EY is significantly re-evaluating its approach to junior talent development in response to the increasing role of artificial intelligence. The firm is launching a new paid "Career Residency Program" in January 2028, extending traditional internships from eight weeks to 8-12 months. This program aims to cultivate critical thinking, professional judgment, curiosity, and AI fluency through sustained coaching and practical experience. Graduates of the residency will enter EY at a higher analyst level, receiving a pay bump and taking on more advanced responsibilities than typical entry-level staff. This initiative is designed to address the changing nature of entry-level work, as AI takes over tasks previously handled by junior consultants, such as compiling presentations and synthesizing information.
Simultaneously, EY is encouraging its junior staff to spend more time in the office, although it has not formally changed its remote work policy. Senior partners believe that in-person interaction is crucial for developing the "softer skills" like interpersonal communication, client interaction, and professional judgment, which are becoming increasingly important as AI equalizes technical work. EY's UK head of consulting, Sayeh Ghanbari, stated that developing these human skills effectively cannot be achieved through extensive remote work. This stance aligns with arguments made by leaders in other white-collar industries, such as Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan and Satya Nadella of Microsoft, who also emphasize the importance of in-person learning for junior staff.
EY is investing heavily in AI, with over $1 billion annually dedicated to developing AI-first platforms and products, and its AI-related revenue increased by 30% in the 2025 financial year. The firm's global consulting AI leader, Dan Diasio, highlighted that junior employees' lack of preconceived notions makes them valuable in the AI age. While AI automates routine tasks, it creates a need for higher-level review and interpretive skills, which junior staff will need to develop. For instance, EY's new multi-agent framework embedded in its assurance platform, EY Canvas, aims for 100% of audit activities to be supported by AI agents by 2028, which will require auditors to have a significant level of experience to review AI-generated outputs effectively.
EY's global head of consulting, Errol Gardner, noted that junior consultants now need to focus more on exercising judgment, interpreting insights, and shaping client outcomes rather than just assembly work. The Career Residency Program, initially for assurance interns, will incorporate simulations and real-world EY projects to build skills such as professional skepticism, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. This long-term approach aims to provide students with more time to build these crucial skills beyond what an eight-week internship can offer, ultimately preparing them for more advanced roles within the firm and ensuring they can effectively leverage AI rather than being replaced by it.
