2019 Business Graduate Job Preferences
The top 30 business employer rankings include financial services, professional services, technology, strong consumer brands, and some government agencies.
The top five are as follows:
J.P. Morgan
Amazon
Apple
Goldman Sachs
Google still holds the top spot, but its popularity has dropped by nearly 2 percentage points. J.P. Morgan rose 4 places this year to rank second.
The attractiveness of the fast-moving consumer goods and retail industries is declining for business graduates, but we are seeing emerging companies like Spotify and Buzzfeed enter the top 30, reflecting their popularity among the new generation of employees.
Complete ranking of ideal employers for business graduates:
2019 Engineering Graduate Job Preferences
The top 30 employer rankings for engineering are dominated by public sector/government, aerospace, and automotive companies.
The top five are as follows:
SpaceX
Tesla
Boeing
NASA
Although innovation is a key factor in attracting engineering graduates, students in this field also seek companies that offer both high income and a creative environment.
This is why companies like SpaceX, ExxonMobil, and Intel are more attractive to graduates compared to public sector and government agencies.
Complete ranking of ideal employers for engineering graduates:
2019 Computer Science Graduate Job Preferences
Although many tech companies nationwide recruit the same CS talent, Google and Microsoft remain the top preferred employers for computer science graduates.
The top five are as follows:
Microsoft
Apple
Amazon
When evaluating future employers, CS graduates place the highest value on future high income. This year's survey also shows that computer science students have significantly higher expected salaries than business and engineering students.
Computer science talents want to work for purpose-driven companies, which gives them a sense of serving a greater mission. High-tech companies with strong corporate cultures, such as Spotify and Netflix, are more attractive to CS graduates this year compared to last year.
Complete ranking of ideal employers for computer science graduates:
Other Key Findings
In a study of graduates from different generations, Gen Z graduates have higher expected starting salaries than Millennial graduates.
In terms of career goals and preferred industries, there is little difference between the two generations. However, when considering important company attributes, Millennial graduates place more emphasis on career training and development, job security, and leadership support for their growth; while Gen Z graduates focus more on future high income, job security, and an inspiring mission.
In terms of overall career aspirations, the top three career goals for graduates are:
1. Work-life balance
2. Feeling secure at work
3. Being dedicated to a cause or having a sense of presence
In terms of industries, the top three industries graduates most want to work in are:
1. Software, computer services, multimedia development, digital entertainment
2. Arts, entertainment, and leisure services
3. Health care services
Employer preferences vary by academic background. Business graduates value high income and leadership support; engineering graduates value innovation and high income; computer science graduates value high income and professional development; humanities graduates value an inspiring mission and ethical standards.
Meanwhile, Universum also released ideal employer rankings for graduates in natural sciences and humanities/liberal arts/education fields.
The rankings are for reference only. For most graduates, finding a job that suits them is best, and they should also avoid the mindset of "rejecting jobs beneath one's standard while failing to reach the higher ones".
For those preparing to apply, they can also refer to the job preferences and ideal employers of graduates in various fields based on their future career development goals, to better plan their choice of major from an employment perspective.
