“He started out of his own initiative, not just sending me an invoice to pay him, but sending me decisions that he made, highs and lows, asks in a succinct update,” she said.

That level of communication is rare among early-career hires, she said.

“I don’t expect you to do that,” Pang said. “But that is so great.”

Experiences like that have shifted how she defines readiness.

“It is beyond just the work ethic,” she said. “The social emotional maturity, the work readiness is what really stands out.”

Those qualities are becoming more important as AI changes the nature of work. Pang said the future of technology will require more than technical skill.

“I would say don’t second-guess your lack of the traditional,” she said. “There is not a single traditional tech job out there anymore because of AI.”