The climb for early-career workers keeps getting steeper as the labor market shifts beneath their feet. New opportunities have become harder to secure, with entry-level hiring on LinkedIn down 25% compared to March 2020. But even after landing a role, the battle is far from over: companies are simultaneously preparing for an AI-powered future while shedding workers.
Even in a tough environment, there are bright spots, according to Andrew Seaman, a LinkedIn jobs and career development expert, particularly for young workers who show initiative and embrace the AI revolution.
“While the job market is tough for career starters right now, as entry-level work changes, there’s a real opportunity for candidates to lean into in-demand skills like AI literacy,” Seaman told Fortune. “The great thing about these tools is that they really are pretty accessible. You don’t need to go back to school or learn code to stand out.”
Here’s how early-career workers can stay ahead of the curve—and position themselves as indispensable members of their teams.
Go beyond AI prompting—upskill your AI fluency
Knowing how to use ChatGPT and other generative AI tools is becoming table stakes in most workplaces. In fact, 99% of HR professionals say they’ve been asked to add more AI skills to job descriptions this year, according to a survey of 500 HR leaders.
Standing out now requires more than using AI to write an email or edit a memo draft—the best employees understand how tools fit into workflows, how to diagnose flawed outputs, and how to use them to drive broader efficiency and strategy, according to Margaret Burke, PwC U.S. Talent Acquisition & Development Leader.
“They’re not just using AI to get something done; they’re using it to think differently,” she told Fortune.
In practice, this starts with constantly asking questions, experimenting, and taking advantage of any AI training offered by your company. After all, just over half of workers, 51%, say enhanced training is a top priority for improving AI outcomes, according to a SHRM report.
Pitching your manager on a relevant AI course, and showing how it could improve your team’s results, is an upskilling initiative that might be hard for any employer to disagree with.
Don’t wait to be asked
As companies sort out how AI will reshape roles, being proactive is becoming one of the strongest accelerators of career growth. The employees who advance fastest, Burke said, are the ones who take ownership of their development rather than waiting for direction.
“Don’t wait for someone to tap you on the shoulder,” Burke said. “Keep track of what you’re learning, how you’re helping others, and what impact you’ve made. Come into those conversations with a point of view about your growth—not just what you want, but how you’re working toward it.”
Proactivity also shows up in the day-to-day: raising your hand to address a new challenge, sharing prompting tips with your team, or proposing a smarter process. Those behaviors, Burke said, demonstrate curiosity and leadership—even without a formal title.
Build relationships—and lean into human skills AI can’t replace
Technical upskilling is essential, but it’s not enough on its own, said Christopher Myers, director of the Center for Innovative Leadership at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. The skills AI can’t replicate—relationship-building, problem-solving, collaboration, influence—are becoming more valuable as automation increases.
“Employees who demonstrate excellence in those areas will stand out even more in an AI-enabled workplace where technical expertise and knowledge alone are no longer irreplaceable in and of themselves,” Myers told Fortune.
People who climb the career ladder quickly, he added, are those who not only know what to do, but also how to get it done through others: “Those who rise up the ranks are often those who not only know what to do, but know how to get it done through their relationships, collaborations, and change management.”
Leaning into human skills is something Burke echoed:
“This is really a moment for learning agility,” she said. “AI can do a lot, but it still needs the human skills—it needs people who can think critically, ask better questions, and apply judgment. If you can be the person who helps your team move forward in the face of change, you’re already leading and can differentiate yourself in a tangible way.”
Embrace change without chasing every trend
The long-term impact of AI on careers is still unfolding, but one thing is clear: change isn’t new. Nearly one in five U.S. professionals hold job titles that didn’t exist in 2000, according to LinkedIn—and many of those roles emerged thanks to tech innovation. Fields such as marketing, HR, and engineering, in particular, are transforming and new career avenues are opening faster than ever, Seaman said.
Still, he cautioned against scrambling to reinvent yourself every time a new AI tool launches. Instead, he recommended a steady, intentional approach.
“Your career is long,” Seaman told Fortune. “Small, consistent actions—a tailored application, a networking message, or a new skill matter more than trying to rush the process.