Swiss Agency Overhauls Entry-Level Hiring to Combat AI-Driven Skill Erosion
Published on 07/26/2026 at 23:41 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
The Zurich-based creative agency Thjnk is fundamentally restructuring how it brings young talent into the organisation. Rather than simply offering more internships, the company is converting many of those short-term positions into permanent starter roles — a direct response to two converging pressures: high rates of intern ghosting and the creeping risk of skill loss caused by artificial intelligence.
From Internships to Permanent Jobs
The agency has introduced a new strategic framework designed to reduce the volatility that has become common with trainee placements. Across the industry, employers increasingly report that interns either fail to show up for their first day or walk away from positions without notice. Thjnk’s approach treats trainees as full team members from the outset, embedding them more deeply into daily operations.
A central element of the plan involves shifting away from traditional internships toward fixed entry-level jobs. These positions are structured explicitly around systematic knowledge building. The logic is straightforward: tighter bonds between employer and junior staff are now considered a critical factor in long-term business performance.
The Deskilling Threat
The restructuring is also a direct response to technological change. Thjnk has identified the growing use of AI as a potential driver of what experts call “deskilling” — the gradual erosion of core competencies. When routine tasks are handed off to automated systems, newcomers may never develop the fundamental craft and strategic abilities they need.
This concern is backed by fresh data from the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In a survey of 70 senior executives, half reported that they had already observed a decline in skills within their own teams. The forward-looking picture is even starker: more than 60% of those surveyed view deskilling as a serious threat to corporate performance over the next three to five years.
AI as Assistant, Not Replacement
To counter this trend, Thjnk has drawn a clear line around how AI is used in the workplace. The technology is consistently positioned as an assistant — a support tool — rather than a means of fully delegating core tasks. The goal is for young professionals to use AI tools while still mastering the underlying processes and quality standards themselves.
By creating permanent entry-level positions instead of temporary internships, the agency says it can dedicate sufficient time and resources to this kind of hands-on training. The strategy marries technological modernisation with old-fashioned knowledge transfer, aiming to preserve work quality in the age of generative AI while also making the company a more attractive employer for loyal junior staff.
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