Field, habitus, and capital in the career strategy of students (based on the example of students from the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation)

The article presents the results of a sociological study conducted in 2026, focusing on the career strategies of students from the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation (hereafter referred to as the Financial University) in the labor market. The empirical object of the study consisted of undergraduate students from the Financial University across various fields of study. The theoretical foundation of the research was based on P. Bourdieu's theory of capitals, which allowed for the analysis of the relationships between habitus, field, and types of capital in the context of students' career strategies. The authors pay particular attention to the career goals set by modern students and the actions taken to achieve them. The analysis of career strategies was conducted considering current trends in the labor market and changes occurring in the field of education. The empirical base of the research was formed by the results of a questionnaire survey of students from the Financial University (376 students were surveyed, including those studying in bachelor's programs (1st–4th years)), as well as materials from 15 in-depth interviews with 3rd–4th year students. The main conclusions of the conducted research are: the core of students' professional strategies is the values of material wealth; the habitus of the modern student is shaped by family influences, social experiences, and the labor market, which prioritizes income; students focused on income miss opportunities to accumulate cultural and social capital with long-term benefits. A significant contribution of the authors to the development of the topic is the investigation of the relationship between habitus, field, and types of capital among the Financial University students, which revealed a shift of priorities from formal education to the development of skills demanded in the labor market. The authors also identified a trend of reproducing social inequality through the choice of short-term economic gains at the expense of long-term investments in capital.