• by Laurie Sullivan  @lauriesullivan, June 15, 2016

Millennials are a coveted group for advertisers looking to connect with the next wave of consumers, but where they want to work after graduating from high school and college seems to tell marketers about the brands they admire most.

In this year's National Society of High School Scholars survey, 3M tops the list as the most preferred employer, with Google -- the 2015 No. 1 choice -- moving to No. 2. NSHSS partnered with Hanover Research on the survey of 13,000 high school and college students and young professionals ages 15 to 32 to gain insight into the preferences and attitudes of high-achieving Millennials, now the largest generation in today’s workforce.

The technology companies are most popular among respondents, with nine employers in the top 25 list. Apple came in at No. 8, Amazon at No. 10, Microsoft at No. 14 and -- a newcomer to the list, Samsung -- came in at No. 25.

Hospitals or health companies rank No. 2, with six employers in the top 25 list. Those include St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at No. 3; Local hospitals, No. 5; Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, No. 11; Mayo Clinic, No. 13; and Blue Cross and Blue Shield, No. 24.

BuzzFeed at No. 7 -- also new to the top 25 -- and The New York Times, were among the only two media sources. Other newcomers include Nike, No. 15; Universal Studios, No. 17; Netflix, No. 18; and Boeing, No. 21. 

Apparently the Apple and FBI difference of opinions -- or Edward Snowden's allegiance to privacy -- has dampened a desire to work at a government agency. Government agencies also made the list with the Federal Bureau of Investigation coming in at No. 6, the Central Intelligence Agency at No. 9; U.S. State Department at No. 16; and National Security Agency, No. 22.