A Glimpse into the Career Aspirations of Future Engineers
ESTIN has launched its first-ever institutional survey to uncover the companies that inspire its students the most and to explore what truly drives their career ambitions. This initiative offers fresh insights into how future engineers view top employers — both national and international — helping the school strengthen meaningful connections with industry.
Here is the final resultats of the « Best Companies To Work For, ESTIN 2025-2026 »:
Final Company Ranking (Top 15)
| Rank | Company | Weighted Score | Type |
| 1 | 101 | International | |
| 2 | Sonatrach | 83 | National |
| 3 | Microsoft | 68 | International |
| 4 | Meta (Facebook) | 46 | International |
| 5 | Amazon | 44 | International |
| 6 | NVIDIA | 42 | International |
| 7 | Ooredoo | 42 | National |
| 8 | Apple | 38 | International |
| 9 | IBM | 37 | International |
| 10 | Algérie Télécom | 35 | National |
| 11 | Djezzy | 30 | National |
| 12 | Huawei | 29 | International / National Branch |
| 13 | OpenAI | 23 | International |
| 14 | Tesla | 22 | International |
| 15 | Cevital | 22 | National |
Key insights reveal clear trends:
Survey results paint a clear picture: Google emerges as the top dream employer for ESTIN students, closely followed by Sonatrach, the national energy giant that continues to capture strong admiration. Microsoft, Meta, and Apple round out the Top 5, confirming students’ dual interest in both global tech leaders and Algeria’s most influential companies.
Beyond company names, students highlight what truly drives their ambitions — career development, lifelong learning, and purpose-driven work. While many aspire to gain international experience, they equally value local opportunities within Algeria’s expanding technology and energy industries.
The following Executive Summary presents the key findings, methodology, and emerging themes that define the professional ambitions of ESTIN’s future engineers.
Executive Summary
This analysis of the student survey reveals strong and clear trends in career aspirations. Students overwhelmingly favor major international technology companies, with Google and Microsoft leading the pack. There is also a significant desire to work for prominent national companies, particularly Sonatrach.
The primary motivation for students is not just compensation, but career development and growth opportunities. They seek impactful work, especially in AI, and value continuous learning. A significant majority of students aspire to work at an international level, highlighting a need for global opportunities and partnerships.
Key concerns raised include the lack of paid internships and restrictive final year project (PFE) processes, which students feel hinder their practical experience.
Methodology: Weighted Ranking System
To accurately reflect student preferences, a weighted scoring system was applied. A company ranked as #1 by a student received 10 points, #2 received 9 points, and so on, down to 1 point for a #10 ranking. This method gives more weight to top choices over companies mentioned in lower-priority slots. The analysis also includes a simple « mention count » for context.
- Rank 1: 10 points
- Rank 2: 9 points
- Rank 3: 8 points
- …
- Rank 10: 1 point
Data Cleaning: Company names were standardized (e.g., « Sonatrack » to « Sonatrach », « Nvidea » to « NVIDIA ») to ensure accurate scoring.
Part 1: Quantitative Analysis – Top Desired Companies
The results clearly show a hierarchy of preferred employers, which can be grouped into three main tiers.
Tier 1: The International Tech Giants
These are, by a significant margin, the most sought-after employers. Their global brand, perceived innovation, and career opportunities make them the top choice.
| Rank | Company | Weighted Score | Number of Mentions |
| 1 | 101 | 14 | |
| 2 | Microsoft | 68 | 9 |
| 3 | Meta (Facebook) | 46 | 7 |
| 4 | Amazon | 44 | 6 |
| 5 | NVIDIA | 42 | 5 |
| 6 | Apple | 38 | 6 |
| 7 | IBM | 37 | 6 |
| 8 | OpenAI | 23 | 4 |
| 9 | Tesla | 22 | 3 |
Tier 2: The National Champions
These Algerian companies are highly regarded, especially in the energy and telecom sectors. They are seen as stable, large-scale employers offering significant local opportunities.
| Rank | Company | Weighted Score | Number of Mentions |
| 1 | Sonatrach | 83 | 10 |
| 2 | Ooredoo | 42 | 8 |
| 3 | Algérie Télécom | 35 | 6 |
| 4 | Djezzy | 30 | 5 |
| 5 | Huawei (Algeria) | 29 | 7 |
Note: Sonatrach’s high score places it second overall, demonstrating its powerful standing among students, rivaling even the top international tech firms.
here is the final ranking of the most desired companies among your students.
Final Company Ranking (Top 15)
| Rank | Company | Weighted Score | Type |
| 1 | 101 | International | |
| 2 | Sonatrach | 83 | National |
| 3 | Microsoft | 68 | International |
| 4 | Meta (Facebook) | 46 | International |
| 5 | Amazon | 44 | International |
| 6 | NVIDIA | 42 | International |
| 7 | Ooredoo | 42 | National |
| 8 | Apple | 38 | International |
| 9 | IBM | 37 | International |
| 10 | Algérie Télécom | 35 | National |
| 11 | Djezzy | 30 | National |
| 12 | Huawei | 29 | International / National Branch |
| 13 | OpenAI | 23 | International |
| 14 | Tesla | 22 | International |
| 15 | Cevital | 22 | National |
Key Takeaway: The final ranking clearly shows a dual interest. While global tech giants like Google and Microsoft dominate the top spots, the national energy company Sonatrach is the undisputed second-most desired employer, outranking nearly every other international firm. This highlights a strong desire among students for both world-class international experience and opportunities within Algeria’s leading national industries.
Tier 3: Other Notable Mentions & Emerging Startups
This group includes other international tech firms, local startups, and specific industry players.
- Yassir: Mentioned 4 times, indicating strong interest in the local startup success story.
- Telecom Sector: Mobilis was mentioned multiple times, often alongside Ooredoo and Djezzy.
- Cyber Security Firms: Students in this specialization specifically named companies like Cisco, Kaspersky, Cybears, and Keystone Security.
- Research & Academia: One student expressed a clear desire to pursue a PhD and work in research labs at top French universities (Sorbonne, Paris Saclay, etc.), highlighting an academic career path interest.
Part 2: Qualitative Analysis – What Drives Student Choices?
A. Key Selection Criteria
When asked how they choose a company, students prioritized factors related to personal and professional growth over purely financial incentives.
- Career Development (Most Popular): This was the most frequently cited criterion. Students want clear paths for advancement, learning, and skill-building.
- Working Conditions: This includes work-life balance, company culture, and a positive environment.
- Compensation: While not the top criterion, competitive salary and benefits remain an important factor.
- Company Financial Health & Size: Students prefer stable, successful companies, whether they are large multinationals or well-funded SMEs.
- Company Sector & Impact: Many students, particularly in AI, expressed a desire to work on « socially impactful projects » in fields like healthcare, sustainability, or education.
B. Desired University-Company Collaborations
Students want ESTIN to build bridges to their dream employers. The most frequently suggested companies for collaboration are a direct reflection of their top employment choices:
- International: Google, Microsoft, IBM, NVIDIA, Tesla, Huawei.
- National: Sonatrach, Yassir, Condor, and other local startups like Qareeb and Namla.
- Practical Suggestion: One student powerfully stated, « Any company tbh, because there are literally no conventions for internships and we dont get paid for them either. » This highlights a critical need for structured, paid internship programs.
C. Career Aspirations & Expectations
The open-ended comments provide deep insight into the mindset of the students:
- Ambition for Impact: « I aim to build a career in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, focusing on ethical and applied AI… to contribute to AI solutions that have a real social and global impact. »
- Value of Practical Experience: A student emphasized the need for partnerships with Algerian startups like Yassir to gain « valuable hands on experience to real industry challenges. »
- Frustration with Current System: One student noted concerns about the PFE (final year project) process being « so restrictive » and the lack of paid internships, which they see as a barrier to practical learning.
- Focus on Specialization: Cyber security students clearly outlined their goals to protect critical infrastructure and obtain key certifications (CEH, CISSP), showing a well-defined career trajectory.
D. Preference: National vs. International
The data on this question is unequivocal.
- International: 64%
- No Preference: 25%
- National: 11%
Overwhelmingly, students aspire to international careers. This suggests they are looking for global opportunities, exposure to different markets, and potentially higher compensation and more advanced technological challenges than they perceive are available locally.
Part 3: Analysis by Student Profile
- IA & DS (AI & Data Science) Students: This group is highly focused on top-tier global AI leaders like Google DeepMind, OpenAI, NVIDIA, and Meta. They frequently mention goals related to research, innovation, and ethical AI. They also show interest in applying their skills at national champions like Sonatrach and local startups like Yassir.
- Cyber Security Students: Their choices are more specialized, targeting security divisions of large national entities (Algérie Poste, Algérie Télécom, Sonatrach) and specific security firms (Cisco, Kaspersky, Cybears, Keystone).
- 1st/2nd Year « Preparatory Cycle » (CP) Students: Their choices are often the big, globally recognized brand names (Google, Microsoft, Apple, NASA). This is typical for students earlier in their studies who are attracted to the most visible industry leaders.
- 3rd Year « Superior Cycle » (CS) Students: Their choices become more nuanced and specific, often including a mix of top international firms, promising local startups, and major national companies, reflecting a more mature consideration of the job market.
Actionable Recommendations for ESTIN
Based on this analysis, here are four key recommendations for the school administration and career services department:
- Strengthen International Partnerships: Given the overwhelming preference for international careers, actively pursue partnerships, virtual career fairs, and internship opportunities with the top-ranked companies (Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, NVIDIA). Leverage the alumni network for connections.
- Deepen National Industry Ties: Sonatrach is a clear priority for students. Formalize collaborations for internships, PFE projects, and recruitment events. Engage with the thriving Algerian startup ecosystem, particularly Yassir, to provide students with practical, innovative experiences.
- Address a Student Pain Points: The feedback on unpaid internships and restrictive PFEs is a critical action item. Explore models for sponsored projects and advocate for paid internship conventions. This would significantly improve student preparedness and morale.
- Tailor Career Guidance by Specialization: Organize specific events for different specializations. For example, host a « Cyber Security Day » with companies like Cybears and Keystone, and an « AI Innovators » event with speakers from AI-focused companies (even if virtual) to cater to the distinct interests of your student body.