Although a majority of college students would like to work remotely after graduation, not every industry or company can make that dream a reality.
A new survey of 1,500 undergraduates finds that students who plan on taking an office job of some kind after graduation would prefer an open office with assigned desks (33%) if their job doesn’t allow the flexibility to work remotely. Fewer students prefer an office that contains small offices for individual teams (28%) or cubicles (25%).
Students Seeking Office Jobs After Graduation Prefer Open Office Plans
If you’re unable to work remotely after graduation, what type of office environment would be most appealing to you?
Cubicles tend to get a bad rap, but they could actually be making a comeback. Roughly 4 in 10 (41%) students overall say cubicles are good for concentration and privacy. Another 37% are neutral about cubicles, while 21% say they are too quiet and isolating.
Students overwhelmingly dislike “hot desking,” on the other hand. Two-thirds (67%) of students say employees sitting and working in a different spot in the office every day is too disorganized and confusing. Another 19% feel neutral about “hot desking” and 14% say it’s good for flexibility and meeting more coworkers. But there is a gender gap when it comes to “hot desking.” Female students overall are more likely than male students to classify it as disorganized and confusing (72% vs. 60%).
Female Students Prefer Laptops Over Desktops
What type of computer would you prefer to have at an office job?
More than half (46%) of students would prefer a desktop over a laptop at their desk, while 36% prefer a laptop and 19% do not care either way. Female students are more likely than male students to want a laptop (41% vs. 28%), however.
Outside of individual work stations, a majority (60%) of students say natural light is the most important aspect of an office space. Students’ second biggest need is a separate kitchen area where they can eat meals during the work day (17%), but fewer students care about having comfortable couches (6%) or a colorful interior (6%).
While having snacks around the office can save employees time, most students aren’t interested in unhealthy options. Students would prefer free coffee and tea (36%) or fresh fruit (31%) over chips (11%) and candy (3%) in the office. And as for office happy hours, just 9% of students say they would most like free beer and wine.
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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.
