In a recent LinkedIn post, Eric Sim discusses the critical skills individuals need to cultivate to not only survive but thrive in the rapidly evolving AI era. Sim emphasizes a dual focus: enhancing personal selling capabilities and mastering the use of AI agents.
Sim argues that traditional notions of sales are expanding, asserting that selling skills are fundamental across various professions, not just in customer-facing roles. He highlights the necessity for researchers to pitch ideas and secure funding, and for students to effectively “sell” themselves to potential employers to land jobs.
“Develop selling skills. You don’t need external customers to be in sales.”
The Enduring Importance of Human Selling Skills
According to Sim, the sales process, which he breaks down into seven steps, is only partially automatable by AI. He points out that AI can currently manage approximately three of these steps, leaving the more nuanced and critical aspects to human professionals. Sim specifically identifies the building of rapport and trust as key areas where human interaction remains indispensable.
As Eric Sim notes, “AI can only handle three of them. We still need humans for the critical steps, especially in building rapport and trust.” This underscores his belief that while AI can augment processes, it cannot replace the human element essential for deep connection and persuasion.
Leveraging AI Agents for Productivity
Beyond developing interpersonal skills, Sim stresses the importance of understanding and utilizing AI agents. He provides a practical example of how he instructed an AI agent, “Claude Cowork,” to perform a complex task involving data management.
Sim recounts his experience: “I asked Claude Cowork to go to a folder on my computer, access my media kit file, follow its format, and populate a new Excel file with all of my CFA articles and events. It did it beautifully.” This anecdote serves to illustrate the tangible benefits and efficiency gains that can be achieved by effectively deploying AI tools.
Preparing for the Future
In conclusion, Eric Sim poses a direct question to his audience, prompting self-reflection on their readiness for the AI-driven future: “Are you developing yourself to be ready for the AI era?” His post, which also mentions his participation in a CFA Institute webinar on “The Key Skills for Career Success in the AI Era” alongside Anil Ghelani, CFA, and Rena Kwok (郭术甯), CFA, CAIA, serves as a call to action for professionals to proactively acquire the skills necessary to navigate and succeed in the evolving landscape.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Eric Sim on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on March 17, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →