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LONDON - Internet company Google has come top of a poll of ideal employers in a survey of engineering and IT students across Europe published on Monday.
Nearly 17 per cent of the 8,100 engineering and IT students polled across 100 European universities between January and April selected Google as their dream place to work.
Swedish research firm Universum, which has been polling European university students on their work ambitions since 1995, said it was a spectacular entrance for the Internet firm.
Google ousted computer firm IBM from the top spot in its first year in the list of 130 companies that Universum asks final-year students to consider as their ideal workplace.
The search engine company was added to this year's annual survey because of the frequency with which it was cited by students as an alternative destination in Universum's 2006 poll.
Google only began actively recruiting technical interns and graduates in Europe last year.
Second in the rankings was German sports car maker Porsche, up two places from last year, with Italian rival Ferrari up three slots in third place.
Computer company IBM was fourth and Airbus manufacturer EADS fifth, with the remaining top ten places taken (in order) by BMW, Siemens, Audi, Sony and Nokia.
Google was also a favorite ideal destination for European business students, who ranked it fourth.
The 6,700 business students polled put American management consultancies McKinsey and Boston Consulting in first and second places, with French beauty products firm L'Oreal ranked the third most desirable employer.
- REUTERS
