As 2025 comes to a close we look back at ISE’s most popular content of the year. Here are the articles you shouldn’t miss.
- Here’s how recruiters are actually using AI in hiring
LinkedIn found more than half of talent acquisition professionals are exploring or experimenting with AI tools, so ISE spoke to early careers employers and experts to shine light on the application and experiences in our sector.
- Have graduate jobs really nose-dived?
News that AI was decimating the graduate jobs market hit the headlines in June, so ISE teamed up with Group GTI to find out what was really happening.
- What are average graduate salaries over a 3-year programme?
ISE’s Student Development Survey offers valuable insight to how employers are managing the training and development of entry-level hires. Here we looked at salary data to see how graduates progress over a three-year programme with insight by sector and region.
- Apprenticeships rise as graduate vacancies drop 8%
Amid the high and sustained appetite for insight into the entry level labour market this autumn, ISE released its annual Student Recruitment Survey. While data showed competition for jobs remained historically high, we also found a shift in the balance between graduate and apprentice hiring as employers look to diversify how they get talent into the business to meet skills shortages.
- Mapping the transition from student to professional
A landmark study from Gradconsult has been referred to throughout the year as a new way to consider the transition from student to professional. The nine psychological shifts help employers better understand the gap and how to close it.
- Graduates pivot careers due to AI and job automation
Half way through the year Prospects reported how AI and job automation is already impacting the career decisions of students as well as how they are using AI tools to help job applications.
- Employers concerned student use of AI misrepresents skills
Articles about trends in AI continue to be among the most viewed and engaged content on ISE Insights. Our Student Development Survey 2025 revealed fears over how students are using AI in job applications. As well as concern over misrepresentation, it highlighted a less work-ready cohort with gaps in essential communication and interpersonal skills.
- 5 trends you need to know from ISE’s Recruitment Survey 2025
Our annual Student Recruitment Survey is one of our most anticipated reports of the year, so it’s no surprise that it features twice in our top 10 most viewed articles of the year. Her we unpick some of the key trends spanning EDI, AI and the rise of apprenticeships.
- Sky’s award-winning approach to early careers assessment
The autumn saw the first of our case studies from 2025 ISE award winners. Sky and Cappfinity lead us through their approach to designing an immersive, innovative and inclusive early careers assessment and selection process that assesses talent for potential over experience. If you’d like to showcase and be rewarded for your success, the ISE Awards 2026 open for entries on 5 January.
- Deloitte returns to face-to-face recruitment
A return to face-to-face recruitment was a reoccurring theme at this year’s Student Recruitment Conference. Here Deloitte shared how its shift away from the traditional milkround towards an in-person approach has delivered significant benefits to candidate engagement.