Featured image: A young woman with curly reddish-brown hair is sitting at a wooden table with a laptop and a mug. AI-generated image; not a photograph of the reported event.
Graduate misconduct during job interviews has hit a record high in the UK, according to the Institute of Student Employers (ISE).
AI Misuse Tops Misconduct List
Undeclared use of artificial intelligence during interviews is the most common form of misconduct, reported by 66% of ISE members.
How Recruiters Spot AI Use
Chris Morrow, who runs a recruitment agency in Manchester, says it’s clear when candidates use AI tools in real-time interviews.
He described the behaviour as ‘reading off an Autocue’.
Common signs include:
- Stalling for time while waiting for AI-generated responses
- Using filler phrases like ‘That’s a good question’
- Speaking in overly formal or unnatural language
Other Forms of AI Misconduct
Other reported misuse includes:
- Using AI to complete online assessments
- Using AI to write CVs or covering letters
- Using AI to answer online application questions
Market Trends Remain Stable
The graduate hiring market has stabilised after a previous decline.
Employers expect a 7% rise in hiring over the next 12 months.
- 40% of companies reduced graduate intake
- 45% increased hiring
- 15% maintained current levels
Stephen Isherwood, chief executive of ISE, said hiring cuts are due to economic conditions, not AI use.
He added that concerns about AI’s impact on graduate jobs are ‘two or three years down the line’.
What This Means for Job Seekers
Interviewers look for genuine understanding of the role, not pre-written answers.
ISE advises candidates to research the job and tailor their responses.
Using AI may lead to poor job fit and long-term dissatisfaction.
Authenticity remains key. As one recruiter put it: ‘If you misrepresent yourself, you could end up doing the wrong job.’
For more on how to answer common interview questions, see our guide on Interview Answers That Work.
Questions about bringing iced coffee to interviews? See our article on Is It Wrong to Bring Iced Coffee to a Job Interview?.
For a broader look at how job interviews function, explore Job Interviews Are a Weird Business – But What’s the Alternative?.
Source and Context
The findings are based on a survey by the Institute of Student Employers, which represents 290 graduate employers including Marks & Spencer, Rolls-Royce and Accenture.
The data comes from a report published by The Guardian.
