A survey of 1,500 companies world wide gives new optimism for MBA’s searching for full time jobs. In a poll conducted by the Graduate Management Admissions Council 70% of companies stated that they intend to hire MBA graduates, which is a 6% increase from last year. Companies involved in the areas of pharmaceuticals, accounting, consulting, finance and healthcare seemed to be the most interested in hiring MBAs. Many firms cited the benefits of MBA employees as bringing a wide array of skills along with experience and a high level of maturity to their organization. The average starting salary also seems to be on the rise which now sits between $80,000 to just over $83,000/year.
On the reverse side, Universum Communications conducts a survey of 5,000 graduating MBA students to see which companies are their top choices for employment. The top companies that were cited along with a short profile of each are:
- Google - The number one search engine in the world has earned a spot on the top ten list not only for their highly competitive salaries but for such perks and benefits as an on-site masseuse and gourmet meals. They also encourage their employees to devote one day a week for working on personal projects. Google headquarters is situated in Mount View, California and has more than 12,000 employees.
- McKinsey & Company - Chosen as the number one company by MBA students for the past 12 years. MBA graduates benefit from one-on-one contact with some of the worlds most successful CEO’s and all company employees’ opinions are listened to, taken seriously and valued for their individual contributions. Their headquarters are located in New York City and they employ 6,500 consultants.
- Goldman Sachs – Close to 14% of MBA graduate students have chosen Goldman Sachs as one of the top five companies they would be excited to work for. This firm has also made Fortune Magazine’s top companies to work for and herald former CEO’s like US Treasury Secretary, Henry M. Paulson and New Jersey Governor, Jon Corzine. They employ more than 26,000 people with offices around the world and have their headquarters in New York City.
- Bain & Company - This management consulting firm is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and has 3,700 employees with close to 11% of MBA graduates placing them in the top five list of companies they would like to work for. Bain & Company have earned a reputation for their winning soccer teams and even hold annual World Cup Tournaments and take pride in being able to say they beat Stockholm this past year. Bain & company have also made Fortune Magazine’s list of top companies to work for.
- Boston Consulting Group – Another of Fortune Magazine’s top companies to work for, Boston Consulting Group has 3,700 employees (25% of whom are female) with headquarters naturally in Boston. They are recognized as a company that puts great emphasis on valuing their staff and place anyone working more that 60 hours in one week on a “red zone list and will be paired with a company mentor.
- Apple – Apple has made several “Top Company” lists including Fortune Magazine, The National Association of Black Engineers and EPA’s top companies for commuters by providing incentives for those that carpool and/or use public transit as well as providing emergency rides home. Close to 11% of MBA graduates have put Apple on their top five list. They employ 18,000 people with headquarters in Cupertino, California and regularly hold recruiting events at top business schools.
- Microsoft – Microsoft employs more than 71,000 people with headquarters in Redmond, Washington. Close to 8% of MBA graduates have placed this company on their list of top five companies to work for. This is a company that goes to great lengths in keeping their employees happy. They offer one of the best employee health packages which is completely free for full time employees.
- General Electric – Close to 8% of MBA graduates have put GE on their top five list of companies to work for. Their combined technology, financial services and media operations employ over 300,000 people. GE routinely makes in onto most lists including Fortune 500 and Best Place for Black Engineers and boasts a great employee’s benefit package. They encourage employee promotions resulting in staff staying with the company for many years.
