Work experiences of university students: The case of Afyonkarahisar–Erenler

This study examines university students' work experiences within the framework of flexible, insecure, and precarious working conditions. The transformation of labor processes into more flexible and unprotected forms under the influence of neoliberal policies has pushed students to engage in informal and low-wage jobs, particularly within the service sector. In parallel with Zygmunt Bauman's concept of liquid modernity, students struggle with uncertainty and insecurity in the flexible labor market. The theoretical framework of the study is shaped by Zygmunt Bauman's analysis of the flexible and precarious structure of liquid modern society, and the labor processes reshaped by neoliberal policies. The main objective of this research is to understand the work experiences of university students who are part of the labor market and to assess the challenges they face. The sample of the study consists of students residing in the Erenler neighborhood of Afyonkarahisar province. A quantitative research method was employed, and a survey was used as the data collection tool. A total of 220 surveys were conducted with university students currently employed. The research focused on variables such as flexible working, job insecurity, wages received, sectors of employment, and reasons for working. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS 25.0 software. The findings reveal that, while flexibility in the labor market carries several disadvantages, for working students it also offers a certain degree of freedom of movement and may serve as a buffer against workplace mobbing.