Employers are beginning to move away from traditional recruitment requirements such as CVs and formal credentials as artificial intelligence changes how work is done and how skills are valued.
Growing use of AI tools is coinciding with pressure to demonstrate capability quickly, pushing organisations to prioritise evidence of output over job titles or qualifications.
The change is being felt most sharply in knowledge-based roles, where employers are reassessing how they identify talent and measure potential. As automation takes on more routine tasks, attention is shifting towards practical judgement, specialist expertise and the ability to apply skills in live environments rather than on paper.
At the same time, leadership expectations are also changing, with senior roles becoming more closely tied to operational detail as AI increases transparency across organisations.
Hiring moves beyond the CV
Commentary published in The Times points to growing scepticism about the value of conventional credentials in recruitment. Jimmy McLoughlin, founder of jobs platform Jimmy’s Jobs of the Future, said employers were placing greater weight on demonstrable work.
“The CV is becoming outdated as degrees and job titles lose signalling power,” he said. “What replaces it will be more evidence-based. From portfolios to shipped projects, writing and Notion pages, more employers will filter applicants for demonstrated output before formal experience.”
The same analysis suggests this approach is shaping how younger people enter the workforce. Short-term placements and project-based roles are increasingly being used to assess capability before longer commitments are made, particularly in digital and technical fields where skills evolve rapidly.
AI reshapes leadership expectations
Artificial intelligence is also altering what organisations expect from senior leaders. Mark Dixon, chief executive of flexible workspace provider IWG, said cost pressure and uncertainty were driving interest in alternative leadership models.
“As they navigate economic uncertainty, more companies will use fractional executives, opting for part-time or contract-based talent who bring in laser-focused expertise without the cost of full-time appointments,” he said.
Elsewhere in the Times analysis, Olly Sloboda, founder of supply chain consultancy Zero100, said AI was changing how closely leaders needed to engage with operations. “Technology has been a wind of change because AI has created radical transparency in organisations, which requires a shift in leadership approach,” he said.
“Today, senior executives are far more into the detail,” he added. “People increasingly want ultra-fast, custom responses to their questions, and these need to be materially better than what ChatGPT can generate.”
Skills development takes priority
Alongside changes in hiring and leadership, learning models are also under scrutiny. Jane Hamilton, appointments editor at The Times, said demand was growing for narrower, specialist expertise rather than generalist skills, particularly in consulting and professional services.
“With AI now able to cover much of the generalist consulting work, the industry is at an inflection point,” she wrote, noting rising demand for deep sector knowledge and specialist insight.
The combined effect is a labour market where skills acquisition, evidence of capability and ongoing development are becoming more important than static credentials. Experts say the challenge for employers lies in adapting recruitment and progression systems quickly enough to keep pace with technology that is already reshaping how work is organised.
