Cognizant ramps up entry-level hiring amid AI-driven job cuts
What's the story
Cognizant Technology Solutions is ramping up its entry-level hiring, as artificial intelligence (AI) transforms the job market. The company's CEO, Ravi Kumar S, told Fortune that the firm is now hiring more school graduates than ever before. Unlike other tech giants that are cutting jobs in favor of AI and robots, Cognizant is taking a different approach by actively recruiting non-STEM graduates from liberal arts schools and community colleges.
AI perspective
AI as an amplifier of human potential
Kumar, a former NVIDIA engineer, believes that AI will not just automate tasks but also create new opportunities, especially for entry-level workers. He said, "AI is an amplifier of human potential. It's not a displacement strategy." This year alone, the company is hiring more school graduates than ever before. "I can take a school graduate and give them the tooling so they can actually punch above their weight," he added.
Recruitment approach
Hiring more in traditionally non-STEM departments
Kumar revealed that Cognizant is now hiring more in departments that were traditionally non-STEM. This is because a large part of their work revolves around problem-solving. "When machines assist with problem-solving, companies can achieve a more balanced mix of problem solvers and problem finders," he said. The core teams are now made up of non-STEM professionals such as anthropologists, sociologists, psychologists, and journalists who can identify problems with purpose and creativity.
AI integration
Cognizant's internal use of AI
Kumar also explained how Cognizant is using AI internally. The company is trying mid-career shifts, allowing employees to move into roles that combine technology with business knowledge. "There is a deep technology swim lane and a second swim lane of applying technology to businesses," he said. Cognizant has also launched apprenticeship programs on a "work, earn, and learn" model and partnered with universities to implement these skills.