No one wants to work in a hostile environment, but today’s college students care more about finding coworkers who will help them professionally than making close friends at the office.
A new survey of 1,500 undergraduates finds that an overwhelming majority (93%) of students say it’s important that a company has employees they can learn from while on the job. By comparison, roughly three-quarters (77%) of students say it’s important that they can see themselves becoming friends with potential coworkers when interviewing for a full-time job.
A smaller majority (69%) of students say a company having diverse employees is a priority. But female students are far more likely than male students to say diversity is important to them (84% vs. 49%). LGBTQ students are also significantly more likely than straight students to agree (83% vs. 63%).
Students Overwhelmingly Want Coworkers They Can Learn From
Percent of students who say it’s important for a company to have employees who…
Despite wanting coworkers who can help improve their skills, students still value camaraderie. When looking for a full-time job, about 4 in 10 (44%) students say friendliness is the most important quality to find in coworkers. Fewer students say honesty (19%), intelligence (12%), and passion (9%). In the same vein, nearly two-thirds (62%) of students report wanting to work somewhere where employees socialize outside of work, compared to 38% who want a job where employees keep their work and personal lives separate.
Yet students across lines of gender, race, and sexual orientation say they would accept a position even if they felt it wouldn’t be a good fit socially. A strong majority (82%) of students overall say they would accept a full-time job in their area of interest that offered a good salary if they didn’t think they would fit in with their potential coworkers.
While finding decent coworkers is a perk, it isn’t a dealbreaker. A strong majority (79%) say they would accept a full-time job after hearing more than one negative story about potential coworkers.
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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.
