AI poses a threat to interns and new graduates

The increased use of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace could reduce opportunities for students seeking internships and entry-level jobs, according to a new study.

Additionally, 78% of recruiters say the use of AI will result in the layoff of new hires at their organization.

“Many new graduates are hired for entry-level roles that include information-related tasks such as research, data entry, customer service, and general administrative assistance,” says Intelligent.com's Chief Education and Career Development Advisor. , said Huy Nguyen. This free, private website is headquartered in Seattle.

According to the survey, the top three tasks that recruiters said could be completed with AI were data entry (73 percent), email creation (73 percent), and research processing (63 percent).

[SHRM resources: Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace]

“These entry-level positions provide critical experience for people entering the workforce for the first time, but they are also the positions most easily replaced by artificial intelligence,” Nguyen said in a news release about the study's findings. I mentioned it inside.

Of the 804 U.S. recruiters surveyed by Intelligent.com on April 17:

70% of respondents said AI could do the job of an intern.

The majority of recruiters (86%) say their company is currently offering internships, and 84% say they are offering more internships since ChatGPT launches in November 2022. Did.

4% said fewer internships were offered. Among employers currently offering fewer internships, nearly two-thirds (63%) attributed the decline to AI. Other reasons include cutting costs (56%), not having enough time to train interns (26%), and finding interns difficult to work with (11%).

About 5% said they used to offer internships but no longer do so. Of those, 29% said AI was the main reason, reporting that intern responsibilities were being delegated to technology.

57% trust the work of AI more than the work of interns and recent graduates.

Claudia Gonzalez, senior talent acquisition manager at Burnaby, British Columbia-based technology company Clio, advised employers not to lose sight of the long-term benefits of internships and similar student programs.

These are ways to bring diversity and fresh perspectives to organizations and fill the talent pipeline, she said.

“These individuals often become an integral part of the organization, providing short-term coverage when needed and serving as a valuable source for recruitment and brand ambassadorship,” she said.

69% said AI could do a new graduate's job, and 78% said their company would fire a new graduate because of the use of AI..

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Nguyen said that while AI can't completely replace human critical thinking and innovative problem-solving, it can “certainly take over many of the mundane and repetitive tasks that are assigned to new hires.” He pointed out that new graduates are in the most vulnerable position. Each role will be merged or deleted.

This shows the importance of AI experience for job hunters. Almost all recruiters (95%) say they are much or somewhat more likely to hire a graduate with an AI background. Additionally, 70% responded that the number of job offers to new graduates has increased since November 2022.

Advice for students

There are several actions that students and recent graduates should take when entering the workforce in the age of AI.

“New graduates need to realize how highly desirable AI skills are to employers,” Nguyen says. “Understanding the risks and benefits of AI and demonstrating a working knowledge of how AI will impact your organization will make you more attractive to job seekers during the hiring process.”

Katie Wyka, Clio's in-house career coach, encouraged students to take AI training on their own.

“While education and certifications provide structured learning paths and formal recognition of skills, students should also consider co-ops, which provide hands-on experience and real-world application of AI concepts.” she said.

She encouraged interns, co-op education program participants, and new graduates to embrace curiosity as their most powerful asset.

“It’s essential to ask lots of questions, try new things and network with a wide range of people,” she said. “To make the most of this stage, you need to absorb all learning opportunities, including formal training and hands-on experience, and spend time building relationships both within your team and across different areas of your company. there is.

“By cultivating curiosity, embracing learning opportunities, and fostering meaningful relationships, new graduates are setting themselves up for success in the years ahead.”

She also advised students:

Try out AI tools and experiment with AI in your projects.

“To improve your projects, try using popular tools like ChatGPT, Anthropic, and Llama 3. Understand what these tools can and cannot do, and develop your own tools to use them effectively. Please make a plan.”

Understand why you act the way you do and be able to clearly explain why.

Also understand that learning includes making mistakes.

“Giving yourself space is so important, especially when navigating the learning curve of a new role at a new company,” says Waika. “Recognizing that mistakes and failures are part of the learning process and being open to feedback and growth can pave the way for long-term success in your career journey.”

Practice creating samples and models that match real-world business needs.
“This allows us to better leverage AI to solve real-world problems and make a real difference to our business,” Wyka says. “By cultivating curiosity, embracing learning opportunities, and fostering meaningful relationships, new graduates are setting themselves up for success in the years ahead.”
become proficient with other technologies.

“Students need to focus on developing not only technical skills, but also the ability to become proficient with new technologies and work effectively in a dynamic, distributed environment,” Waika said.

Build a portfolio of past projects to highlight notable successes and lessons learned.

This “demonstrates hands-on experience and problem-solving abilities that are highly valued in the AI field and differentiate students in the job market,” Wyka said. “By combining formal education with self-directed learning and hands-on experimentation, students will develop a well-rounded skill set to excel in AI-related roles.”