World’s Top Employers for New Grads

For an exclusive CNNMoney list, research firm Universum Global surveyed college students around the world to see where they most want to work.

1. Google

REUTERS/Chris HelgrenRank among business students: 1
Rank (engineering students): 1

Headquarters: Mountain View, CA
No. of employees: 53,900

What makes it great: College students worldwide dream of starting their careers at Google -- it's ranked no. 1 on our list of most popular employers by business and engineering majors alike.

The search engine giant attracts employees eager to work at the forefront of technology and innovation. In just the past year or so, Google has built a new Chromebook from the ground up and jazzed up Google Maps with features ranging from practical (local train schedules) to exotic (underwater panoramic photos).

Then there are the famous perks: constant free food, an errand service, massages on site.

What they're looking for: Top candidates show they're "Googley," says a company spokesperson. In other words, they can innovate in a fast-paced environment, thrive on small teams, excel in flat organizations, and care about making the world a better place, she says.

New grads don't necessarily have to be techies. Google's careers site lists opportunities in business strategy, finance and marketing, to name a few. --Lauren Gensler, contributor

2. EY (Ernst & Young)

AP PhotoRank among business students: 2
Rank (engineering students): 48

Headquarters: London, UK
No. of employees: 167,000

What makes it great: It may date back to the 19th century, but don't call this Big 4 firm stuffy. Aiming to modernize its image, Ernst & Young recently rebranded, renaming itself "EY" (a move that also drew chuckles since "EY!" is the name of a racy Spanish magazine). It developed a sleek mobile app, too, that offers users insights into market trends.

The firm prides itself on working with the companies of tomorrow, and hosts annual awards events to honor leading entrepreneurs around the world, says Shirley Jackson, global lead for recruitment.

What they're looking for: A global mindset is key, says Jackson: Recruiters look for team players who can deliver outstanding client service and work effectively with people who have diverse backgrounds, skills and perspectives.

EY hired more than 24,000 entry-level employees over the last fiscal year -- most of them former interns -- and expects to hire even more this year. Business majors are preferred, and in many countries, EY will help students cover the cost of a degree. In the U.K., students can become trainees right out of secondary school. --L.G.

3. Goldman Sachs

REUTERS/Lucas JacksonRank among business students: 3
Rank (engineering students): 25

Headquarters: New York, NY
No. of employees: 32,400

What makes it great: New hires at Goldman receive world-class training and quickly get the opportunity to influence client projects, says Michael Desmarais, global head of recruiting.

They also get the opportunity to make big bucks. On average, Goldman employees were paid nearly $400,000 last year.

Recent challenges like former executive Greg Smith's tell-all book, which was published last fall, and a jury finding former trader Fabrice Tourre liable for fraud after he misled investors in 2007, don't seem to have hurt the stock price. The investment bank's shares currently are up more than 40% from their 52-week low.

What they're looking for: Well-rounded candidates with great grades will stand out, says Desmarais. Goldman seeks intellectually curious recruits, who have the discipline and desire to keep learning constantly, even in areas beyond their direct job role, he says.

Goldman's summer program is a primary feeder into entry-level slots, Desmarais says. Its technology division is big and growing, but new grads are hired across all business areas, he says. --L.G.

4. PricewaterhouseCoopers

AP Photo/Erik SchelzigRank among business students: 4
Rank (engineering students): N.A.

Headquarters: London, UK
No. of employees: 180,500

What makes it great: Got wanderlust? At PwC, full-timers can apply to live and work in another country (France! Hong Kong! New Zealand!) after just three to four years on board.

Community service is big at this Big 4 firm too. The "PwC family" put in a collective 120,000-plus hours last year. Its Project Belize has sent more than 700 employees to teach financial literacy to kids in Central America since launching five years ago.

What they're looking for: PwC looks for recruits who are academically strong, active on campus, and primed for personal and professional growth, says Alexa Hamill, head of campus recruitment.

An ability to adapt quickly to change is important, since successful candidates "not only know how to work hard," she says, they also know how to "embrace opportunities that arise."

In the U.S. alone, about 4,000 new grads are hired every year, she says, about 70% of them former interns. --L.G.

5. Microsoft

AP Photo/Wally Santana Rank among business students: 5
Rank (engineering students): 2

Headquarters: Redmond, WA
No. of employees: 94,000

What makes it great: The software giant is hoping to make employees feel like they work at a smaller firm. Its management structure got reorganized this summer in an effort to cut bureaucracy and spur innovation and team-building.

The overhaul doesn't stop there: Microsoft is looking for a new CEO, buying Nokia's phone division (which makes Windows Phone devices) and turning itself into a devices and services company.

Techie perks abound: Employees can play videogames on an Xbox in one of the campus breakrooms, power up their electric car at a nearby charging station, or share their innovations at an annual "techfest."

What they're looking for: New hires are encouraged to bring their energy and ideas. "We seek driven and accomplished individuals" who can solve emerging challenges in tech, says Microsoft college recruiter Hillary Morris.

Opportunities also exist in sales for "entrepreneurial, highly motivated, self-starters," says Morris. One team works with universities, governments, and businesses that use Microsoft products; another is focused solely on improving the user experience.

Top business hires can accelerate their career by participating in the Microsoft Academy for College Hires, which offers extra training and networking opportunities. --L.G.

6. Apple

REUTERS/Stephen LamRank among business students: 6
Rank (engineering students): 4

Headquarters: Cupertino, CA
No. of employees: 76,100

What makes it great: Join Apple and join something big. The innovative tech titan -- nearing its 40th anniversary in Silicon Valley – has a track record of revolutionizing and inventing some of the world’s favorite gadgets.

Its secretive nature about what ‘next big thing’ might be in the pipeline -- Apple TV? iRadio? iWatch? -- fuels endless consumer excitement and buzz. And who doesn’t want to be a part of that?

What they're looking for: Candidates should be intensely detail-oriented, curious, and creative, Apple's careers site says.

And while the company may be hush-hush about upcoming products, it's not so secretive about the hard work it takes to make them. "A job at Apple is one that requires a lot of you," the site says, "but it's also one that rewards bright, original thinking and hard work."

Opportunities exist in a range of areas. The construction of a second Apple campus in Cupertino is intended to accommodate more than 12,000 employees. More than 200 job openings were recently posted in China. --L.G.

7. Deloitte

REUTERS/Parivartan Sharma/FilesRank among business students: 7
Rank (engineering students): 44

Headquarters: New York, NY
No. of employees: 203,000

What makes it great: This Big 4 firm is an advocate of lifelong learning: Some 50,000 Deloitte professionals from 70 countries have descended on Deloitte University, a massive two-year-old campus in Westlake, Texas that offers classes on topics like leadership, accounting -- even cooking.

Employees can also get tuition assistance for courses taken elsewhere, enjoy a partially paid sabbatical, or pursue international assignments at the company. Public service-minded types can work with government clients on pressing issues like cyber innovation and health care.

What they're looking for: The ability to collaborate and solve problems are key to scoring a job here.

"People who do well at Deloitte communicate well, are excellent team contributors, are results-focused, and are highly motivated to serve clients with distinction," says Kent Kirch, global director of recruitment.

Deloitte hired more than 54,000 people worldwide last year and expects to recruit about the same number this year, according to Kirch. Demand is particularly strong for talent in emerging markets, he says. --L.G.

8. KPMG

REUTERS/Sam MircovichRank among business students: 8
Rank (engineering students): N.A.

Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
No. of employees: 152,000

What makes it great: A culture of high performance at this Big 4 firm means it will invest in employees and their futures. New hires who get a CPA in their first year at KPMG, for example, are rewarded with a $5,000 cash bonus.

The company also supports community activities: Employees get 12 paid hours per year to volunteer.

KPMG's global presence and mindset is another big draw, says Blane Ruschak, executive director of university recruiting. New hires in the tax division can spend three months working at an international office; more senior employees can relocate for several years.

What they're looking for: KPMG seeks new grads who can learn quickly, demonstrate strong communication and decision-making skills, and have a solid ethical foundation, says Ruschak.

Also important: a high GPA, leadership experience, and the determination to go above and beyond to deliver results.

In the U.S. alone last year, the firm took on about 2,000 new grads and 2,000 interns (who often nab full-time spots later), according to Ruschak. It expects to hire at similar levels this year. --L.G.

9. Coca-Cola

AP Photo/Wilfredo LeeRank among business students: 9
Rank (engineering students): 15

Headquarters: Atlanta, GA
No. of employees: 150,900

What makes it great: The Atlanta-based beverage giant operates in more than 200 countries, serving up 1.8 billion drinks a day. No wonder its red-and-white logo is recognized around the world.

Coca-Cola sponsors mega-events like the World Cup and partners on big global projects, like helping women entrepreneurs in emerging markets or trying to reduce the impact of its own water use across multiple continents.

Coke also has a big seal of approval from Warren Buffett: Berkshire Hathaway has built up its holdings of the stock for decades and owned 400 million shares at last check.

What they're looking for: To impress recruiters, new grads should show they can "think and act as a global citizen," says Laurel McKie, who oversees university talent programs.

Hiring managers also look for leadership skills, intellectual curiosity, and a history of achievement. Candidates should demonstrate they're results-driven and "bring their passions to life through community, work or academics," says McKie. --L.G.

10. Procter & Gamble

AP Photo/Al BehrmanRank among business students: 10
Rank (engineering students): 11

Headquarters: Cincinnati, OH
No. of employees: 126,000

What makes it great: P&G makes products that reach 4.8 billion of the 7 billion people on the planet. Its portfolio includes such billion-dollar brands as Tide, Crest and Pampers.

The company believes in building talent from within, investing heavily in its people in hopes of retaining and growing them, says Scott Read, who oversees global talent. That commitment extends all the way to the top: In the company's nearly 200-year history, no CEO has been hired from the outside, Read says.

Should an employee's ambitions and passions evolve, P&G encourages them to try a new career path within the company.

What they're looking for: Most P&G recruiting is geared toward hiring new grads for a wide variety of positions across all regions. Jobs often are built around the person, not the other way around, says Scott Isenhart, who oversees North American recruiting. But just 1% of applicants make the cut.

"We hire for leadership and character as much as we hire for intelligence," Isenhart adds. --L.G.

Click here for the full list of World’s Top Employers for New Grads.