World’s Top Employers for New Grads

Rank among business students: 12
Rank (engineering students): 26

Headquarters: New York, NY
No. of employees: 18,000*

What makes it great: Employees here are pushed to reach their full potential. The management consulting firm spends $100 million a year on training programs -- new hires get 5 weeks of training in the first year. Scores of McKinsey veterans have gone on to lead companies, universities, and government agencies worldwide.

Its client list is a veritable Who's Who, including 80% of Fortune's Most Admired Companies, 90 governments, and half of the top U.S. foundations. This gives employees the chance to find work they are passionate about and tackle "real challenges that matter," says Brian Rolfes, a McKinsey partner who leads global recruiting.

What they're looking for: New grads typically are hired as business analysts, and work in teams to help large organizations with big opportunities or problems, says Rolfes.

McKinsey seeks candidates who are true problem-solvers and have strong people and leadership skills. Getting in the door is tough, though -- McKinsey is considered the toughest company to interview with.

The firm doesn't reveal hiring figures, but it just hosted one of its largest global intern classes ever, says Rolfes, and expects its hiring of full-timers to continue rising. --L.G.