artificial intelligence is changing the skills companies expect from leaders, while a weak economy is contributing to fewer hires and job cuts. In 2025, the number of unemployed managers in Germany rose by 14.3% compared with the previous year, according to the Federal Employment Agency.
AI can already take on parts of management work such as resource planning, calculations and cost control. The Job-Futuromat tool from the Institute for Employment Research estimates that algorithms could replace 67% of a manager’s job profile, with middle management particularly exposed.
Bernhard Stieger, a headhunter at Spencer Stuart, says hiring teams now need to assess more than candidates’ technical knowledge or familiarity with specific AI applications. The key question, he argues, is whether leaders understand how AI can change value creation, improve decisions and help prepare an organization for the future.
Stieger and his team use questions to distinguish genuine AI competence from candidates who merely claim to have it. They look for people able to rethink business models, make better decisions and take responsibility—especially in situations where AI has limits.
Martina van Hettinga, co-head of the recruiting firm I-Potentials, said the approach highlights the growing importance of judgment. But she cautioned that a set of questions can only be one part of a broader assessment involving interviews, case studies, references and other evaluations.
Van Hettinga advises candidates to develop more than their knowledge of AI. As more tasks are delegated to technology, leadership still depends on choosing a direction and persuading others to follow it. Stieger likewise points to strategic judgment, the ability to learn quickly and the capacity to translate technology into responsible business and leadership decisions.
No single answer determines a candidate’s prospects, Stieger said. However, some responses may raise concerns about a person’s strategic thinking, judgment or willingness to embrace change.
Sources: Handelsblatt.