Artificial intelligence is not only changing the way corporate America works, it’s also rewriting the rules for who gets hired and how their careers progress. Big 4 firm EY says AI is now at the heart of its recruitment, onboarding and promotion processes, creating a dramatic shift in traditional consulting career paths. In an interview with Business Insider, Ginny Currier, chief people and culture officer at EY Americas, said, “Without a doubt, AI is changing the way we work.” She also explained that traditional organizational pyramids are being replaced by flexible career portfolios, where influence is more important than tenure or title.Carlier added that managers are increasingly tasked with creating psychologically safe environments where employees can experiment, fail forward, and learn with AI while guiding teams that include both humans and AI agents.
EY sets new hiring rules
EY now requires all early career applicants to complete a skills-based assessment to ensure candidates can grow with AI. The company has also expanded its hiring pool to go beyond accounting professionals to include engineers, creatives, technologists, a diverse workforce, and even candidates without degrees.The changes are part of EY’s $1 billion investment in people and technology, which also includes increased early career salaries, an AI-powered audit and tax platform, expanded student support and enhanced benefits.
Career formation in the AI era
EY has introduced 360 Careers, a program launched in 2024. This involves rotating early career employees between different business units to build diverse skills. Promotions are becoming more agile, with expanded use of skills assessments to align employees to roles when they are ready for greater scope and impact.Karlier emphasized that there is no longer a focus on mechanical tasks such as manual research and slide creation. Instead, employees are expected to spend more time interpreting data, applying judgment to AI output, and telling compelling stories.EY is not alone. At Boston Consulting Group, nearly 90% of our employees use AI, and half use it every day. “There’s no field on our forms that says, ‘Do we use AI?'” That’s an expectation, said Alicia Pittman, BCG’s Global People Team Chair.
