'They're Hiring You For Your Personality Traits,' Says Coursera CEO Greg Hart As AI Replaces 40% Of Entry-Level Tasks Across Major Firms

<p>As major employers accelerate AI adoption and cut thousands of entry-level roles, <strong>Coursera Inc.</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/COUR" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="COUR" data-exchange="NYSE" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/COUR">COUR</a>)</a> CEO <strong>Greg Hart</strong> says young workers must move faster than the technology reshaping the labor market.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Micro-Credentials Key To Staying Competitive</strong></h2>



<p>Hart, who became Coursera's president and CEO in February, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/29/coursera-ceos-top-tips-for-grads-to-stay-competitive-as-ai-takes-jobs.html">told</a> CNBC Make It that degrees alone no longer give graduates an edge as companies deploy automation across administrative, clerical and customer-facing jobs. </p>



<p>"One of the best things you can do is augment your university degree with micro-credentials," he said, explaining that short, skill-focused certifications can demonstrate initiative and readiness to learn.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>AI Job Cuts Surge</strong></h2>



<p>Major firms have leaned heavily into AI this year, with <strong>Amazon.com Inc.</strong>&nbsp;<a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="AMZN" data-exchange="NASDAQ" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AMZN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AMZN">AMZN</a>)</a> eliminating 14,000 positions and <strong>Salesforce Inc.&nbsp;</strong><a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="CRM" data-exchange="NYSE" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CRM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CRM">CRM</a>)</a> cutting 4,000 customer support roles, citing that automation can perform roughly 40% of tasks. </p>



<p>A recent survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found 62% of U.K. employers expect junior roles to be the first displaced by AI.</p>



<p>Graduates face steep odds, with the Institute of Student Employers reporting 1.2 million applications for just 17,000 openings. </p>



<p>Hart said employers hiring entry-level workers evaluate character as much as capability: "They're not really hiring you for your experience… they're hiring you for your personality traits." </p>



<p>He called proactiveness, initiative and continuous learning the most valuable traits—and said micro-credentials prove them. </p>



<p>He even encouraged his finance-major son to take an AI-for-finance course to stay competitive.</p>



<p><strong>See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/10/48453359/ronald-reagan-didnt-love-tariffs-says-economist-paul-krugman-he-repeatedly-emphasized-the-virtues-of-free-trade" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ronald Reagan ‘Didn&#8217;t Love Tariffs,&#8217; Says Economist Paul Krugman: He Repeatedly Emphasized ‘The Virtues of Free Trade&#8217;</a></strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AI Adoption Drives Productivity</h2>



<p>Experts and surveys highlighted the growing impact of AI on the job market. </p>



<p>Last month, A <strong>Goldman Sachs Group Inc.</strong>&nbsp;<a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="GS" data-exchange="NYSE" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GS" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GS">GS</a>)</a>&nbsp; survey found only 11% of clients in tech, industrial, and finance <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/10/48553642/goldman-sachs-survey-finds-only-11-of-companies-cutting-jobs-as-ai-adoption-rises-report">sectors were cutting jobs due to AI</a>, while most used it to boost productivity and revenue. </p>



<p>Tech and communications companies, however, saw more reductions, with Amazon, Salesforce and <strong>Accenture PLC&nbsp;</strong><a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="ACN" data-exchange="NYSE" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ACN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ACN">ACN</a>)</a> laying off tens of thousands of employees.</p>



<p>In September, <strong>Geoffrey Hinton,</strong> the "godfather of AI," <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/09/47537728/godfather-of-ai-geoffrey-hinton-warns-of-job-losses-but-not-because-of-technology-thats-not-ais-fault-that-is-the-capitalist-system">warned that AI could replace workers</a>, increase unemployment, and concentrate wealth, while companies prioritized short-term profits over long-term effects. </p>



<p><strong>Jefferies</strong>' strategist <strong>David Zervos</strong> added that even amid strong economic growth, AI-driven automation could <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/09/47906137/wall-street-strategist-warns-fed-unprepared-to-handle-ai-erasing-millions-of-jobs">push unemployment higher</a>, with experts predicting 3–5 million jobs lost over the next three to four years.</p>



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<p><strong><em>Disclaimer:</em></strong><em>&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.</em></p>



<p><em>Photo courtesy: Shutterstock/ A Lot Of People</em></p>