Google: Best workplace for MBA grads

After jumping from 129th in 2005 to 2nd in 2006 and to numero uno this year, Google, the most popular search engine is now the most popular place to work for MBA students, thus ending McKinsey & Company's 12-year reign.

Google also appears in the top ten in all industry rankings (from investment banking to healthcare).

Below some of the key findings of The Universum Ideal (TM) Employer Survey- MBA Edition 2007 conducted by Universum, global employer branding leader helping companies - through research and consulting - understand and develop their employer brand image and employer value proposition.

About 5,451 MBA students participated in the MBA edition of The Universum Ideal Employer (TM) Survey, making it the largest survey of its kind. Students were asked to rank their ideal employers as well as answer questions about their career expectations, including ideal employer characteristics, preferred location, salary expectations, top industries and best internships communications preferences.

Despite Google's new strength as the overall IDEAL(TM) employer, McKinsey is still the number 1 employer among men.

Goldman Sachs (3) maintained its position in the top 10. Bain & Co. (4), BCG (5), Apple (6), Microsoft (7), GE (8), Nike (9) and Bank of America (10) round out the list.

McKinsey maintains its 1st position as the top employer in management consulting. Google jumped to the fourth position, preceded by BCG (number 2) and Bain & Company (number 3).

Goldman Sachs is still number 1 among students choosing a career in investment banking followed by Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers, JPMorgan IB and Merrill Lynch. Bank of America replaced Citigroup as the top ideal employer among MBA students interested in commercial banking.

IT companies went up overall. Google maintained its number 1 position. Apple (6) moved up from seventh position in 2006, while Microsoft (7) jumped from the 16th position.

Procter & Gamble, Google, PepsiCo, Nike and BCG make the top 5 for students interested in consumer goods. Starbucks pushed 8 positions from 15th to 7th.

GE is still the number 1 among students who selected engineering/manufacturing followed by Toyota, Apple, J&J and BCG. Intel, number 2 in 2006, fell 15 positions while companies like Honeywell and Boeing pushed up in the top 10.