Paycheck and purpose, please: What do students want from work in 2025?

Student expectations in 2025: Insights from the MBE Group report

According to the MBE Group's 2025 report "A po studiach idziemy do pracy", (eng. And after graduation, of to work we go), a whopping 75% of students plan to look for work related to their field of study. Not exactly shocking – most people don’t dream of becoming baristas with a master’s in biotechnology.

But the report dives much deeper into the hearts and minds of today’s students: how they look for work, what they expect from employers, and which benefits make them swipe right on your job offer. Let’s break it down!

Show me the money (and maybe some flexibility)

When asked what matters most in a potential employer, students didn’t hesitate: salary came out on top, followed closely by location. Makes sense – after all, rent won’t pay itself, and nobody dreams of a two-hour commute.

That said, flexibility is increasingly important, especially when paired with a convenient location. It’s all about balance – juggling classes, side gigs, and maybe even a little bit of sleep.

Purpose driven career

Today’s students aren’t just chasing money – they’re looking for meaningful careers that align with their studies. A solid 79% believe their degree will help them find a "cool" job (yes, really), and 77% expect it to lead to something that helps them grow professionally. A similar number (75%) expect it to land them a well-paying position. Ambitious? Sure. But unrealistic? Not necessarily.

MBE Group’s findings also show that female students consider more factors when choosing a job. For example, 52% of women value the ability to combine work and study, compared to just 34% of men. Women are also more focused on gaining professional experience. Meanwhile, men tend to care more about the prestige and profile of the company.

What do students want to know about employers?

If you're wondering what kind of employer content students actually care about, here's your cheat sheet:

• Development opportunities and training programs (53%) are the gold standard.
• Benefits (31%),
• project descriptions (27%),
• and the company’s non-business activities (25%) follow behind.

And if you think nobody reads job ads, think again. Only 2% of students skip researching employees entirely. The rest are actively googling potential employers, so companies should make sure they like what they find.

Student salary expectations: Where ambition meets reality

Money talks, and students are not shy about their expectations.

When it comes to internships:

• Most expect 3,000-3,999 PLN net (20% of respondents),
• followed by 4,000-4,999 PLN (19%).

For full-time jobs:

• 5,000-5,999 PLN net is the sweet spot (20%),
• With 16% hoping for 6,000–6,999 PLN.
• And yes, 15% dream big, aiming above 10,000 PLN.

This shows a clear divide: students expect more from full-time roles, which may reflect confidence in their qualifications – or, perhaps, simply a realistic look at today’s rising living costs.

Student expectations: 3 practical takeaways for employers

So, what does it all mean for companies seeking to recruit students in 2025? Here are they key insights:

1. Show them the path – 75% of students want jobs that match their studies. If you want to catch their eye, you might want to clearly connect your roles to relevant academic fields.
2. Be transparent – Salary ranges, clear job roles, and growth opportunities go a long way.
3. Know your audience – Female students value flexibility and experience. Male students lean toward prestige and industry status. One-size-fits-all won’t cut it.

It turns out, Gen Z isn’t so different from the rest of us. Zoomers want jobs that make sense, salaries that reflect their value, and careers they can be proud of.

They’ve studied hard, they’ve earned their degrees, and now they want jobs that actually make sense.

Source:
MBE Group. (2025). A po studiach idziemy do pracy 2025.

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