London, UK, 29 October 2025 – Graduates entering the job market in 2025 are being advised not to fear AI, as one of the UKs largest employers of engineering and technology experts reveals how they are using the technology to reshape recruitment and careers, not take away entry-level jobs.
Expleo, a global engineering, technology and consulting services provider, believes the graduates that learn to incorporate AI into their workflows and skillsets will be highly sought after and stand to join the workforce as true AI-natives.
Expleo, which employs more than 18,000 engineering and technical experts, positions its view on AI’s impact on early careers ahead of UK Graduate Week, encouraging those starting out to embrace AI as a tool – both in their job search and in their careers.
Danielle Gower, Head of Talent Acquisition at Expleo said: “We’re not seeing AI take away entry-level jobs in engineering and technology, but we are seeing it reshape how we identify talent. “The value of AI in talent acquisition is all about what it frees recruiters to focus on.
When automation handles the high-volume, repetitive screening, we get to spend more time understanding the person behind the CV. That’s when we discover the candidates with the drive, adaptability and ideas to start their careers in engineering – and that cannot be identified by an algorithm or spotted in a data set.”
With employers seeing an increase in early career applicants using AI tools to navigate the digital recruitment process, Expleo is keen to highlight the skills that will help graduates stand out, at recruitment stage and once they secure a role.
Gower explains: “Soft skills are one the biggest differentiators in graduate recruitment. In a market where AI can match technical profiles in seconds, it’s communication and curiosity that stand out. These skills show how a person thinks, collaborates and learns. And that is what makes you a top candidate in fast-moving industries like engineering.”
Expleo embraces the use of AI to augment aspects of its recruitment process, helping to identify suitable candidates or reduce bias in early-stage screening for example, but its position on ensuring fairness and a robust approach is another tick in the box for graduates when deciding which companies they apply to.
“We are cautious but open-minded about using AI,” said Gower. “Every tool we introduce is reviewed for accuracy and ethical use before it touches a candidate’s data. The technology supports our recruitment approach, creating a balance that ultimately improves both hiring decisions and candidate outcomes.”
Gower concluded: “This Graduate Week, I encourage those embarking on their first steps in their chosen career to approach AI as a tool for empowerment rather than competition. Use it to improve your preparation, knowledge and understanding of problems or challenges, using it to augment your highly valued reasoning skills and experience – stay true to this throughout your career and you’ll go far.”
Media contact
Gwen Allen – gwen.allen@expleogroup.com
