The Skills HR Pros Need To Make AI Work for Them
AI is quickly becoming indispensable in the world of HR, but it’s not a magic fix, you need the right skills to see real results.
As this technology ramps up in sophistication and adoption, people teams who upskill will be the ones who get the most value from these new tools, blending efficiency with the human touch that makes hiring great.
Technical Understanding
You don’t need to be a coder, but you do need to understand how AI works and what it can (and can’t) do.
This means knowing how to operate AI tools, interpret their outputs, and spot when something doesn’t add up.
For example, if your AI screening tool suddenly starts recommending candidates who aren’t remotely qualified, you should be able to dig in and figure out why.
Technical understanding also means being comfortable integrating AI into your existing hiring workflows, so you’re not just adding another layer of complexity, but actually making your process better.
Data Analytics
AI thrives on data, and so should you.
Data analytics skills help you make sense of the patterns and insights AI surfaces. This isn’t just about reading dashboards; it’s about asking the right questions and using data to drive smarter decisions at every stage of the employee lifecycle.
For example, you might use AI-powered analytics to spot bottlenecks in your hiring process, predict turnover risks, or identify which sourcing channels bring in your best hires. The key is to go beyond the numbers and translate insights into real-world action.
Ethical Oversight
With great power comes great responsibility. For real.
AI can help reduce bias and improve fairness, but only if you keep a close eye on how it’s trained, audited, and used.
Ethical oversight means understanding the risks, like algorithmic bias or lack of transparency, and putting safeguards in place. This could include regular audits of your AI tools, asking vendors tough questions about their ethical frameworks, and making sure your team can always explain why a decision was made.
Ultimately, it’s about building trust with candidates and ensuring your hiring process is fair, transparent, and compliant with the latest regulations.
Interpersonal Skills
No matter how smart your AI is, it can’t replace empathy, communication, and relationship-building.
Interpersonal skills are what set great HR pros apart. They help you connect with candidates, navigate tough conversations, and build strong teams.
For instance, while AI might flag a candidate as a great technical fit, only a skilled interviewer can assess their emotional intelligence or cultural alignment.
In a world where candidates are using AI too, your ability to dig deeper, ask thoughtful questions, and make people feel seen will always be your differentiator.
The truth is that you and your team need to understand how to use these tools effectively to keep up with internal pressures and external demands.
Plus, doing so will ultimately help you make better hiring decisions consistently, which is the whole point.
