A recent Switch on Business study discloses that when seeking a change, Apple employees prefer Google and Amazon as their top choices.
A recent study conducted by Switch on Business has shed light on the preferences and movements of employees within the major tech players, collectively known as the Big Four—Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Meta, and Apple. While these companies have long been coveted by tech professionals, the study aimed to uncover the patterns of employee transitions and the allure of one company over another after gaining experience in the industry.
The research indicates that Google is the primary destination for former Apple employees, and this movement is reciprocated, with Google employees frequently transitioning to Apple. Notably, Apple employees typically come from prior work experiences at Intel, Microsoft, or Amazon, rather than directly from Google.
To discern which tech giants attract the most talent from their competitors, Switch on Business conducted an analysis using LinkedIn employee profiles. The study considered employee counts for a selected group of tech companies, including Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, IBM, Tesla, Oracle, Netflix, Nvidia, Salesforce, Adobe, Intel, and Uber. By identifying employees who had worked at one company before joining another, the team calculated the number and percentage of current employees at each tech giant with prior experience at other major players.
The analysis uncovered that Meta has the highest percentage of employees with prior experience at another tech giant, standing at 26.51%. In contrast, Google emerged as the top attractor of tech talent overall, with 24.15% of its current employees having previously worked at another tech company. Conversely, IBM had the lowest percentage, with only 2.28% of its workforce coming from other tech companies.
In Apple’s case, the company tends to favor candidates from specific tech firms, including Intel, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, IBM, Oracle, Tesla, Nvidia, Adobe, and Meta. This preference for Intel employees is attributed to Apple’s acquisition of Intel’s smartphone modem business in 2019, aligning with Apple’s goal of developing its own radio chips. Departing Apple employees commonly choose Google, followed by Amazon, as their top destinations.
The study also revealed Apple’s distinctive approach to talent acquisition, relying on internal talent development and recruitment from non-tech backgrounds, setting it apart from other tech giants. In contrast, Google actively recruits from Apple but also extends its hiring efforts to other industry leaders like Microsoft.
The analysis further highlighted that Meta is the most popular destination for Google employees seeking new opportunities, with 3,363 individuals making this transition. This ongoing talent rivalry underscores the dynamic nature of the tech industry and the strategic moves made by companies to secure top-notch talent.
