Google is the number one “dream employer” for high-achieving teenagers in the first generation of digital natives, according to the National Society of High School Scholars’ (NSHSS) 2017 career interest survey. Apple places sixth on the list.
The 10th annual survey, conducted in partnership with Hanover Research, reveals the professional aspirations of some of the most promising Generation Z students, the oldest of whom are now heading to college. Technology companies like Instagram, which cracked the list for the first time, and healthcare providers, dominated the next-generation workforce’s list of preferred employers, reflecting their comfort with computers and eagerness to make an impact.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital grabbed the number two spot on the list, followed by local hospitals, the Walt Disney Company, the FBI, Apple and the CIA. When asked which fields they expect to work in, survey respondents placed healthcare first, but listed several other areas, including sciences and business, ahead of technology.
NSHSS is an honors society for students that offers member-exclusive scholarships, and connects high-achieving scholars with colleges and universities around the globe. In addition, its members can participate in exclusive member events across the U.S., unique study abroad and experiential learning opportunities and benefit from a host of partner offers. Its 2017 member survey is the first to highlight the career ambitions of the teens making up Generation Z, who were born around the early 2000s.
All survey respondents are NSHSS members, and while most are part of Generation Z, the respondents also include some college students and college graduates. The diverse group is 77% female, and 46% are African-American, Hispanic or Asian-American.
