Hiring for AI? Soft Skills Might Be Your Hardest Challenge
In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, technical prowess is no longer the sole determinant of success. As AI systems become more integrated into various sectors, the demand for professionals who possess not only technical skills but also strong soft skills has surged. This shift underscores the importance of empathy, adaptability, and ethical reasoning in AI roles.
The Rising Importance of Soft Skills in AI
Recent insights from industry leaders highlight this trend. Peter Schwartz, Chief Futures Officer at Salesforce, emphasized that empathy and collaboration are becoming more crucial than coding skills in the AI era. He noted that while AI can handle routine tasks, human empathy—the ability to understand, relate, and work creatively with others—distinguishes valuable team members in the workplace.
This perspective is echoed by findings from a study analyzing job postings and industry practices, which indicate a growing emphasis on soft skills such as curiosity, critical thinking, empathy, and ethical awareness for data scientists working on AI-powered projects.
Challenges in Assessing Soft Skills
Despite their importance, evaluating soft skills remains a challenge. Traditional hiring processes often prioritize technical assessments, leaving a gap in effectively measuring interpersonal abilities. Moreover, AI-driven recruitment tools, while efficient, may fall short in assessing qualities like empathy and ethical judgment.
Strategies for Integrating Soft Skills into AI Hiring
To address this gap, organizations can adopt several strategies:
- Continuous Training: Invest in ongoing development programs that enhance employees’ soft skills, fostering a culture of empathy and ethical awareness.
- Behavioral Interviews: Incorporate questions that explore candidates’ past experiences in teamwork, conflict resolution, and ethical decision-making.
- Scenario-Based Assessments: Present candidates with real-world scenarios that require problem-solving and ethical considerations, evaluating their responses for soft skill indicators.
- Collaborative Projects: Engage candidates in group tasks or projects during the hiring process to observe their interpersonal dynamics and adaptability.
How Tesoro AI Leads with Soft Skill Precision
At Tesoro AI, we don’t just match candidates to roles—we align people to purpose. We take the time to deeply understand our clients’ culture, values, and team dynamics. This enables us to communicate job opportunities in a way that highlights not only the technical requirements but also the interpersonal qualities most essential for long-term success.
By translating the intangibles—team communication styles, cultural norms, leadership expectations—into actionable candidate criteria, we help our partners identify talent with the soft skills that elevate AI performance. From empathy and ethical judgment to adaptability and team collaboration, our hiring process is engineered to amplify the human side of innovation.
Conclusion
As AI continues to reshape industries, the integration of soft skills into the hiring process isn’t just an option—it’s imperative. Organizations that prioritize empathy, adaptability, and ethical reasoning within their AI teams are better positioned to navigate the ethical, collaborative, and creative challenges of the modern technological landscape.
By embracing a holistic approach to talent acquisition, companies can build AI teams that are not only technically brilliant but also emotionally intelligent—resilient, innovative, and socially responsible.
Because when it comes to hiring for AI in 2025, soft skills might just be your hardest challenge—and your greatest opportunity.
Sources
- Leça, M. de M., & Santos, R. de S. (2025). Curious, critical thinker, empathetic, and ethically responsible: Essential soft skills for data scientists in software engineering. arXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.02088
- Ming, L. C. (2025, May). A Salesforce exec tells BI there’s an even more important skill for employees than coding. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/salesforce-skill-important-coding-empathy-engineer-peter-schwartz-2025-5
