Why the Future Belongs to Curious Minds, Not Perfect CVs

When AI Does the Work, Hire People Who Can Think

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes workplaces, the value of employees who challenge norms and think beyond templates grows stronger. Organisations looking to stay relevant need to embrace the unconventional—those with diverse, seemingly "wonky" career paths that fuel curiosity and adaptability.

Traditional career trajectories—neat and linear—are no longer the gold standard. Instead, breadth of experience, openness to new ideas, and a willingness to evolve quickly are what future-proof organisations in an AI-driven world.

The Limits of Letter-Shaped Talent Models

Hiring frameworks often rely on alphabetic metaphors like T-shaped, Pi-shaped, or M-shaped talent to describe skills. While these provided some clarity before, they fall short today. The focus on deep expertise plus a fixed set of general knowledge doesn’t capture the need for flexible growth.

What matters more is the ability to learn new disciplines when required—not just having pre-existing knowledge across many areas. These neat labels can become corporate comfort zones that prevent real thinking about adaptability and growth.

Personality Trumps Proficiency

Research on personality traits highlights that openness to experience and emotional stability strongly predict success in dynamic roles. Yet hiring still favors certificates and job titles over these qualities.

Personality tests are often misused and over-interpreted. The most adaptable employees tend to be those who don’t fit neatly into categories—the misfits who bring fresh perspectives and flexibility.

Your Skills Have an Expiry Date

In many industries, the half-life of skills is now about two-and-a-half years. Techniques or tools you mastered recently might already be outdated. For example, hand-drawing storyboards gave way to Photoshop, which in turn is now often replaced by AI-assisted prompt work.

Most job listings still demand years of experience with tools that have lost relevance. What endures are human skills like communication, judgment, empathy, and persuasion—areas where AI still cannot compete.

AI Ignores Your Org Chart

By 2027, nearly half of workers’ skills will face disruption due to AI. This shift isn’t just about replacing tasks but redefining roles entirely. Yet many organisations expect employees to “pick it up” on their own—a risky assumption.

Simply giving someone access to AI tools won’t make them proficient. Leadership must provide clear direction, training, and resources to guide the workforce through this transition.

Cultivating the Curious

Adaptive expertise is a real survival skill. It’s the capacity to learn, unlearn, and apply skills in new and unfamiliar contexts. Employees with this mindset grow with change instead of resisting it.

Encouraging curiosity means starting with humility: admit you don’t have all the answers, ask questions, and be open to new information. This mindset beats any toolset.

Hire for Humanity. Train for Change.

As AI takes over routine work, organisations need people who don’t just fit existing templates but who question and reshape them. When you see a CV that’s a mix of disciplines and detours, see it as a sign of adaptability—not confusion.

Focus on hiring those with the capacity to evolve, then invest in training to keep skills fresh. This combination will help your organisation thrive as AI continues to change the workplace.

For HR professionals looking to upskill their teams in AI awareness and practical use, exploring targeted courses can be a great first step. Check out Complete AI Training’s latest AI courses to find resources that match your organisation’s needs.