Uncle Sam apparently is a hot employer

We keep hearing that young people don't look to the government as a place to work. A new survey of 37,000 undergraduate students by Universum Communications lists their "ideal employer rankings." Here is the list:

* Walt Disney
* Google
* U.S. Department of State
* Federal Bureau of Investigation
* Central Intelligence Agency
* Microsoft
* Apple Computer
* Johnson & Johnson
* BMW
* Sony

Yes, that's right – just behind Google is… the State Department followed by the FBI and then the CIA.

And the more detailed findings are interesting too.

According to the study, based upon the responses of more than 37,000 students from 207 schools in the U.S., the Millennium generation's career goals are to balance their personal and professional life (59%), pursue further education (46%), build a sound financial base (32%) and contribute to society (27%).

Government/Public Services (16%) [is the number two ranked industry right behind healthcare at 17 percent]. The US Department of State, FBI and CIA, which up to five years ago hardly appeared in the ideal 100 companies to work for, now hold overall 3rd, 4th, and 5th place, and position themselves top three in the Liberal Arts Ideal Rankings together with the National Security Agency as number six.

According to Claudia Tattanelli, CEO of Universum Communications, these results are not surprising. "The Millennials have been highly impacted by the political and global turmoil that has characterized the beginning of the new millennium. With everything that has happened since 9-11, the war with its soldiers and its heroes -- now more than ever embodied by charming actors in some of the most popular TV shows -- they are very eager to make a difference on a global scale."

The report reveals that almost half (42 percent) of college students are "extremely or very interested" in working for the federal government, compared to 49 percent for large private sector companies and 40 percent for nonprofits. At the same time, very few (13 percent) are "extremely" or "very" knowledgeable about federal job opportunities. In order to convert that interest into actual applications the report finds that the federal government must do a better job of providing information to students about federal service opportunities.