Get a degree … in ChatGPT?

The powerful AI program isn’t just a shortcut for lazy students — it could be what lands you your next job.

The speed of business really is remarkable. A couple months ago, I was writing about advanced artificial intelligence programs like ChatGPT and the fears, founded or unfounded, about the ways in which AI programs are disrupting education, the arts, and potentially the workforce.

And now, this — in April, Intelligent.com surveyed 1,000 hiring managers to find out how important ChatGPT experience is for entry-level positions and if college students should invest in learning it.

The key findings:

• 98% of companies hiring entry-level candidates require ChatGPT experience for some positions;
• 86% of hiring managers believe having ChatGPT can be more valuable than a college degree;
• 93% of hiring managers say ChatGPT experience boosts recent college grads’ resumes;
• 94% recommend college students take coursework on ChatGPT; and
• 91% say by next year it will be more important for entry-level candidates to have ChatGPT experience.

All this for something that, at just the end of 2022, pundits were concerned might be the downfall of education if teachers couldn’t tell the difference between a paper written by a human or a machine. Now, apparently, students should be taking coursework in how to use this technology.

“Companies want to attract top talent and stay cutting edge in their industry,” says Stacie Haller, a career strategist. “They will want to hire candidates who have experience with the most current technology, such as ChatGPT. Candidates will also be attracted to working for companies with this mindset and may be able to hit the ground running without any or much company investment into training.”

Life Grows Green CEO Chad Price says ChatGPT is required for some positions at his lifestyle company. “ChatGPT may very well be part of the future of sales and content creation,” says Price. “This is why we require that candidates applying to sales have ChatGPT experience.”

But having ChatGPT experience can’t really replace a college degree, can it?

“In positions where a college degree does not provide relevant skill training, we are seeing the importance of having a college degree decline,” says Haller. “It’s possible that candidates without degrees may be just as or even more qualified.”

“ChatGPT experience can provide a more practical and hands-on understanding of the real estate industry, which can be more valuable than a college degree in certain circumstances,” says Eric Lee, co-founder at REIInsiders.com. “Ultimately, the combination of ChatGPT experience and a college degree can make a candidate more well-rounded and increase their chances of success.”

Twibi founder and CEO Brenton Thomas says his company also highly values ChatGPT experience. “While we highly value college degrees, ChatGPT experience can be equally valuable and can even be more valuable in some instances,” says Thomas. “We encourage our employees to continue learning and expanding their skills, and ChatGPT experience is a valuable asset in achieving this goal.”

So, for jobseekers out there, perhaps it’s time to update your resume with experience in ChatGPT. Maybe that seems silly to some of you, but hey, sending an email probably seemed crazy to professionals at one point too.