The UK’s largest recruiter, Teach First, is moving away from written job applications and towards more face-to-face assessments. This decision comes as graduates increasingly rely on artificial intelligence (AI) to apply for jobs. According to the graduate employment specialist Bright Network, the number of people using AI for job applications has grown from 38% last year to 50% this year.
Executive Director for Programme Talent at Teach First, Patrick Dempsey, reports a nearly 30% increase in applications this year compared to the same period last year. This rise is partly due to a softening in the labor market, but the use of automation for applications has made it easier for graduates to apply to multiple jobs simultaneously.
Teach First is considering shifting from written tests to task-based tests like “micro lessons” to conduct evaluations. Dempsey noted that while AI use often goes unnoticed, there are instances where applicants leave traces of AI, such as parts of a ChatGPT message, in their application answers, leading to rejection.
The proportion of students and university leavers using AI to apply for jobs has risen to five in ten applicants. More than a quarter of companies are expected to release guidelines for AI usage in job applications for the next recruitment season due to the surge in applications.
Breakthroughs in AI have influenced the job market, particularly affecting entry-level positions. Vacancies for graduate jobs, apprenticeships, internships, and junior jobs have dropped by 32% since the launch of ChatGPT. University graduates are currently facing the toughest job market since 2018, with the number of advertised roles dropping by 33%.
Despite reports that the graduate job market is declining, the Institute of Student Employers reports a different trend. While there is a 7% drop in job vacancies aimed at graduates, job vacancies for school-leavers have risen by 23%, causing a 1% overall increase in a market affected by AI. Job postings on UK university career boards have risen by 8% this year compared to last year.
Experts note that while AI has yet to cause severe disruption to the market for school and university leavers, change is inevitable. New entrants to the job market must become skilled in AI to have a chance of progressing.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/13/graduates-teach-first-in-person-interviews-ai
