TCS requires AI skills for 80% of new hires, giving experienced workers an edge
India's largest IT firm is making AI literacy a hiring requirement, but mid-career engineers willing to adapt hold the biggest advantage.
Hiring · Source: The Hindu BusinessLine (PTI)
What happened
Tata Consultancy Services announced that 80% of its future hires will need digital and artificial intelligence skills. The company added 4,500 employees in the September quarter. Of those new hires, 25 to 30% were hired for pure AI roles. Chief Operating Officer Arathi Subramanian expects this hiring trend to continue.
AI is becoming a core part of the company's business model. AI-led work now makes up 10% of overall revenue for the IT services provider. Customers are starting with small AI projects and expanding them across other areas once they see results. The company notes that almost all of its current work involves some aspect of AI.
Company leadership sees this transition as a clear path to better profitability. CEO K Krithivasan noted that as AI deal volumes increase, profit margins will improve. The company also plans to invest heavily in niche talent, mergers, and partnerships to support this ongoing digital growth.
By the numbers
- 80% — Proportion of future TCS hires that will need digital and AI skills
- 4,500 — Total employees added by TCS in the September quarter
- 25 to 30% — Share of recent hires placed in pure AI roles
- 10% — Share of overall revenue currently coming from AI-led work
Why it matters
This shift makes AI literacy a basic requirement rather than a bonus skill for job seekers. Candidates applying to major IT firms will need to show exactly how they use AI tools to solve business problems. The focus is moving rapidly away from traditional software maintenance roles toward new-age digital skills. This means the baseline for getting an interview is changing across the entire tech industry.
The push for AI is also changing how companies handle large corporate deals and workforce transitions. TCS recently signed contracts with Porsche and Best Buy that involve absorbing the clients' existing staff. Instead of just taking over legacy systems, the company plans to transform these absorbed teams to adopt an AI-first approach. This shows that even non-tech companies are demanding AI integration in their outsourcing contracts.
Who this hits
Mid-career professionals
Experienced engineers have a major advantage if they are willing to unlearn old methods and learn new skills. Their existing knowledge of the technology landscape and business domains makes them far more valuable than junior staff.
New graduates
Freshers face a higher bar for entry because basic coding skills are no longer enough to stand out. They must demonstrate strong AI and digital capabilities to compete for the entry-level roles that remain.
What to do this week
- Audit your current skills and identify gaps in your knowledge of AI tools relevant to your specific job function.
- Update your resume to highlight concrete projects where you used AI or modern digital tools to improve a business process.
- Focus on learning how AI applies to your specific industry, as deep domain knowledge combined with AI literacy is highly valued.
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My take
AI is not erasing jobs, but it is changing the baseline for who gets hired. If you have years of experience, do not let new technology intimidate you. Combine your deep domain knowledge with a willingness to learn AI, and you will stay ahead of the curve.