Get All Access for $5/mo

The 25 Companies That Gen Zers Dream of Working at You'll never guess who tops the list.

By Madison Semarjian

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

FatCamera | Getty Images

With the oldest gen Zers ready to receive their diplomas, companies are surely scrambling to win them over, whether with the best benefits or a fulfilling mission.

The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) conducted a survey to see which companies are most appealing to the soon-to-be grads. While millennials and gen Zers have long ranked a position at Google as their top dream job (because nap pods, indoor slides and free gourmet cafeterias are still all the buzz for the next generation of worker bees), the tech giant has been bumped to second.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, last year's runner up, slid into first. While the nonprofit hospital doesn't offer free cooking classes or massages (though it offers onsite fitness centers), St. Jude's mission to end cancer and commitment to a "giving back" culture has overshadowed Google's campus gimmicks.

Related: How to Use Authenticity to Capture the Atttention of Generation Z

While the older, but not so distant, millennials brought tech to the forefront, gen Z digital natives now show more interest in a career in healthcare than creating the newest gadget. Six out of the top 25 dream jobs on NSHSS are healthcare-related.

However, that doesn't mean that a job in technology is a thing of the past. Amazon, Netflix and Instagram, staked a claim on the list. Government agencies, including the FBI and CIA, landed in the top 10. Consistent with their passion for healthcare, gen Z is highly dedicated to service.

Related: 8 Strategies to Avoid Wasting Your Company's Gen-Z Talent

Veterans such as Walt Disney Corporation and Nike made a reappearance on the list alongside some newcomers, including NASA and SpaceX. Chick-fil-A became the first food company to score a spot on the top 25, most likely due to its programs and scholarships focusing on leadership development and community impact (and tasty chicken).

Here are the 25 top places gen Zers dream of working, according to NSHSS.

  1. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

  2. Google

  3. Local Hospital

  4. Amazon

  5. Walt Disney Company

  6. Apple, Incorporated

  7. FBI

  8. BuzzFeed

  9. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

  10. Health Care Service Corp.

  11. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

  12. NASA

  13. Mayo Clinic

  14. Netflix

  15. Microsoft

  16. U.S. State Department

  17. DreamWorks Animation SKG

  18. SpaceX

  19. Nike

  20. Universal Studios

  21. The New York Times

  22. Atlantic Health System

  23. Instagram

  24. Chick-fil-A

  25. Boeing

Madison Semarjian

Founder of Mada

Madison Semarjian is the founder of Mada, an outfit curation app.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Starting a Business

He Started a Business That Surpassed $100 Million in Under 3 Years: 'Consistent Revenue Right Out of the Gate'

Ryan Close, founder and CEO of Bartesian, had run a few small businesses on the side — but none of them excited him as much as the idea for a home cocktail machine.

Franchise

The Top 10 Coffee Franchises in 2024

From a classic cup of joe to a creamy latte, grab your favorite mug and get ready to brew up success with the best coffee franchises.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Marketing

How Small Businesses Can Leverage Dark Social to Drive Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Dark social accounts for 70% of social media shares and is crucial for small businesses. Here's how you can tap into this hidden marketing opportunity.

Business News

'Jaw-Dropping Performance in 2024,' Says a Senior Analyst as Nvidia Reports Earnings

Nvidia reported its highly-anticipated third-quarter earnings on Wednesday.

Business News

'Do You Sell Cars?': Tesla CEO Elon Musk Trolls Jaguar Rebrand on X

The team running Jaguar's X account was working hard on social media this week.