Right now, thousands of new graduates are flooding onto the job market. They want jobs that pay good salaries, offer solid benefits, and present an opportunity to make a significant difference—or at least work on cool projects.
Forbes recently partnered with research firm Statistica to generate the latest edition of the America’s Best Employers for New Grads list. Data for the list was gathered from 28,000 “young and early career professionals in the U.S.” who work for companies with at least 1,000 employees. Those surveyed were asked to judge their employer across several metrics, including salary and career advancement opportunities.
As you can see from the top part of the list, tech companies such as Google and Microsoft made the top 20:
Among new graduates, the biggest of the Big Tech firms have a reputation as workplaces that pay high salaries and offer superior benefits; if you’re lucky enough to land a job at Google, Microsoft, or another tech giant, there’s also the chance you could end up working on a project that impacts millions—perhaps even billions—of people.
Despite headlines about a possible recession and economic calamity (and layoffs at some huge tech companies, including Microsoft and Google), employers are also still looking to hire: according to NACE (the National Association of Colleges and Employers), two-thirds of employers still expect to hire computer science graduates this spring, and just over half will hire information science and computer systems graduates. That’s pretty robust, if a slight decline from fall 2022 projections.
If you’re a new grad with a tech degree, always keep in mind that you don’t have to work for a tech giant, or even a tech company. Many graduates find fulfilling jobs at smaller companies where they might have more opportunities to participate in projects and make a strategic difference. At smaller companies, you may also have more leverage to secure the salary and benefits you want, including (but not limited to!) the ability to work from home for at least part of the week.
As you begin to explore the job market, follow some simple tips to increase your hiring potential, including filling in gaps in your knowledge with self-directed learning. Strengthening core skills such as networking and interviewing can likewise unlock great opportunities.
