The Best Companies to Work for When You’re in College (2013 Edition)

A few months back, I made a post similar to this one listing the best companies to work for when you’re in college. This list of companies came from Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2012. This one is my updated one, presenting to you the the best companies to work for when you’re in college, in 2013.

As I’ve mentioned before, it’s important to find a job when you’re in college. Not only does it provide you a means of paying off your college expenses, but it also helps prepare you for the work force. Employers are looking for people who are primarily good at, well, working with people. True, they also look for students who have experience in that particular job field, but this list isn’t too concerned with that. The purpose of this post, like the previous one, is to provide you with a list options to get you established in the work force. They’re temporary, but they offer good job security for the time being and give you great benefits to add to it, even if you’re just a part-time employee.

Wegmans Food Markets

Rank: 5

If this one is an option for you, your probably going to college in one of these states: Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. As a part-timer, you’re entitled to benefits such healthcare coverage, paid time off, and retirement savings. The turnover rate at Wegmans is extremely low, at only 3.6%, which means the employee morale is good, because hardly anyone  is leaving. They also offer scholarships to employees who are going to college. It’s not much, but it’s something at least.

Marriott International

Rank: 64

This is one with more variety  and more opportunities if you ever decide to make a career out of Marriott. Benefits vary depending on the country (it isn’t specific about the U.S.), but they do offer employees room discounts and offer university students paid internship.

Darden Restaurants

Rank: 65

This one made a nice leap from last year’s rank of 99. Known for Red Lobster, Longhorn, and Olive Garden, Darden is the world’s largest full-service restaurant company. They offer their employees benefits such as health and life insurance, meal discounts, and an open door policy that allows their employees to express any concerns they may have.

Whole Foods Market

Ranks: 71

They offer benefits such as health and dental insurance, paid time off, and 401k retirement savings (there’s really nothing new here). Employment also includes a 20% store discount, which is a nice little break since most of your money will be spent on room and board, tuition, textbooks, and campus fees. An interesting new take on employee involvement is allowing employees to vote on new hires. I can’t say this system is entirely fair since some of the worst employees can become some of the best over time, and vice versa, but I imagine it at least takes some pressure off the hiring manager so that their employees aren’t hitting them over the head and going, “why the heck did you hire that guy!”

Publix Super Markets

Rank: 77

If you live anywhere in the southeastern U.S., then you’ve most likely heard of this one. Being the 4th largest grocer in the country, Publix offers its employees benefits such as life and dental insurance, as well as ownership in its employee stock program and tuition reimbursement. The department with the highest demand would have to be the Deli (who doesn’t love Publix subs?), so be sure to ask to work back there when you apply.

Starbucks

Rank: 94

Most companies tend to refer to their employees as family.  Starbucks, on the other hand, prefers to keep it at a ‘partner’ level, because even they know that when the family gets involved, things get messy. Anyway, benefits include health insurance to part-time employees as well as full-time, stock ownership, emergency financial aid, and free coffee (in the form of a 1 lb. bag).

FedEx Corporation

Rank: 98

With competitive pay and a reasonable list of benefits available to both full-time and part-time employees alike, you don’t have to be hard-pressed to not give this one a try. Some of the benefits that would be available to you are health insurgence, 401k retirement savings, and stock ownership.

So all of the old ones have returned in this list, along with a few new additions. Your options don’t have to be limited to this list, but it at least gives you an idea of what your best options are from now and up until you can get yourself firmly rooted into your career. If you would like to see the full list of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For, you can freely check it out here.