NEW YORK — Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) announced the launch of the EY Career Residency, a paid learning and working pathway designed to overhaul entry-level talent development for an increasingly automated, AI-driven corporate landscape.
Ditching the traditional, short-term summer internship model, the new initiative spans eight to 12 months and blends hands-on client casework with structured mentorship, AI and technical fluency training, and human skills development. Applications open this fall for the inaugural cohort, which will launch in January 2028.
Redefining the Entry-Level Career Pipeline
As generative AI and automated tools absorb routine administrative tasks once assigned to junior staff, major accounting and consulting firms face a central dilemma: how to effectively train young professionals when basic entry-level work is being automated.
EY US is addressing this challenge by extending the typical eight-week internship model into a sustained, flexible residency. Participating students will work alongside EY professionals—through a combination of remote and in-person experiences—while completing their academic degrees.
“The early careers talent model is evolving just as rapidly as our industry, and EY is committed to leading the profession in developing the workforce of the future,” said Dante D’Egidio, EY Americas CEO and US Managing Partner. “EY Career Residency is a bold step forward: giving the next generation of trusted professionals the hands-on client experience, coaching and future-focused skills they need to lead in an AI-driven world.”
Core Elements of the Program
The EY Career Residency forms part of a broader push by the firm to modernize talent onboarding and continuous professional development:
- Elevated Fast-Track Onboarding: Graduates who complete the residency have the opportunity to join EY US full-time in an elevated analyst role, recognizing the experience gained during their residency.
- Gamified Skill Evaluation (“Skills Arcade”): Early-career candidates participate in gamified workplace simulations designed to evaluate critical thinking, decision-making, and collaboration styles. Participants receive a personalized “Skills Card” detailing their strengths and work style to guide targeted coaching.
- Integration with 360 Careers: Participants moving into full-time roles can transition into EY’s structured “360 Careers” program—part of a previously announced $1 billion investment in talent and technology—providing cross-disciplinary exposure across audit, tax, and technology risk, as well as support toward CPA accreditation.
Emphasizing Human Capabilities Alongside AI
While technical and AI fluency are central pillars of the residency, EY leadership emphasized that the program’s primary focus remains on developing high-order human capabilities that AI cannot easily replicate.
“In an AI-powered world, cultivating the distinctly human capabilities of judgment, curiosity and trust will continue to be our greatest competitive advantage,” said Ginnie Carlier, EY Americas Chief Talent and Culture Officer.
By giving students extended, year-long exposure to real client problems, EY aims to produce “day one-ready” consultants and analysts who can immediately operate as trusted advisors rather than spending their first year mastering basic corporate processes.
For more information on EY Careers Residency, visit https://www.ey.com/en_us/assurance/ai-and-people-rising-together.