World’s Top Employers for New Grads

Rank among business students: 22
Rank (engineering students): 46

Headquarters: Herzogenaurach, Germany
No. of employees: 46,300

What makes it great: Live and breathe sports? This international athletic company might be your dream employer.

Soccer fields adorn headquarters, athletes visit for meet-and-greets, and free language courses are for the taking.

Employees love being part of a company that gets people off their couches and makes the world a better place to do sports, says Steve Fogarty, a global talent director.

What they're looking for: First and foremost, candidates should show a connection to the brand and to sport in general, says Fogarty.

What else is important? A fighting mentality when it comes to tough challenges, strong self-awareness, and original, creative thinking, he says.

And then there's the interview outfit. "The worst thing [you] can do is walk in with a suit on," Fogarty warns.

Adidas took on 2,000 new hires worldwide last year. Germany attracts an international crowd for its trainee programs and China has its own development program for residents. In the U.S., entry-level opportunities exist in all departments, including global operations and design. --L.G.