There's a shift happening in the workplace, and it's moving faster than most of us expected. Even compared to just a year ago, we're seeing a noticeable change in what employers are asking shortlisted candidates: are you comfortable using AI?
It's no longer a nice-to-have, and it's certainly no longer just for developers or tech specialists. AI has gone fully mainstream — and businesses know it. Those that aren't already thinking about how to embrace it are worried about being left behind. Which means they want their people to be open to using it — and, ideally, already doing so.
Whether you're actively job hunting or happily settled in your current role, having some experience with AI is becoming increasingly important to your career.
Cast your mind back to when email was first introduced. There were plenty of sceptics — people convinced it would never really catch on, that nothing would replace a phone call or a letter. Then came the internet, smartphones, and more recently, video calling. Remember the resistance to that? And yet, within the space of a few months in 2020, video calls became as normal as popping your head around someone's office door.
AI is on exactly the same trajectory. It feels unfamiliar right now, but give it a little time and it will simply be part of how we all work — just like sending an email.
If you've never used AI before, we completely understand that it can feel like a lot. And if you are already using it, you'll know that keeping up with the pace of change is its own challenge. Our advice? Don't try to do everything at once.
Pick one tool and have a play. Both Claude and ChatGPT offer free versions and are great starting points. You don't need to sign up for anything paid, and you don't need to know what you're doing — that's rather the point of starting.
Begin with something personal. Ask it to help you plan your next gardening project, come up with decorating ideas, research a holiday destination, or suggest a recipe based on what's in your fridge. Getting comfortable with it in a low-stakes, everyday context is a great first step before bringing it into your work life.
Then try it at work. Think of a task you've been putting off — a report you need to write, an email you're not quite sure how to word, some research you haven't had time to do. Use AI as a thinking partner. It won't do the job for you, but it will give you a much better starting point than a blank page.
Here's the one thing that makes the biggest difference: give the AI context. The more information you provide, the more useful the response will be.
A good prompt reads a bit like briefing someone who knows nothing about you or your situation. Rather than typing "write me an email", try something like: "I need to follow up with a client who hasn't responded in two weeks. The email should be warm but professional, and I want to gently nudge without seeming pushy." That kind of detail makes all the difference.
Think of it as talking to a very capable assistant — one who needs a clear brief to do their best work.
Once you're comfortable, you can start to personalise your AI tool by giving it background information about you — your job, your industry, your preferences and communication style. Claude, for example, allows you to set this up so it remembers your context each time you work with it. It's a small step that makes the experience feel much more tailored and saves you time in the long run.
The good news is that getting started with AI doesn't require a qualification, a tech background, or hours of your time. It just requires a little curiosity and the willingness to experiment. The people who will feel most confident in interviews — and in their day-to-day roles — over the next year or two are those who have simply started using it, even in a small way.
So pick a tool, try it on something you'd find useful, and see where it takes you. You might just surprise yourself.
At Ten2Two, we're here to support your career at every stage — from finding the right flexible role to helping you stay ahead of what employers are looking for. Register with us to get started.