The way companies hire is changing fast. More and more AI-first leaders care less about years of experience and more about curiosity, agency and energy.
In Korn Ferry’s survey of 1,674 talent leaders, "nearly three-fourths (73%) list critical thinking as their No. 1 priority when evaluating potential hires, while AI-related skills placed fifth." (Korn Ferry, Talent Acquisition Trends 2026)
It makes sense. When AI can teach you almost anything in 10 minutes, knowledge isn’t the limit anymore. The drive to actually learn, and the judgment to use it, is.
01
Curiosity
The instinct to dig in when you don’t understand something, instead of nodding through the meeting or waiting for someone to explain it.
02
Agency
Acting without being told. Microsoft and LinkedIn’s 2026 Work Trend Index says AI gives people more room to direct the work, and that the most effective AI users focus on setting clear intent and designing how work gets done across people and AI.
03
Energy
The stamina to keep up when the tools change every few months. The people winning right now aren’t the smartest. They can rebuild their setup in a weekend without losing their minds.
01
The 15-minute deep dive
Every time you hit something at work you don’t fully get, open Claude and spend 15 minutes on it. Ask follow-ups until you could explain it to someone else.
02
Study someone 5 years ahead
Find someone doing the job you want. Read what they’ve written, listen to their podcasts and save their best ideas in a Claude Project. Then ask what makes them think differently.
03
Swap one passive habit
Replace 20 minutes of scrolling at lunch or before bed with 20 minutes of learning or building.
Want more prompts for going deep on any topic? Here’s how I set up Claude so it knows how I learn.