Workplace Selection Preferences of Electrical Engineering Students in Hungary – in View of Social Network Impact and Migration Potential

Abstract

The interdisciplinary research explores the workplace selection preferences of Electrical Engineering (EE) students in eight Hungarian universities. The topic contributes to the overall discussion on career decision making and within the wider context of the changing nature of work. The theoretical framework of the research incorporates concepts of employer attractiveness, career decision making, social network, and migration theories. The research adopted a mixed method approach and data was collected through a key survey with EE students (n=587) and qualitative interviews with both students (n=55) and key informants (n=57) such as engineering employers, recruitment agents, university personnel and members of engineering associations. Early research findings provided some interesting insights. Majority of EE students reported to be prepared to make short term compromises in order to achieve their long-term career goals. Numerous compromises shared by EE students were around social network relationships and around migration potential. Despite of the willingness to make trade-offs in family relationships for careers, family members and partners appeared to influence the workplace selection of EE students the most. Majority of the EE students in the research consider working abroad or moving to another region within Hungary for an attractive job opportunity. Further analysis of the research data may expand findings and answer additional research questions.