Hiring AI teams

There’s been a surge of companies hiring AI teams over the last few months! We’ve worked closely with a number of companies building out new teams, and have gained a lot of insight into what the market looks like.

For companies:

• There are a small number of people with these skill sets. Those with this experience are likely already working and may not be open to moving, which means the pool of people available is that bit smaller.
• Can you offer the opportunity for people to upskill? People can’t get experience without being given an opportunity to learn, so it’s worth thinking about getting someone with the right attitude who wants to learn.
• Salaries are competitive! Naturally it varies from company to company, but ultimately there’s a big demand for this experience, and there isn’t a huge amount of people who have it, so be aware of this before you start hiring.
• Location, location, location! The people you want to hire may not be based in Ireland. You need to consider the working arrangements; are you open to remote or hybrid? Remote from another country? Will you offer sponsorship and relocation?
• Your interview process. Every company will be knocking on the door of people with AI experience, so they’ll most likely be speaking to a number of different companies. There’s no need to have lengthy interview processes - most places stick to three stages (four if it’s people management)

For Candidates

• This is a relatively new area of growth. Money is great, but it’s important to also think of the opportunity itself and what you can learn. As there isn’t a large number of people with AI experience, if you can build upon what you have already, you’re setting yourself up for success!
• Be open minded! Some companies will have hard requirements, and others will ask that you’re open minded to learning something new. If you have an opportunity to learn then grab it with both hands, if it’s something that interests you.
• If you have AI experience, your skills are in demand! This is great, but be mindful that if you happen to be on a rather high salary and want to look at new options, you may find it difficult to find a company who can offer what you are looking for in order to leave your current role.
• When it comes to salaries for folk with AI experience, they do tend to be that bit higher than their non-AI counterparts. Just as it is for salaries in general, some companies are in a position to offer far beyond what would normally be considered the market rate in order to secure talent in this area.
• That doesn’t mean that companies who can’t offer the highest salary can’t compete - there's a lot to be said for the experience someone can gain on AI projects. We can offer guidance on salaries in this space, but at the end of the day it comes down to each individual person and company.