If you want to get a job in AI, you’re not alone.
As a career coach, I’m witnessing a huge surge of professionals not only wanting to pursue a tech career but specifically land a job in AI.
And it makes sense, since postings for jobs requiring AI skills are growing 3.5X faster than for all jobs, according to research from PwC.
The same report found that jobs requiring AI skills pay up to 25% more on average in some markets.
How do you make the most of the AI boom? Keep reading to learn the steps you need to take if you want to land a job in AI.
How Difficult Is It To Get A Job In AI?
Although landing a job in AI isn’t easy, it’s far from impossible, so long as you have realistic expectations, clear job search parameters, and aren’t afraid to put in some time and effort.
As additional companies leverage the power of AI, there will be more opportunities in the coming years for you to pick up transferable skills and break into the industry.
7 Steps To Land A Job In AI
1. Set realistic expectations for your AI job search.
For starters, you want to be realistic about what it takes to land a job in AI. As a career coach specializing in the tech industry, one of the biggest mistakes I see job seekers making is assuming they will land a job quickly, and that their first AI job will be their dream AI job.
You need to be realistic if you want to find an AI job. For instance, if you’ve never worked in tech, you can’t expect your first AI job to be at OpenAI or Anthropic. Similarly, if you’ve never managed a team, your first leadership position won’t be a large engineering or product team at a top AI company.
Instead, consider targeting a “lily pad” position at a less competitive AI company. Here you’ll be able to gain the relative experience and skills needed to later target one of the leading AI companies.
2. Get clear on why you want to work in AI.
Before diving too deep into your job search, get clear on why you want to work in AI in the first place. Does the power of AI fascinate you? Do you want to leverage AI to make the world a better place? Are you captivated by the massive salary opportunities?
There’s no wrong answer here. However, knowing why you want to work for AI will help shape your job search efforts, target the right companies, and eventually answer the question “Why are you looking for a new job?” when interviewing.
3. Define your job search parameters.
Next, take some to define your job search. You want to get really clear on what you’re willing to sacrifice and what’s a deal-breaker for your next position before you have a job offer on the table.
- Do you prefer a large AI company, a startup, or something in between?
- What’s your ideal company culture?
- What functional area would you like to work in?
- How do you want to spend your day at work?
- What are your minimum salary requirements?
- Are you willing to relocate for a job in AI?
- What’s your target start date?
This list is merely a jumping-off point as you get clear on what you want and need in your next position.
4. Research AI companies of interest.
Next, begin to identify companies of interest that align with your list above. You can use tech platforms like BuiltIn and Blind to research both large and up-and-coming AI companies.
Then, bookmark their careers pages (examples: www.openai.com/careers or www.anthropic.com/careers) and check the pages frequently for new opportunities that align with your job search interests.
You can also use LinkedIn’s “Pages people also viewed” feature to find additional AI companies of interest and add them to your list.
[Read: 4 Steps To Create The Ultimate Dream Company List]
Top AI Companies
The following are a few of the biggest companies currently operating in the AI space:
- Microsoft
- Apple
- Alphabet (Google)
- NVIDIA
- Meta (Facebook)
- Tesla
- Adobe
- IBM
- Palantir
- Mobileye
- Dynatrace
- UiPath
- SentinelOne
- Darktrace
- Tempus
Note: There are a lot of companies harnessing the power of AI, and this list will only grow in the coming years.
5. Identify your relevant AI experience, skills, and accomplishments.
Once you get clear on where you want to work, you want to learn how to speak their language and weave industry keywords throughout your resume and LinkedIn profile. This not only helps you speak “the language of AI,” but also helps recruiters and hiring managers at AI companies understand the relevance of your experience.
One of the most straightforward ways to do this is to use a target job posting to guide you in identifying your relevant example. Place the job posting requirements in one column and your relevant experience and accomplishments in the next column.
For example, if the job posting reads, “Experience leading 24/7 globally distributed engineering teams,” you will place this in the first column. Then, you will document your experience and any relevant accomplishments associated with managing globally distributed, 24/7 engineering teams in the second column. Once complete, you will incorporate these items on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
Try not to worry if you come up short on one or two items from the job posting, so long as they’re not critical to the day-to-day job duties. That said, if you’re missing a significant portion of the minimum job requirements, it might be a sign that you’re targeting the wrong roles or need to gain additional training.
6. Consider continuing education in AI.
Speaking of which, if you’re set on pursuing an AI career you might consider pursuing advanced training in the field, as it can help you stand out from other applicants who are also attempting to break into the industry. There are a plethora of free and low-cost webinars, courses, and certificate programs on the market.
Importantly: An AI certificate or degree in and of itself is unlikely to secure you a new job, but it can provide you with a leg up in the job market by strengthening your skills and bolstering your confidence. It can also be a powerful networking opportunity, since you can connect with classmates and alumni, so conduct your due diligence when deciding where to complete your training.
[Read: 20+ Free Career Resources You Need To Know About]
7. Don’t forget to network.
Like the tech industry, there is a huge “hidden job market” in the AI industry, particularly among startups, so you want to make the most of networking.
While networking can feel intimidating, particularly if you’re introverted or haven’t looked for a job in years, it can also significantly increase your chances of landing an interview in the competitive AI job market.
If you happen to know someone who works at your target company, you can send them a LinkedIn message or email to set up an informational interview and learn more about their experience working there.
If you don’t know anyone at your target company, still be sure to reach out to people at the company to learn more about their experience and how they broke into AI.
Afterward, circle back when you see open roles that align with your experience and ask for an introduction to the hiring manager.
Am I Too Old To Learn AI?
You might face some ageism if you try to transition to AI later in your career. However, whether you’re 40, 50, or older, you’re never too old to learn AI.
Plus, remember that many of the jobs at AI companies don’t involve any coding or tech skills. In other words, don’t let your age discourage you from pursuing a career in the AI industry.
[Read: 6 Powerful Strategies For Overcoming Ageism In Your Job Search]
Can I Work In AI Without Coding?
Many of the positions at AI companies don’t involve working with AI. Most AI and AI-enabled companies tend to have traditional departments like finance, operations, human resources, legal, marketing, and sales.
Simply put, there are a lot of entry points beyond coding and engineering if you want to work in AI.
Can A Non-Tech Person Learn AI?
Yes, you don’t need to be an IT person to learn AI. Fortunately, AI is becoming increasingly easy to access and digest. Consider focusing your efforts on learning one or two skills or software languages, rather than feeling like you must become an overnight AI expert.
Final Thoughts On Getting A Job In AI
Although it’ll take time and effort, you can land a job in AI if you set realistic expectations for your search, get clear about what you want, learn how to communicate your transferable skills and experience, and aren’t afraid to put yourself out there.
On a final note, if you want the support of a professional as you try to land a job in AI, please don’t hesitate to reach out or schedule a consultation. I’m here for you! You’ve got this!
