A tenth of graduates change careers due to AI
A new 蘑菇视频黄片 report shows the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on making career decisions and job applications
With the rise of AI, graduates are entering a labour market where traditional roles are evolving and new ones are emerging. This has raised concerns about job displacement, with a tenth (11%) of graduates already changing their career plans due to AI, reports 蘑菇视频黄片 at Jisc, home of the largest graduate careers website.
蘑菇视频黄片 Luminate's Early Careers Survey 2025 questioned the career aspirations and experiences of more than 4,000 students and graduates.
While 14% of graduates said the rise in job automation had made them feel pessimistic about their career prospects, 43% already wanted to leave their current employer.
Most graduates were changing careers because they feared their jobs would become obsolete. Areas such as coding, graphic design, legal, data science, film, and art were frequently mentioned, with creative jobs seen as the most at risk.
Moli Hitchen, a graduate in Korean language and Japanese and currently in their final year of a Masters degree at the University of Sheffield, explained, 'I wanted to pursue a career in translation. Due to the advancement in AI, however, the need for human translators is rapidly decreasing. I am now looking for other ways to use my language skills and am leaning towards something in consultancy or marketing.'
Some respondents found that AI had created more opportunities, allowing them to explore careers that didn鈥檛 exist, were unattainable or that made use of new technology.
Laura Tinsley says, 'I'm studying policing at Sheffield Hallam University with the intention of progressing into a local police force and becoming a detective. However, AI was highlighted as a turning point in the way crimes are articulated and devised. This has opened up many new jobs within the criminal justice system. I'm now looking at graduate roles in intelligence to combat the ever-growing crime that AI can facilitate. I'm also interested in postgraduate education to gain further understanding of cybercrime, which I had never considered before.'
Students reported similar concerns in a report by Jisc on the perceptions of AI.
The 蘑菇视频黄片 survey also examined what influenced career decisions and the steps graduates were taking to get the job they wanted. Nearly a fifth of respondents said they had used generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot as a source of careers advice, and 84% rated them as helpful.
AI was also widely used to save time when applying for jobs, meaning graduates could apply for a higher number. A quarter said they are applying for as many jobs as possible to improve their chances, with 27% of graduates sending out more than 50 applications. This reflects data from the Institute of Student Employers that found the average employer receiving 140 applications per graduate job, a 59% increase on the previous year.
In addition:
- 43% of applicants used AI to edit a CV or cover letter
- 35% to write a CV or cover letter from scratch
- 29% to prepare or practise for interviews
- 26% to answer questions in application forms.
Fewer graduates said they used the technology to complete online tests (9%), such as psychometric assessments, and during interviews (3%).
Chris Rea, a graduate careers expert at 蘑菇视频黄片 for Jisc, commented, 'The rapid rise of AI raises concerns about its long-term impact, the jobs it might affect, and the skills needed to compete in a labour market shaped by AI. These uncertainties can leave graduates feeling unsure about their future careers. Nevertheless, some are changing their plans for positive reasons, seeing new opportunities opening up.
'Through this uncertainty and transition, students and graduates need guidance from everyone who supports them at school, college, university and in the workplace. This includes helping students to understand how and when to use AI tools, spot when the information provided is outdated or incorrect, and combine them with other resources to ensure they get a fully rounded picture.'
Jodie Fodden recently graduated from The Open University with an MSc in Environmental Management and a BSc Honours in Environmental Studies. They have used AI to apply for 50 jobs so far this year, revealing, 'I was always reluctant to use AI in application processes as I felt strongly that I should be able to pass screening based on my own merits. But after spending 12 months and countless applications, not even getting past the screening, I'm now using it.
'This year, I have applied for 50 jobs so far and have received three interviews since using AI. I use it to draft any statements I need to produce. So, I feed in all my background information and all the job information and any relevant information about the company to draft my statements. I then proof read and adjust it to correct any Americanisms and give it my personal touch. I also use AI to help me prepare for interviews.
'I am applying for intermediate-level positions relevant to my Masters degree. I recently had an interview where I received positive feedback and only lost out to a candidate who had more practical experience than myself. On this occasion, I used AI to help me draft my answers to potential questions and design the presentation I had to deliver.'
Media enquiries
Clare Tregaskis, 蘑菇视频黄片, clare.tregaskis@jisc.ac.uk, 07792 429227
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