New York, 2012-09-20 – Based on the responses of over 144,000 job seekers from the worlds 12 largest economies , Universum presents the global talent rankings: The World’s Most Attractive Employers 2012, (WMAE 2012). The rankings are split into two divisions: the business categoryreflecting the top employers for business students, and the engineering categoryshowcasing the most attractive employers among engineers.
The rankings reveal dramatic trends
1. The automotive industry is becoming increasingly popular
Overall, companies within the automotive industry are climbing in the rankings. In fact, in engineering, seven of the top 50 World’s Most Attractive Employers are automotive companies. “The students are looking for companies with attractive products and services, which these companies clearly have,” says Nelly Riggenbach Hasler, Universum’s Managing Director for Europe. “Furthermore, they are global and represent strong brands.”
2. Oil, gas and energy attracts engineering students
Several of the energy companies improved their rankings among engineers. General Electric rose up from 8th place to 6th. Shell also took a big leap by improving 5 positions since 2011, while Esso/ExxonMobil and BP both climbed in the rankings in 2012. “The oil and energy sector is viewed by students as an industry that is stable, financially strong, and offers very competitive compensation,” said Vicki Lynn, Senior Vice President for Client Talent Strategy and Employer Branding for the US. “They are also known for their people and culture, as many offer flexibility in the workplace.”
3. Management consulting rise in the Business index
The management consulting firms like McKinsey & Company and The Boston Consulting Group are all climbing in attractiveness among business and engineering students. “Few other industries can match management consulting when it comes to the diversity of challenges and possibilities,” said Kortney Kutsop, Global Brand Advisor. “These top consulting firms are looking for candidates in many different fields—and building prestigious employer brands to attract top talent globally.”
4. Students want an international career
Opportunities for international travel and relocation are seen as attractive among both business and engineering students. “In the US in particular we’re seeing a surge in interest around positions that offer foreign travel opportunities and interaction with international clients,” said Jonas Barck, Global Head of Commercial Partnerships. “Social media sites have very much so opened the world up to the millennial generation—and for that reason career-seekers are looking abroad for opportunities that will allow them so travel to new parts of the world early in their careers.”
5. More social media outlets are being used to communicate with employers
14% of all students visit online communities every hour and 57% visit social networking sites at least a couple of times per day—averaging 23 minutes spent on these sites per visit. 71% of students believe employers visit their personal profiles after students interact with these employers on online communities. “The realm of mobile employer branding is definitely in its infancy,” said Camille Kelly, Vice President of Employer Branding for the Americas. “We’re seeing students connecting to the internet more and more through their smart phones, and yet employers have been slow to develop mobile-friendly career content for job seekers. In the next few years, I expect there to be a shift towards more mobile employer branding.”
The first 10 ideal employers for 144 067 students, divided by main field of study:
World’s Top 10—Business
1. Google (1)
2. KPMG (2)
3. Procter & Gamble (7)
4. Microsoft (6)
5. Deloitte (5)
6. Ernst & Young (4)
7. PwC (3)
8. J.P. Morgan (9)
9. The Coca-Cola Company (12)
10. Goldman Sachs (10)
World’s Top 10—Engineering
1. Google (1)
2. IBM (2)
3. Microsoft (3)
4. BMW (4)
5. Intel (5)
6. General Electric (8)
7. Siemens (9)
8. Apple (7)
9. Sony (6)
10. Procter & Gamble (10)
For the full rankings, go to www.universumglobal.com/IDEAL-Employer-Rankings/Global-Top-50
To get more information or schedule an interview, contact Jonas Barck, (858)-405-5711 or jonas.barck@universumusa.com
About Universum
Universum is an international company which specializes in the field of employer branding . Founded in 1988, its goal was to improve communication between students and the employers who want to recruit them. Today, Universum’s mission is to help employers excel in recruitment and retention by ensuring improvements to their employer brand. Universum delivers a full range of services in research, strategic consulting and communication solutions that enable employers to better understand, attract and retain current and future ideal employees. Universum is a trusted partner to 1,200 clients, including many Fortune 500 companies, and co-operates with 1,500 universities worldwide to conduct research on the career and employer preferences of top talent. Universum surveys on an annual basis 400,000 students and professionals worldwide.
For more information, go to www.universumglobal.com