The aim of the research is to examine student employment, which plays an important role in the lives of university students. According to previous research results, paid work is characterized by an increasing tendency, with occasional and holiday work being characteristic of students, as well as regular work during the semester too. Current research focuses on the characteristics of gainful employment in the Hungarian-Romanian border region. The database PERSIST 2019 (N = 2199) was used, the research took place in higher education institutions in the eastern region of Hungary and in higher education institutions bordering the country. We investigate the differences between the demographic, social and institutional backgrounds of working students. We also analyze the relationships between effectiveness, engagement and student employment. According to our results there are differences between the institutions both in the frequency of employment and in the horizontal fit of work. Hungarian students take up work more often than Romanian students, but study-related work is more typical for Romanian students. However, paid work does not hinder the academic performance of the students and the building of relationships within the institution, it even has a positive impact on the students' university career.