI on your resume if they mention it in the job description, but be clear about what it means for you. Show how it's a tool in your toolbox, not the entire toolbox. It’s really about showing you know how to use the latest technology responsibly and in ways that will ultimately align with their AI policy.