The AI Trust Gap No One's Talking About

Finance firms use AI to screen candidates, but students don’t trust it, and universities aren’t preparing them. At our recent event with top banks and universities, one thing was clear - AI is here to stay, but human skills and transparency matter more than ever.
Mar 17 / Rachel Aspinall

AI in Recruitment: The Trust Gap Between Universities, Employers, and Students

AI is transforming the way financial institutions hire early careers talent.

From CV screening to psychometric testing, firms are using AI to process high volumes of applications faster than ever. But there’s a problem - students don’t trust it, universities aren’t preparing them for it, and employers know it’s not a perfect system.


At Building Trust: Technology and Trends in Early Careers Recruitment, hosted by AmplifyME at The Gherkin, we brought together leaders from Morgan Stanley, UBS, Schroders, Jefferies, Nomura, Oxford, LSE, ESADE, and more to address these challenges head-on.

This was the second edition of our annual event, where we play a unique role as both facilitator and mediator between industry and higher education.

With strong partnerships on both sides, this event is about more than just discussion, it’s about creating a space where collaboration meets challenge, where industry and academia can engage in honest conversations that drive meaningful change.

The discussion was clear: AI is here to stay - but human skills, transparency, and trust matter more than ever. The Student Perspective: "AI is Making Decisions About My Future, But I Don’t Trust It"

Ahead of the event, AmplifyME surveyed more than 500 students to understand how they feel about AI-driven hiring. The results were striking:


  • 74% of students don’t trust AI to evaluate their skills and potential accurately.
  • 93% want companies to disclose when AI is used in hiring.
  • 94% believe universities should be advising students on AI-driven applications.
  • 82% said their university has not prepared them for AI-based hiring.


This raises a huge red flag – students and graduates are being assessed by AI, but many don’t know how to navigate it. By failing to keep up, universities risk widening the gap between students who have AI literacy (typically from the more ‘traditional’ institutions) and those who don’t, further exacerbating existing barriers to entry. 

AI is transforming the way financial institutions hire early careers talent.

From CV screening to psychometric testing, firms are using AI to process high volumes of applications faster than ever. But there’s a problem - students don’t trust it, universities aren’t preparing them for it, and employers know it’s not a perfect system.


At Building Trust: Technology and Trends in Early Careers Recruitment, hosted by AmplifyME at The Gherkin, we brought together leaders from Morgan Stanley, UBS, Schroders, Jefferies, Nomura, Oxford, LSE, ESADE, and more to address these challenges head-on. This was the second edition of our annual event, where we play a unique role as both facilitator and mediator between industry and higher education.

 With strong partnerships on both sides, this event is about more than just discussion, it’s about creating a space where collaboration meets challenge, where industry and academia can engage in honest conversations that drive meaningful change.


The discussion was clear: AI is here to stay - but human skills, transparency, and trust matter more than ever. The Student Perspective: "AI is Making Decisions About My Future, But I Don’t Trust It"

Ahead of the event, AmplifyME surveyed more than 500 students to understand how they feel about AI-driven hiring. The results were striking:


  • 74% of students don’t trust AI to evaluate their skills and potential accurately.
  • 93% want companies to disclose when AI is used in hiring.
  • 94% believe universities should be advising students on AI-driven applications.
  • 82% said their university has not prepared them for AI-based hiring.


This raises a huge red flag – students and graduates are being assessed by AI, but many don’t know how to navigate it. By failing to keep up, universities risk widening the gap between students who have AI literacy (typically from the more ‘traditional’ institutions) and those who don’t, further exacerbating existing barriers to entry. 

Bridging the Gap: The Reality Check for Students Entering Finance

One of the biggest takeaways from the event was the stark disconnect between academic learning and real-world finance careers.

Samantha De Alba, Talent Acquisition Coordinator at Schroders, summed it up perfectly: "Yesterday, I attended an event by AmplifyME, a company founded by people who saw first-hand the massive gap between education and the realities of finance. Determined to bridge it, they developed immersive, simulation-based training that gives students real-world experience. And honestly? This is exactly what’s needed.

As a recruiter and career coach, I see this reality every day. We often forget that we were once students too, when every question felt valid, and teachers had the time (and responsibility) to guide us. Fast forward to adulthood, and suddenly, we’re expected to: Figure out what career path we want, build a CV, start job applications, pass psychometric test, and prepare for interviews. Then, once we land a job, it’s no longer about teachers - it’s about colleagues, team leaders, managers, and a whole corporate world full of job titles we can’t even pronounce! This transition is anything but easy, especially in financial services, where roles are high-stakes, detail-driven, and fast-paced."

This transition - from university to a high-stakes finance role - is exactly where students feel lost. And yet, AI is now being used to assess them before they even get their foot in the door.

This reinforces why universities need to embed more practical training into their curriculums and why finance firms must offer more transparency and engagement to help students prepare for AI-driven hiring.
One of the biggest takeaways from the event was the stark disconnect between academic learning and real-world finance careers.

Samantha De Alba, Talent Acquisition Coordinator at Schroders, summed it up perfectly: "Yesterday, I attended an event by AmplifyME, a company founded by people who saw first-hand the massive gap between education and the realities of finance. Determined to bridge it, they developed immersive, simulation-based training that gives students real-world experience. And honestly? This is exactly what’s needed.

As a recruiter and career coach, I see this reality every day. We often forget that we were once students too, when every question felt valid, and teachers had the time (and responsibility) to guide us. Fast forward to adulthood, and suddenly, we’re expected to: Figure out what career path we want, build a CV, start job applications, pass psychometric test, and prepare for interviews. Then, once we land a job, it’s no longer about teachers - it’s about colleagues, team leaders, managers, and a whole corporate world full of job titles we can’t even pronounce! This transition is anything but easy, especially in financial services, where roles are high-stakes, detail-driven, and fast-paced."

This transition - from university to a high-stakes finance role - is exactly where students feel lost. And yet, AI is now being used to assess them before they even get their foot in the door.

This reinforces why universities need to embed more practical training into their curriculums and why finance firms must offer more transparency and engagement to help students prepare for AI-driven hiring.
our expert panel
A big thank you to our insightful panel: Vice President, EMEA Head of IBD, GCM & IM Campus Recruitment at Morgan Stanley; Professor Konstantinos Bozos, Chair in International Accounting & Finance at the University of Leeds; Kristina Kind, Head of Financial Services at Esade Careers; Rachael Yolland, Head of HR at TwentyFour Asset Management; and Alex Gorbansky, Managing Director at Wall Street Prep.
A big thank you to our insightful panel comprising: Amy Walshe, Vice President - EMEA Head of IBD, GCM & IM Campus Recruitment at Morgan Stanley, Professor Konstantinos Bozos - Chair in International Accounting & Finance at the University of Leeds, Kristina Kind, Head of Financial Services at Esade Careers, Rachael Yolland, Head of HR at TwentyFour Asset Management, and Alex Gorbansky, Managing Director at Wall Street Prep.

Where AI Works, and Where It Doesn’t

So where is AI actually useful in recruitment? At the event, we asked more than 100 HR and recruitment leaders to rank which stages of hiring are most suited to AI. Here’s how they ranked them:

1. CV screening – AI helps manage high volumes efficiently.
2. Psychometric testing – Standardised AI-driven assessments are widely used.
3. Video interview analysis – AI’s role here remains debated.
4. Candidate feedback and engagement – Personalisation is still needed.
5. Final hiring decisions – AI should not replace human judgment.

While AI is great for shortlisting candidates, filtering applications, and automating assessments, employers still want human judgment for final decisions.

Key takeaway: AI isn’t replacing human recruiters - it’s just the first filter. But if students don’t understand how AI works, they risk being screened out before they ever reach a real person.
So where is AI actually useful in recruitment? At the event, we asked more than 100 HR and recruitment leaders to rank which stages of hiring are most suited to AI. Here’s how they ranked them:

1. CV screening – AI helps manage high volumes efficiently.
2. Psychometric testing – Standardised AI-driven assessments are widely used.
3. Video interview analysis – AI’s role here remains debated.
4. Candidate feedback and engagement – Personalisation is still needed.
5. Final hiring decisions – AI should not replace human judgment.

While AI is great for shortlisting candidates, filtering applications, and automating assessments, employers still want human judgment for final decisions.

Key takeaway: AI isn’t replacing human recruiters - it’s just the first filter. But if students don’t understand how AI works, they risk being screened out before they ever reach a real person.

The Big Fix: Transparency & AI Literacy

When asked how to build trust in AI-driven hiring, our audience overwhelmingly agreed:


  1. Employers need to be more transparent about where and how AI is used in recruitment.
  2. Universities must embed AI literacy into career education, ensuring students know how AI assesses applications.
  3. More real-world engagement is needed, through employer-led insight days, case studies, and simulations.


Key takeaway: AI in hiring is a black box, and both students and employers know it. The more universities and firms educate students on how AI works, the fairer the recruitment process will be.

When asked how to build trust in AI-driven hiring, our audience overwhelmingly agreed:


  1. Employers need to be more transparent about where and how AI is used in recruitment.
  2. Universities must embed AI literacy into career education, ensuring students know how AI assesses applications.
  3. More real-world engagement is needed, through employer-led insight days, case studies, and simulations.


Key takeaway: AI in hiring is a black box, and both students and employers know it. The more universities and firms educate students on how AI works, the fairer the recruitment process will be.

Final Thought: AI is Here, But Human Skills Still Rule

Students need to understand AI but not rely on it. Employers use AI for efficiency, but they still hire for human skills. Universities must adapt, or risk leaving their students behind. This event proved that AI is changing recruitment, but the fundamentals of hiring remain the same.

What’s next? Universities, it’s time to prepare students for AI-driven hiring. Employers, it’s time to be more transparent. Let’s bridge the gap - together.

Learn how on-the-job simulations can help to do this. For universities: Book a demo here to see how our simulation-based programme Pathways can equip your students.

For financial institutions: Get in touch here to discuss how we can help you attract and upskill top talent.
Students need to understand AI but not rely on it. Employers use AI for efficiency, but they still hire for human skills. Universities must adapt, or risk leaving their students behind. This event proved that AI is changing recruitment, but the fundamentals of hiring remain the same.

What’s next? Universities, it’s time to prepare students for AI-driven hiring. Employers, it’s time to be more transparent. Let’s bridge the gap - together.

Learn how on-the-job simulations can help to do this. For universities: Book a demo here to see how our simulation-based programme Pathways can equip your students.

For financial institutions: Get in touch here to discuss how we can help you attract and upskill top talent.