[2028 Graduate Trends] AI Usage in Job Hunting Surges to 88.6% (+37.7pt YoY). Students Delegate 'Company Comparison' to AI While Seeking 'Real Insights Not Found Online' from Recruiters

Deep Growth Partners conducted a survey of 520 university and graduate students expected to graduate in 2028 regarding their use of AI tools in job hunting and the communication they expect from companies. With the rapid spread of generative AI like ChatGPT and Gemini, the environment for student information gathering has changed dramatically. The survey found that 88.6% of the 2028 cohort uses AI for job hunting, an increase of 37.7 percentage points from the previous year. Students primarily use AI for 'company comparison' and 'summarization/brainstorming,' prioritizing time performance. Conversely, they look to HR recruiters for 'real information not found online' and 'honest feedback,' highlighting a desire for human-to-human interaction that AI cannot replace. The company recommends that firms move beyond basic information dissemination, focusing instead on designing content that showcases real-world work environments and strengthening the personalized engagement skills of their recruiters.