A recent survey of high school and community college students revealed the workforce’s next generation value personal satisfaction over money, status, and perks from their future profession. The survey, conducted by CCP Inc  also revealed young people today are thinking seriously about their career and trying to connect their studies with personal interests and potential lines of work wherever possible.

Students Will Sacrifice Income to Enjoy Their Work 

According to survey results, students continue to be idealistic in their vision of their future professional endeavors. Of the respondents,

• 80% believe a career should be something that brings enjoyment and fulfillment to their life
• 53% believe their career will play a role in defining them as an individual
• 72% said they want to choose a career that aligns with their passions
• 78% believe they will achieve the most success in a career for which they have a passion and that they enjoy on a daily basi

In addition, they see their job as being about more than merely making a living. They are willing to take less pay and fewer benefits for a job they are passionate about. Consider that 58% believe “enjoyment of the work itself” is the primary motivator for people who are highly successful in their career—more than money and a desire for power, influence, and respect, among other choices.

The survey results appear to indicate that this attitude is a reaction to students’ observations of their parents. More than half of respondents indicated their parents either “like what they do, but suspect they’d rather do something else” (30%) or “don’t like what they do, but feel they need to do it for the money” (27%).

The Connection Between Academics Today and Work Tomorrow

Students feel there is a two-way positive impact when their personal interests and career ambitions are tied into their studies.

• When asked about what gets them to engage in their academic responsibilities, the largest group of respondents (27%) cited interest in the subject as their primary motivator to study, compared to only 9% who cited “getting into a good college”
• 45% of participants reported that they study “much harder” when they perceive a direct connection between their course work and their planned career
• 55% believe that knowing their ideal career path will improve their college performance

Students are likely mindful of how their studies affect their career because they are already thinking hard about what they are going to do with their life. An overwhelming majority of participants (81%) said they either “constantly” or “frequently” think about their future career, while no respondents said they “rarely” or “never” give their career any thought.

“Although today’s students are very ambitious, they prefer to direct their energies toward achieving gratification from their work more so than a large paycheck or a high degree of prestige,” said Catherine Raines, educational consultant for CPP, Inc.