The National Society of Black Engineers named its top 50 preferred employers, and two Michigan companies made the top 20.
The survey polled 700 college and university students nationwide in August and put IBM Corporation and Microsoft at the top. General Motors in Detroit and Ford Motor Company in Dearborn came in sixth and 18th, respectively.
But many black MSU College of Engineering students are saying they don't necessarily look for anything different when looking for a job than non-minority students.
Most of the students polled said they were most concerned with the reputation of the company, the type of work they'd be doing and the opportunity for advance.
Corporate culture and diversity were taken into account, but only 11 percent said it was their primary reason to choose a company.
"A company may be particularly attuned to diversity issues, but it's not really a primary driver," said Peter Bachiochi, project manager and coordinator for National Society of Black Engineers surveys. "One of the big trends, particularly in engineering, is the ability to reach a much larger audience of technology."
Bachiochi said reaching more people makes it easier for companies to reach out to minority populations.
"When it comes down to the top 10 companies, a lot of times they're automotive-based, because they hire a lot of engineers," said Onte McClendon, president of the MSU National Society of Black Engineers. "I know lots of people in the Michigan area lean towards the Big Three, because they seem to offer more jobs."
Companies such as Ford have developed networking groups for specialty groups, including the Ford Employees African Ancestry Network, or FAAN.
More than 90 percent of Ford's employees are involved with the group at some point in their career, FAAN Chairman Steve Lewis said.
"After you get to the company, you have to make sure it's a place where you can be successful," Lewis said, adding that FAAN has success workshops and networking opportunities. "All of a sudden there's that comfort; you have something in common with them, and you get to know them."
McClendon, a packaging senior, said when he looks for a position after graduation, companies who increase minority populations will be a plus but not the only factor.
"I do want to be in an environment I feel comfortable in and (that) supports diversity, but when I'm looking at that company in particular, I was thinking more about job opportunities," he said. "It's all about balance."
