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Best Companies for College Graduates

When you graduate from college, there are many unique opportunities and paths to explore. If you’re searching for a great first job but need help figuring out where to start, you’re in the right place. The following list includes some of the best companies to work for out of college. Although this is in no way an exhaustive list, it’s a great starting point for recent graduates who want to work for a vibrant, people-first company. Let’s get into it. 

Learn more: How to Find a Job

How to find the right company for you

The best employee benefits are the ones that matter most to you. Some recent grads are all about finding mission-driven work and high levels of well-being. Others prioritize pay and benefits or companies with the best DE&I efforts. To find the right company, seek benefits packages matching your priorities and values. That way, you find your first job meaningful and rewarding.

Identifying Top Workplaces for recent grads

Energage is the HR technology company that powers Top Workplaces, the nation’s leading employer recognition program. Since 2006, Energage has surveyed millions of employees from thousands of organizations to determine what workplace culture components matter most to people and why.

A recent Energage study looked at medium and larger-sized organizations with a notable population of employees 25 and under. The following 20 Top Workplaces achieved notably high workplace employee engagement and experience scores among the 25 and under age group:

  • Monument Realty
  • Axle Logistics
  • First American Equipment Finance
  • KnowBe4
  • Excel Engineering, Inc.
  • Ocaquatics Swim School
  • Beam Therapeutics
  • Orthopaedic Rehab Specialists
  • IQTalent Partners
  • GreenState Credit Union
  • Cosmos Corporation
  • Credera
  • Power Construction
  • Source2
  • Primera Engineers
  • Liberty Home Guard
  • Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Aya Healthcare
  • Origami Risk
  • GTE Financial

Now, let’s take a closer look at a handful of these award-winning organizations. 

Axle Logistics

Axle Logistics aims to bring comfort and convenience to a notoriously inefficient industry. Team members are energetic, entrepreneurial, and passionate. Based in the greater Tennessee area, Axle gives all employees the professional development tools necessary for success and unlimited access to dynamic and driven leaders.

At Axle Logistics, recent grads enjoy unique incentives, work-life flexibility, and excellent employee benefits. Current employees describe the company culture as energetic, inspiring, meaningful, rewarding, and fun. If competitive pay, growth opportunities, and a positive, people-first culture sound good, check out their open job listings. 

First American Equipment Finance

Ranked among the largest equipment finance companies in the nation, First American Equipment Finance is one of the best companies to work for out of college. Strong values, innovation, and recognition drive employees at First American. Often looking to each other as resources, employees are rewarded for ambition, curiosity, and purpose.

Survey data shows that employees describe the company culture as inclusive, collaborative, energetic, and innovative. If you are looking for great leaders, life-long learning, empowerment, and meaningful work, then First American Equipment Finance might be your place. One employee said, “Leadership allows for flexibility, professional development is encouraged, and the environment is fun, open, and inclusive.”

KnowBe4

KnowBe4 is a high-growth information security startup on a mission to have fun. Working there, you can expect regular company outings, in-house celebrations, and a whole team dedicated to creating a positive working environment. But KnowBe4 isn’t just on this list because it’s fun to work there.

The company provides employees with world-class training and professional development opportunities, too. Plus, the award-winning culture promotes transparency, DE&I, and employee well-being. Together, these things make KnowBe4 one of the best companies for college graduates.

GreenState Credit Union

GreenState Credit Union is an award-winning financial institute with a vision of creating lasting value for members. Leaders at GreenState Credit Union help employees unlock their potential, encourage risks, and embrace continuous improvement. Employees are empowered to shape the future, making it one of the best companies to work for after college.

Winning eleven Top Workplaces awards in the past year alone, GreenState performs at a high level and expects employees to do the same. But don’t be fooled. Survey data shows that the organization also prioritizes work-life flexibility and employee well-being.

Credera

Up next on the list of best companies for college graduates is Credera. Credera is a global boutique consulting firm on a mission to make an extraordinary impact on its clients, people, and communities. The workplace culture at Credera is all about putting people first and valuing diverse opinions. Current employees at Credera describe the culture as humble, authentic, and driven. Whether you are a student or an experienced professional, this is a great place to find a new job.

Primera Engineers

Primera Engineers is a longstanding leader in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. The company values collaboration, connection, exceptional expertise, and suburb service. To achieve success, Primera values people first. And not just any people, the kind of people who are kind, fun, and humble.

Plus, the company is woman-owned, growing fast, and committed to fostering a dynamic and diverse workforce. If you are a knowledge-loving person who loves building meaningful relationships, this might be the innovative culture you’re looking for. Check out the Primera careers page for quotes from current employees who love where they work.

Origami Risk

Over the past decade, Origami Risk has received over two dozen awards for excellence in service, technology, and innovation. It’s one of the best companies to work for after college because of the meaningful and challenging work, competitive compensation and benefits, and award-winning work-life balance. At Origami Risk, employees value trust, fun, innovation, and the people they work with – and their high retention rates prove it.

Tips to help you find your first job out of college

Here, we highlighted just a handful of the nation’s Top Workplaces, and now it’s time to apply. Here are a few helpful tips for finding a job as a recent graduate:

  • Update your LinkedIn profile and resume.
  • Network with as many people as possible — LinkedIn is a great place to explore your current connections and find new ones.
  • Research company mission and vision statements.
  • Review employee review sites or talk to current employees.
  • Customize your cover letters and applications for each role.
  • Focus on internships and other entry-level positions.
  • If available, seek career services support or a recruiter.

Find a career you'll love with Top Workplaces

After decades of research, we know the qualities of a great workplace. Top Workplaces awards validate authentic, people-first cultures with high levels of employee engagement. Because they rely entirely on confidential employee feedback, the awards are a credible way to gauge company culture and employee experience. Explore Top Workplaces award recipients now to refine your search and find a job you’ll love.

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Energage is a Certified B Corporation that helps organizations measure, shape, and showcase their culture to build a sustainable competitive advantage.  Having launched the industry’s first employee engagement survey in 2006, Energage draws on the employee feedback collected through the leading employer recognition program – Top Workplaces – to maintain the industry’s most robust workplace culture benchmarks.

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