In the work, the author explores how practical experience and involvement in a real work environment contributes to the professional development of students, given that theoretical knowledge is often not effective enough without skills to work in real conditions. The purpose of the article is to identify and systematize the factors of the real working environment that have the greatest impact on the professional success of students. The article discusses professionalism, interactions between educational institutions and employers, the development of critical thinking, communication skills, and personal qualities of students; the author writes about the importance of the “Professionality” project, aimed at reducing training time and training highly competent specialists through partnerships between universities and enterprises. The study results include a classification of work environment components and their impact on career success, and a discussion of the integration of practical and theoretical learning to prepare students for a successful career.