Paul,
Interesting idea. It may work in some places with certain work cultures, but I do not think it would work in most of the places I have worked.
In my world, internal auditors need to have some credibility, gained by having successfully spent some time in their job and having gained some understanding of the people, the culture, and the organization.
A deeper understanding QMS standards is not accomplished overnight. I think it takes some time, learning them from an academic perspective as well as living under them in one’s job.
I also think a new, wet-behind-the-ears graduate as auditor would be given a hard time by the auditees, perhaps even if they had valid findings. The result may be a bad experience for the auditor and auditees as well.
Having said that, if the “new” person has, say, a year experience in their job, is respected and seen as at least adequate, and has themselves witnessed audits and/or been audited, they may be a great candidate. One my best auditors is a person like that, and better than many of the auditors with much more experience.
JMHO.