10 most attractive employers in India; Microsoft No. 1

IT and software major Microsoft has emerged as India's most attractive employer for the third straight year in 2013, according to a survey by HR service firm Randstad.

Special recognition awards were given to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation in the energy sector, Steel Authority of India Ltd in the manufacturing sector and Larsen & Toubro in the infrastructure sector.

According to the survey that covered 7,000 respondents, Indian workforce prefers competitive salary and job security.

The survey further noted that in a market like India, where there is high attrition levels, employer branding is very important as it provides an advantage to attract and retain top talent.

Compared to last year, there is a significant increase in the importance given to salary and employee benefits and this has become the most important factor for potential employees, followed by job security.

Here is the complete list:

Rank 1: Microsoft
Key people: Bill Gates (Chairman); Steve Ballmer (CEO)

Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational software corporation.

Headquartered in Redmond, Washington, the company develops, manufactures, licenses and supports a wide range of products and services related to computing.

The company was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen on April 4, 1975.

Click NEXT to know about 9 other most attractive employers in India. . .

Source: PTI and other agencies

Rank 2: Hewlett Packard
Key people: Ralph Whitworth (Interim Chairman); Meg Whitman (President and CEO)

Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation.

Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, the company provides products, technologies, software, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises.

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Rank 3: Google India
Key people: Sridhar Seshadri (Business Head of Financial Services);  Parminder Singh (Business Head of Technology)

Google India Private Limited operates as an online search engine.

The company provides access to online information.

It also serves as a platform for users to use as vehicles for social networking, video engagement, mailing and blogging.

The company was founded in 2004 and is based in Bengaluru.

Google India Private Limited operates as a subsidiary of Google Inc.

Google Inc. is an American multinational corporation specialising in Internet-related services and products.

These include search, cloud computing, software and online advertising technologies. Most of its profits derive from AdWords.

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Rank 4: IBM
Key person: Ginni Rometty (Chairman, President and CEO)

International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation.

Headquartered in Armonk, New York, IBM manufactures and markets computer hardware and software, and offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas ranging from mainframe computers to nanotechnology.

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Rank 5: ONGC
Key person: Sudhir Vasudeva (CMD & MD)

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited is an Indian multinational oil and gas company. Headquartered in Dehradun, it is one of the largest Asia-based oil and gas exploration and production companies.

The company produces around 72 per cent of India's crude oil.

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Rank 6: Sony
Key people: Sir Howard Stringer (Chairman of the Board); Kazuo Hirai (President & CEO)

Sony Corporation is a Japanese multinational conglomerate.

Headquartered in Konan Minato, Tokyo, the company is one of the leading manufacturers of electronic products for the consumer and professional markets.

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Rank 7: Larsen & Toubro
Key people: K Venkataramanan (CEO & MD); A M Naik (Executive Chairman)

Larsen & Toubro Limited is an Indian multinational conglomerate headquartered in Mumbai, India.

The company has business interests in engineering, construction, manufacturing goods, information technology and financial services.

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Rank 8: Steel Authority of India
Key person: Chandra Shekhar Verma (Chairman)

Steel Authority of India or SAIL is India's largest steel producing company.

With a turnover of Rs. 50,348 crore (Rs 503.48 billion), the company is among the five Maharatnas of the country's Central Public Sector Enterprises.

SAIL has five integrated steel plants, three special plants, and one subsidiary in different parts of the country.

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Rank 9: SBI
Key person: Pratip Chaudhuri (Chairman)

State Bank of India is a multinational banking and financial services company based in India.

It is a government-owned corporation with its headquarters in Mumbai.

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Rank 10: TCS
Key people: Cyrus Mistry (Chairman); N Chandrasekaran (CEO & MD)

Tata Consultancy Services Limited is an Indian multinational information technology services, business solutions and outsourcing services company.

Headquartered in Mumbai, TCS is a subsidiary of the Tata Group and is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India.

It is one of India's most valuable companies and is the largest India-based IT services company by 2012 revenues.