The first-ever LinkedIn “Top Attractors” list of the most desirable companies to work is out, and several firms engaged in retail were included.
The list used proprietary LinkedIn data and examined actions of LinkedIn’s members to rank the top companies where people want to work now. The industries attracting the most job seekers in the U.S. include technology (45%), media and entertainment (13%), financial services (10%) and professional services (10%), among others. However, six of the companies ranked in the U.S. top 10 are retailers or have significant retail operations.
The most desirable company to work, Google, operates a large e-commerce marketplace. LinkedIn cited perks including on-site food, massages and guest speakers, as well as post-mortem benefits. Google also studies how to build teams and allows employees to work on important projects with other high achievers.
Facebook, ranked third, has a millennial CEO and offers four-month paid parental leave. The company also has strong revenue and offers the chance to work independently. Fourth-ranked Apple operates close to 500 stores globally as well as a direct-to-consumer business. The company provides most employees with restricted stock and is designing a new multibillion dollar corporate campus.
Fifth-ranked Amazon.com, the world’s largest e-commerce retailer, provides excellent salaries and such perks as the Amazon Career Choice Program, which pays 95% of tuition for in-demand fields. Microsoft, ranked seventh, operates more than 75 stores as well as a direct-to-consumer channel. Perks include an individualized career path, a corporate campus with numerous amenities, and career coaching, mentoring and training opportunities. Twitter, ranked ninth, is increasing the e-commerce capabilities of tweets and holds regular meetings between its leaders and employees to stress transparency.
Additionally, professionals point to notable CEOs, schedule flexibility and company growth as the most important attributes when considering where to work. While every company on the U.S. list fosters a certain culture, business model and leadership team, the list revealed some key themes. These include preferences for growth over revenue, well-known founding CEOs. And flexible work schedules.
LinkedIn partnered with Censuswide Research to carry out an online survey of 6,266 workers between May 18 and May 23, 2016. Countries surveyed were Australia, Brazil, France, India, U.K. and USA.