Condicional ÚNETE a diferentes tablas

Podrías usar una combinación externa:

select *
  from USER u
  left outer join EMPLOYEE e ON u.user_id = e.user_id
  left outer join STUDENT s ON u.user_id = s.user_id
 where s.user_id is not null or e.user_id is not null

alternativamente (si no está interesado en los datos de la tabla EMPLEADO o ESTUDIANTE)

select *
  from USER u
 where exists (select 1 from EMPLOYEE e where e.user_id = u.user_id)
    or exists (select 1 from STUDENT s  where s.user_id = u.user_id)