Are freshers expected to be job-ready from day one in the AI era?

A quiet but significant transformation is underway across the IT services industry. While large technology employers continue to hire fresh graduates at scale, the meaning of "entry-level readiness" is being fundamentally redefined.

As artificial intelligence reshapes delivery models, compresses project timelines, and automates routine work, companies are no longer willing to wait months for new hires to become productive.

Instead, they are setting a higher bar, expecting early-career talent to contribute meaningfully much sooner.

This shift does not signal a pullback from fresher hiring. Rather, it reflects a redesign of entry-level roles themselves.

These positions are increasingly closer to real business outcomes, enabled by AI-powered tools, live data, and stronger cross-functional collaboration. Graduates are being hired not just as trainees, but as faster contributors in an AI-first workplace.

According to D Nipun Sharma, CEO of TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, the change is being widely misunderstood. The focus, he argues, is not on reducing opportunities for young professionals, but on redefining what preparedness looks like in an environment where AI accelerates learning and execution.

COGNIZANT'S BET ON FRESHERS IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD

At a time when concerns are rising that artificial intelligence could reduce IT jobs, particularly at the entry level, Cognizant Technology Solutions is taking a contrasting approach. The company believes AI is enabling fresh graduates to become productive on projects faster, not making them redundant.

Cognizant is preparing to significantly expand campus hiring in 2026, planning to recruit between 24,000 and 25,000 freshers. This marks a step up from its intake in 2025 and comes even as many IT firms remain cautious about adding headcount, especially among early-career roles.

Chief Financial Officer Jatin Dalal confirmed that fresher hiring is expected to increase by around 20 percent next year. The company hired close to 20,000 graduates in 2025, and with AI-driven efficiencies improving onboarding and deployment, Cognizant is confident it can absorb a larger cohort in 2026.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

What is emerging across the IT services landscape is not a decline in graduate hiring, but a recalibration of expectations. AI is shortening the distance between learning and delivery, pushing companies to seek graduates who can adapt quickly, work alongside intelligent systems, and create value earlier in their careers.

For freshers, the opportunity remains large, but the definition of "job-ready" has never been sharper.

WHICH NEW ENTRY-LEVEL ROLES ARE EMERGING?

As AI becomes embedded into delivery models, entry-level roles are moving beyond narrow task execution.

"Entry-level roles are increasingly shifting toward work that sits closer to business outcomes rather than pure task execution," says Dr Sharma.

IT firms are prioritising roles such as AI operations associates, application support analysts, business systems coordinators, quality and validation analysts, and customer experience technologists. These positions require graduates to understand workflows, collaborate across teams, and ensure AI-enabled systems operate reliably in live environments.

The focus, he adds, is "less on writing code from scratch and more on coordinating, validating, and improving technology-driven processes."

WHAT DOES 'DAY-ONE DEPLOYABLE' MEAN NOW?

AI has shortened delivery cycles and reduced tolerance for long ramp-up periods. Employers still expect learning on the job, but they increasingly want graduates who can contribute from the outset.

"Day-one deployability now means familiarity with tools, comfort working with data, clear communication, and the ability to learn independently," Dr Sharma explained.

Graduates with prior workplace exposure through internships, apprenticeships, or live projects are better positioned to meet these expectations.

Confidence in problem-solving and the ability to work in AI-augmented teams are becoming baseline requirements rather than differentiators.

WHICH SKILLS MATTER MORE THAN EVER?

At the entry level, value is no longer defined by coding depth alone.

Systems thinking, adaptability, communication, and the ability to work effectively with AI tools now carry as much weight as technical fundamentals. Graduates who can interpret AI outputs, ask the right questions, manage exceptions, and work across functions are increasingly sought after.

Deep coding skills remain important for specialised roles, but for most entry-level positions, the ability to apply technology in context matters more than building everything from scratch.

WILL AI REDUCE FRESHER HIRING?

The scale of hiring is changing in form, not disappearing.

"The nature of work is changing, not the need for people," Dr Sharma added.

Early-career roles are expanding in scope, offering faster exposure to real projects and progression based on capability rather than tenure. Organisations that successfully blend AI tools with human judgment are likely to continue hiring freshers at scale, while offering more meaningful and resilient career paths.

REDEFINING READINESS FOR AN AI-LED INDUSTRY

AI is not shrinking the entry-level workforce; it is raising expectations. The future of fresher hiring lies in models that combine structured on-the-job learning with real project exposure, enabling graduates to transition faster from campus to contribution.

As companies like Cognizant and its peers recalibrate hiring for AI-led delivery, the message is clear: employability in IT is no longer just about potential, it is about preparedness.

And those who invest early in job-ready talent will shape the next generation of the industry.