The trend in young workers frequently switching jobs will likely continue, as current college students don’t plan on staying at their post-grad jobs for long.
A new survey of 1,500 undergraduates finds that a majority (56%) expect to stay at their first job after graduation for two years or less. But a distinct gap between upperclassmen and underclassmen highlights how students’ career expectations change throughout college. Seniors are significantly more likely than freshman to say they only expect to stay at their first job for one or two years (64% vs. 48%).
More Than Half of Students Want to Leave Their First Job Within 2 Years
How long do you expect to stay at your first job after graduation before either getting promoted or going to another company?
Overall, a strong majority (87%) of students think it’s likely they will get a job after graduation that corresponds with their major, compared to 13% who do not think it’s likely. Optimism appears to fade as students get older, though. Freshmen are more likely than seniors to say it’s very likely they will get a job after graduation that matches their area of study (54% vs. 43%).
Workers switch jobs for myriad reasons, but money and growth opportunities undoubtedly play a role for many. A majority (57%) of students say switching jobs frequently offers more learning and growth opportunities than staying at one job for years.
Six in 10 (60%) students also think full-time employees are more likely to get a significant pay raise by getting a job at another company, while 40% say employees are more likely to get a raise through a promotion. And seniors are less likely than freshmen to put their faith in promotions (34% vs. 52%).
Seniors are More Likely to Say New Jobs Offer More Pay Raises
In general, do you think full-time employees are more likely to get a significant pay raise by getting a promotion or getting a job at another company?
However, students still worry hopping from job to job will stain their resume. Almost three-quarters (72%) believe switching jobs frequently makes a job candidate look unreliable, while nearly 3 in 10 (28%) say it shows ambition.
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Methodology: This survey was designed and conducted by College Pulse. Interviews were conducted among a sample of 1,500 full-time and part-time students attending four-year colleges or universities in the U.S. who are part of College Pulse’s American College Student Panel.
