Key findings
- 55% of UK graduates have used AI to write or edit their CV.
- 46% have used it for cover letters.
- 1 in 3 has changed or seriously reconsidered their career path over AI concerns.
- 53% of employers say graduate research tasks are now AI-assisted, rising to 61% in organisations with 250 or more employees.
How many graduates use AI to write their CV?
More than half. 55% of UK graduates have used AI to write or edit their CV, and 46% have used it for cover letters.
For this cohort, AI is part of how an application gets made.
Graduates use AI to get hired, and a third are rethinking where
View data
| Answer | % |
|---|---|
| Have used AI to write or edit their CV | 55% |
| Have used AI for cover letters | 46% |
| Have changed or seriously reconsidered their career path over AI | 33% |
Are graduates changing career plans because of AI?
One in three has. A third of graduates say they have changed or seriously reconsidered their career path over concerns about AI.
That is a large share of a cohort making a long-term decision on a short-term reading of the market. As our findings on graduate job cuts show, only about 8% of employers are reducing graduate hiring with AI as a major factor.
How much graduate work is already AI-assisted?
About half, and it depends on the employer. 53% of hiring managers say graduate research tasks are now AI-assisted. In organisations with 250 or more employees it is 61%. In those with 50 to 249, it is 36%.
Sector matters more. In technology, 93% of employers already use AI in graduates' day-to-day admin.
Larger employers are far more likely to have graduates working with AI
Graduate research tasks are now AI-assisted
View data
| Answer | % |
|---|---|
| All employers | 53% |
| Larger organisations (250+ employees) | 61% |
| Smaller organisations (50 to 249 employees) | 36% |
Does using AI make graduates feel prepared?
No. The same graduates who use AI for their applications are mostly not confident they are building the AI skills they need. Two-thirds (66%) say so.
Knowing how to prompt a tool is not the same as knowing your work will still be needed. Graduates can tell the difference.
What this means
For employers, three points.
- Expect AI-written applications. More than half your applicants used it on their CV. Screening for "authentic" writing is screening for something most candidates no longer do. Ask for evidence a tool can't supply: a conversation, a task, a judgement call.
- Small employers have an opening. Graduates in smaller organisations are less likely to be working with AI. For a candidate worried about being replaced by it, that may be a selling point. For one who wants the skills, it is a gap to close.
- Speak to the third. One in three of your potential applicants is reconsidering their path. A clear account of what a graduate does in your business, and how AI changes it, is worth more than a line about innovation.
Frequently asked questions
Do graduates use AI to write their CVs?
Yes. 55% of UK graduates have used AI to write or edit their CV, according to The Reality Department. 46% have used it for cover letters.
Are graduates changing career paths because of AI?
One in three UK graduates has changed or seriously reconsidered their career path over AI concerns.
Which employers use AI most in graduate roles?
Larger and technology employers. 61% of organisations with 250 or more employees say graduate research tasks are AI-assisted, against 36% of smaller ones. In technology, 93% use AI in graduates' day-to-day admin.
Methodology
The Reality Department surveyed 250 UK hiring managers involved in graduate hiring at organisations with 50 or more UK employees, and 250 UK graduates who are graduating soon or recently graduated. Fieldwork: August 2026.
Related: Do employers use AI to screen CVs?
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