|
|
 “There is more credit and satisfaction in being a first-rate truck driver than a tenth-rate executive.” – B. C. Forbes
America needs truck drivers. Most truck driving jobs don’t require a degree, but they do require specialized training and specific licensing. In the current economic climate, jobs in many sectors are scarce. But if you’re willing to make some compromises, you may be able to quickly and easily find a job driving a truck.
Truck driving is one of the most important jobs in our country. Every item you find in a grocery store was brought in on a truck. When you buy a new car, you can bet it was brought to the dealership on a truck. The gas you pump into your car is transported by truck. Our everyday lives are affected—and made easier—by truck drivers.
In addition to all those goods that are moved through many states, new discoveries of oil in areas like North Dakota are increasing the demand to transport oil to other parts of the country. The need to transport oil and gasoline is constant, so these types of trucking jobs are almost always available.
Aside from the satisfaction of getting consumer goods where they need to go, a lot of truck drivers earn respectable incomes. In some cases, truck drivers are paid by the mile, so there’s incentive to drive longer and farther, while adhering to truck driving time limits put in place for safety. But some industries pay salaries. It takes a little homework to find the type of truck driving job you feel would suit your needs.
Anyone considering a career as a truck driver must keep a few things in mind. It’s a job that requires long hours, sometimes driving 10 to 12 hours a day. It may require being away from home for weeks at a time, which can also mean missing out on family events and even holidays. There are also risks involved with driving large, heavy trucks on the interstate. Truck accidents aren’t as common as car accidents, but they can be much more deadly and devastating. Truck accident statistics show that because of the long hours, driver fatigue is a common cause of trucking accidents, more so than weather or other factors.
If truck driving still appeals to you, you can find dozens of driving schools all across the country that will provide the training and certification you need to get behind the wheel, and embark on a new career.
Noble McIntyre is the senior partner and owner of McIntyre Law, a firm comprised of experienced Oklahoma truck accident attorneys, and a full team of legal professionals.
Good luck in your search.
This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines.
Visit me on Facebook
 Many people react to getting laid off with anger and sadness. This is an understandable, but controllable human reaction. You may assume that your company was looking for ways to cut corners on payroll in order to afford hiring a business speaker or upgrade their hardware. Whatever the reason, it’s important to remember that the best reaction is action. Here a few productive ways to move forward after getting laid off:
Don’t burn bridges. Don’t say anything bitter or insulting to your supervisor or the HR person and certainly don’t make a scene. Beyond just the value of maintaining a professional decorum, handling the situation with grace and rationality will enable you to stay in the running for future positions or being re-hired. If you’re getting laid off, and not fired, it means there was a logistical financial reason why the company needed to let you go. It doesn’t mean you were not a valuable employee or that there won’t be a need for you in the future. Ideally, you will already have contact information from your supervisors and can plan to drop them a line every so often to see if your position is being reinstated.
Alert you friends, previous colleagues, and contacts that you are looking for new work. This doesn’t have to be phrased in a way that makes it obvious that you were let go and the point is not to get sympathy. It’s to network with people who may know of jobs. If everyone you know still thinks you’re working, it probably won’t occur to them to tell you if a position they know of opens up. The contacts in your cell phone may be all you need to find new work. A post on Facebook would be smart as well.
Update your resume. Sounds obvious, but many job-seekers go looking for new work without taking the time to update their resumes with the last employer and the skills learned.
Spend your new free time being productive. In addition scouring the Internet for job leads, you should be acquiring new skills too. The absolutely best way to react to getting laid off is to use the time constructively to improve yourself as a potential employee. Even if the reason for your departure had nothing to do with anything in your job performance, in today’s job market it’s crucial that you stay ahead of the curve by learning new software and making yourself more malleable as a resource.
Utilize social media. There are countless job and career resources online now, not the least of which are social media sites such as LinkedIn, which enable people to network with past, present, and future colleagues through shared skills and business contacts.
Getting laid off or fired creates an awful feeling inside. But the best way to react to that feeling is by approaching the aftermath rationally and preparing for the next job. Do this by networking, upgrading your skills, and being productive.
Good luck in your search.
This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines.
Visit me on Facebook
 “Been dazed and confused for so long, it’s not true.” – Jake Holmes
In college on your “own”, trying to figure out midterms, finals, spring break, dealing with roommates, meal plans, rushes, finding time to party, etc. It’s a delicate balance. At some point (hopefully after 4 years unless you are on the “5 year plan”) it will all come to an end and you will need to find a job. Four years sounds like a really long time, but trust me, it will all be over before you know it. The last thing you need when you graduate, as you try to assimilate back to your parent’s house, is to linger on the unemployed line. College grads are finding it more difficult than ever to find jobs in their chosen field, and many have to resort to jobs that were traditionally filed by those without a college degree. Whether you are a freshman or a senior (or anywhere in between), there are lots of things you can do now (or should avoid doing) to improve your chances of getting a job when you graduate.
Internships – Doing an internship (at least once) during your college career is probably one of the most important things you can do. Besides getting hands-on experience, you will meet people who may hire you (or help you get a job) when you graduate. Additionally, it will look great on your resume once you graduate. Even if you are a senior now, you can still do an internship after you graduate and before you look for a full time job.
- Internships, Apprenticeships, & Volunteer Opportunities – If you haven’t visited the Riley Guide in your quest for a job or summer internship then you’ve been missing one of the best career sites on the Internet. Known for their vast listings of career links, their Summer Intern section will not disappoint. Starting with a list of Internships and Fellowships sites, the site lists additional resources for both study and non-study experience abroad. And, while getting paid would be nice, you should also consider looking at the volunteer opportunities sites listed here as well.
- How to Find a Last Minute Summer Internship – Maybe you waited too long and are scrambling to find your summer internship before your parents make you work at some fast food joint for the summer. Take a look at this site. In addition to give some great advice as to how to approach your search, you can enter your email account and have opportunities sent to you every day. As if that is not enough, the right hand side of the page lists Internships for current week. Take a look.
Study Abroad – It’s not just about visiting a foreign country (although that is certainly a benefit), it’s about getting international experience, learning about other cultures and learning about diversity. Most colleges offer an exchange program. They are very competitive programs, so get started as soon as you can at your college. I’ve listed a few links below, take a look.
Protect Your Internet Profile – Your Internet profile will haunt you if you are not careful (and it is not a ghost you can easily get rid of). What you do, say and post on the Internet will likely be found by anyone looking to hire you. While having an Internet profile is fine, you do need to be careful as to what is posted (including pictures, webcams and “unusual postings”. Once the “wrong” information is out there, it is very difficult to get rid of.
- Managing Your Online Profile – Even if you think your internet profile is pristine, it’s not a bad idea to check your own profile (you never know what someone else will post). This is a great article on how to manage your profile.
College Career Centers – One of the most under-utilized career resources, you should visit your college career center as early and as often as possible. While every college has different resources, there is something there for you that you can leverage to help find a job.
Good luck in your search.
Visit me on Facebook
By Cynthia Kocialski
What we indirectly learned in our school years has a profound impact on our success later in life. Not the factual knowledge that school is intended to teach children, but those lessons implied and habits picked up that were not intended as part of our formal schooling. When it comes to success, some of these habits are best forgotten, while others are those that we should remember.
Best Forgotten Habits
1.Winning Doesn’t Matter
Every school child has heard it, “It’s not whether you win or lose that matters. It’s how you play the game.” Winning really does matter. Would you hire an attorney who loses all of his cases? Would you want to go to a doctor who never cures her patients? Nothing builds self-esteem and confidence like winning. Winning builds a track record of success, and it’s this record that provides one with bigger and better opportunities in the future.
2. Reward Follows Effort
In school we are told that hard work produces rewards. One can work really, really hard and get nothing at all for one’s efforts. Why? There is something missing. It’s the middleman. It’s not the effort, but rather the results creating the prize. It’s the difference between working hard and working smart.
The person flipping burgers at McDonalds for 40 hours per week is just as tired at the end of the week as the CEO putting in the same number of hours. The difference is the CEO has a direct impact on the bottom line of the company, where the burger cook does not. Next time you have a job interview, ask the interviewer how your job affects the performance of the company.
3. Waiting for Recognition
“Good things come to those that wait”. Waiting works as long as everyone is getting those good things. However, success only comes to a few. In school, everyone moves to the next grade. With careers, only a chosen few move on to the next level. This isn’t sage advice if you want to reach your dreams. It should be, “Good things come to those that wait, better things come to those that ask, and the best things come to those who go out and get what they want”.
4. Extreme Talent Isn’t Required
In school, the measure of students’ success is their grades. Everyone in the class is given the same test, and everyone is ranked in relation to everyone else. It’s an apples to apples comparison, and it’s objective. In my experience, the student at the top of the class obtains that position because of innate brain power. It’s simply a matter of the student being responsible enough to do the required work and their extreme intelligence does the rest. The workplace is very different. No two workers get the same assignment; everyone gets a different piece of the puzzle. When it comes to promotions, awards and raises, you are being compared with your coworkers like apples to oranges. The comparison is now subjective. Is the apple sweeter than the orange? And a single talent such as brain power isn’t what will get you to the top. It’s a combination of talents and skills.
Traits Better Revived
Do you remember when you were really young? Or maybe you’ve been around young children and you’ve observed their behaviors. Young kids have many natural traits that make them better at business than their elders.
5. Inching to the Goal
If you have a goal, inching closer is better than not doing anything at all. Once you get to the next step, try getting yet one step further. While kids may not possess the ability to plan how to get to the end, they move closer and closer and closer to what they want. As adults, we believe we always have to plan the path to the final destination before getting started.
A preschooler will see a television commercial with a new toy and ask, “Can I have that toy?” The most likely response from Mom and Dad is “No”. The child will follow with, “Can we go to the toy store and just look?” Once again, the response from Mom and Dad is “No”. Then someone decides to go to the supermarket and the child says, “Can I go along?” When you are in the store, the child sees those little toys in aisles and asks, “Can I have one of those toys?” The answer is “No, there just cheap toys that will break”. The child’s response, “Isn’t the toy store nearby? We could go and just look.” This is my husband and daughter. Inevitably, she arrives back home with a big toy for the toy store!
6. Extreme Persistence
Ask everyone who will listen. If Mom says “No,” go ask Dad. If Dad says “No,” go ask big sister. If big sister says, “No,” go ask Grandma and the list goes on. Kids aren’t shy about asking, and they will ask everyone and anyone who will listen. They never stop. They keep their minds focused on the objective. The unpleasantness of cold calling or asking a complete stranger would never deter a kid. These means are justified by reaching the prize.
7. Focus on Success, Not Failure
For a kid, the thought process is simpler –“I want it and I will get it” or “I want to do it, I think I can do it and therefore, I will do it.” There is no thought of failure, just success. Most kids know the consequences of failure are mostly trivial, while the rewards of success are not. The younger a child is the more success is taken for granted. It is to be expected because they believe that nothing is impossible. The probability of success is irrelevant.
It’s the new mantra in the start-up community, “fail fast, fail early, and fail cheaply”. These are the words of an adult. They are focused on failure; a child would never phrase it in such a manner. The problem with focusing on failure is that you lose sight of success. One’s thoughts become centered on how to prevent failure instead how to create success. I prefer the outlook of kids. It’s more positive. Kids have a clear vision of what they want and a much stronger belief in what is possible.
Cynthia Kocialski is the founder of three tech start-ups companies. In the past 15 years, she has been involved in dozens of start-ups. Cynthia writes the Start-up Entrepreneurs’ Blog www.cynthiakocialski.com. Cynthia has written the book, “Out of the Classroom Lessons in Success: How to Prosper Without Being at the Top of the Class.” The book serves up tips, insight, and wisdom to enable young adults and parents of kids to know what it will take to forge a successful career, no matter what their academic achievement.
Good luck in your search.
This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines.
 “If You’re Not the Lead Dog, the Scenery Never Changes“ – Lewis Grizzard
When I was in college I worked as a “runner” on Wall Street during the summer (yes, it was a very long time ago and no, I’m not referring to drugs). A fairly simple job of taking securities and other important documents from one financial institution to another (basically, a messenger). At the time I was 19 years old and this was my first non-fast food job. So the first day I get there and all of the “regulars” (you know, the guys who actually do this as their real job) are sitting around waiting for their first “assignment”. They were a lot older than I was at the time (in their 40′s). Anyway, I get my first assignment - to deliver a package to a financial institution that was about 10 minutes away. As I walk out of the door, one of the regulars pulls me aside and says “this delivery will take you about 15 minutes, but you need to make it last an hour, don’t come back before an hour has passed. Get it?” So I did as he said and took an hour (thinking I would get fired for being so slow), but the “manager” did not think it was unusual that it took me an hour. So long story short, these guys were just milking their messenger job for what it was worth trying to do the least work possible and succeeding (if you could really call that success). Clearly not the recipe for “starting in the mailroom and rising to become the CEO”.
There is a delicate balance in getting the right job and doing the job right. First step in looking for a new job is, obviously, getting the right job for you. But, like everything else in life, nothing is perfect and even the right job will have its warts. Today’s post will focus on getting the right job and making the most of the job you’ve got.
Getting the “Right” Job: Maybe you don’t know (yet) what you want to do when you grow up or maybe
- Job Quizzes – Part of the mycareerquizzes.com site, this page has a number of free quizzes to help you figure it all out. From “Quit Your Job” to “Job Quiz” there are a number of quizzes that might help you in your process. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the full list of quizzes, but also take a look at some of the Career Guide articles and the free salary calculator.
-
Find the Right Job for You – Posted on Oprah.com, this article provides an in depth look at defining what will work for you in your job search. There are a list of questions designed to help you determine your job / career wants and needs. This is followed by what you actually need to deliver on “finding the right job”. Some of the tips you will have seen before, but some you may not have thought of (like practicing for an interview). The article is worth a read and you can also leverage the other related resource links at the bottom of the page.
Making the Most of Your Job:
- Top Ten Tips: How To Keep Your Job In Today’s Economy – This article, from About.com, provides ten useful tips for keeping the job you’ve got. From Don’t Do Poorly to “I’m just happy to have a job”, these tips will give you some of what you’ll need to keep your job in tough times. There are additional links at the bottom for related articles such as “How to Make Your Current Job Work”.
- How To Get Promoted : 9 Obvious And Often Not Practiced Tips – What about keeping your job and getting ahead as well? This article, from Career-Success-for-newbies.com, tells you how you can get promoted (with obvious but little used tips!). In addition to providing this advice, this site is geared towards newly minted job seekers (and those in entry level jobs). Additionally, there are a number of links at the bottom of the page that provide even more resources for improving your job and career.
- Six Ways to Make the Most of Your Job – A good article to help you keep the job you’ve got and “make the most of it”. Posted on Kiplinger.com, the article provides a number of tips to help you manage your career. Mentoring, driving your career, appearance and more.
Good luck in your search.
Visit me on Facebook
 “It is possible to fail in many ways…while to succeed is possible only in one way.” – Aristotle
You get a call from the HR department and learn you’ve finally landed the big interview. You’re well prepared. You’ve done online reputation repair and scrubbed YouTube of any embarrassing videos there might be of you. You’ve put together a portfolio of your best projects, and you’ve used your final dwindling funds on buying a nice suit. You’ve printed up resumes and sheathed them in protective covers, you’ve shaved, showered, prayed, and now, you’re ready. Months and months of unemployment could be about to come to an end. Now don’t ruin it by saying something stupid at your interview! Here are five things NOT to say to a potential employer:
I really need a job. Any deviation of this is bad – I need money, I’ll do anything, I’ll work for cheap. This is not a welfare agency, it’s a place of business. You should be offering reasons why you’ll be a valuable asset to the company, not whining about your bad luck or trying to guilt-trip them into hiring you.
How long are lunch breaks? Just assume that it’s a normal job and management will allow a reasonable amount of time for you to nourish your body with food. Asking this question, as opposed to any number of legitimate queries about the company you’re hoping will hire you, makes you look petty. The employer is thinking—this is really all he/she is thinking about, the lunch break?
I smoke. This is shorthand for telling an employer that you’re going to take extra breaks. Everyone knows that smokers are masterful at squeezing in multiple five minute breaks into the workday. Even if you do smoke, don’t admit it in the interview. You’ll have to keep your smoke breaks minimal, if at all, and find a way to control the smell.
My last boss and I didn’t get along. Avoid talking about past failures in general, especially as they relate to previous jobs. Your new potential employer doesn’t want to get nervous about you during the interview. You should be highlighting your upsides, not talking talking about your possible downsides. If you got laid off or fired from a previous job, only discuss it if the story relates to an issue of professionalism or procedure that will make you look knowledgeable.
I can’t start until next month. This one is self-explanatory. Many times employers will give you ample time to prepare for a job, but sometimes they need you to start right away. If you’re not ready to work, don’t go into the interview.
There are any number of deviations of these phrases that are equally unprofessional. The basic idea is that during a job interview you want to be presenting yourself in the best light possible. Any utterance that makes you seem frivolous could cost you the job.
Good luck in your search.
This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines.
Visit me on Facebook
 “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” – Aristotle
It seems like not a day goes by without another gloomy report on the news about rising levels of unemployment, businesses laying off staff and companies going out of business. Across the country, people are concerned about their future prospects, and worry about whether or not their job is safe.
In such a fragile business environment it makes sense to do everything you can to increase your value to your current employer and maximize your chances of quickly finding employment if you should be so unlucky as to lose your job. Upskilling is a concrete way to improve your prospects and increase your security
What does Upskilling Show to Employers?
Upskilling by taking advantage of training courses or considering something like an online degree can help to persuade your company to keep you on when they are downsizing and increase your value to other employers.
Firstly, it provides you with up-to-date information and skills, which is essential in today’s fast-paced business world.
Secondly, it demonstrates you are someone who is not content to rest on their laurels, but rather you are constantly striving to improve yourself. This kind of motivation and drive is a prime consideration for employers.
Upskilling can also give you the qualifications you need to be considered for promotion within your current company, increasing your salary and giving you valuable experience.
What can Upskilling do for You?
In addition to the greater level of employability and prospects of promotion that upskilling can give you, there are other possibilities.
You can take advantage of the lessons you have learned and skills you have gained with an online business degree to live out the American dream by setting up in business for yourself and becoming your own boss. You could choose to take a whole new career direction by developing skills and gaining qualifications in a more modern, growing industry. Alternatively, you could choose to specialize in a more essential area of your current field, becoming an invaluable expert.
These varied options show the freedom and flexibility that upskilling can bring you.
What are the Options for Upskilling?
Your current employer may offer opportunities for training courses or further education. While there is always the option of taking a sabbatical or quitting your job to go back to college for a degree, that may not be wise in the current economic climate, and you may not be able to afford to do so. One good option is an online degree, which allows you to work and study at the same time, so that you get the best of both worlds – a stable income and an advancement in your prospects.
Guest post written by Elizabeth Milane. After reading about upskilling, you’re probably interested in learning more about an online business degree.
This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines.
 “When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad” – Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
I’ve seen hundreds of career and job search sites over the three years that I’ve been writing for CareerAlley. While I’ve not kept a real “list”, I do have my favorite sites. The list (partially listed in this post) is not in any particular order, it’s just the sites that I feel provide the best resources and information. I’ve covered Job Search Sites, Career Advice sites and Career Resource sites. Most of these I’ve stumbled upon during my research on a topic for a post and then have continued to visit the site (or recommend them to job searchers). Again, the list is not exhaustive and I will cover a number of sites over a series of posts. If I’ve left off your favorite site, please drop me an email (careersblog@gmail.com).
Job Search Sites: There are hundreds of job search sites (and this estimate is probably low). There are so many types and you could literally spend all of your time looking for jobs just on a few job search sites (but you should spread your time). The first two that come to mind are:
- SimplyHired.com – I’m sure that if you’ve been looking for a job you are well aware of this site, if not, now is the time. The home page interface is simple – Keywords, Location click “Search All Jobs”. But a simple start does not mean it is a weak job search tool. On the contrary, SimplyHired is a very powerful job search tool allowing a vast range of tools to narrow in on your job. Once you’ve clicked past the home page, another page listing all of the results will be shown. This is where you can customize the search to fit your specific needs, using the criteria on the left hand side of the page. You can setup as many job searches as you want and save them in your profile with SimplyHired. You can then choose to receive alerts on new “hits” to your search.
- Indeed.com – Another top job search site, and the starting page is also a simple search – What, Where click find jobs. The sites are very similar and Indeed.com also has additional filters once you click the Find Jobs link. SimplyHired has a link into LinkedIn (while Indeed.com does not appear to have this). In any event, this is another good job search site.
Career Advice -My top two favorite sites are listed below. Some really good articles and advise.
- JobMob – “All together now” is the motto of this site from Jacob Share. The site brings together both job seekers and job finders. There are lots of great articles covering a wide range of topics. Browse through the archive or use the search box to find articles on specific topics or add yourself to the email list. You can also get a free copy of Jacob’s book “The Ultimate Twitter Job Search Guide” in January 2012 if you join the job tip newsletter (check the site out for details).
- Timsstrategy – Another great career site, Tim offers great advice. You can sign up for the newsletters and also get a free ebook (see the site for details). There are links at the top of the site for the Blog, Downloads (tools, templates and books) and FAQs. The right hand side of the page has links to career topics, recent posts as well as a free webinar. Take a look.
Job Search Resources – One site for this post, but more to follow in future installments!
- Riley Guide – One of the best job search resource sites on the Internet. Topics are included on the left hand side of the page (how to search, research, salary guides – and the list goes on). Center page is the best place to start (in fact, you can click the “start here” link in the middle of the page. This will take you to a few guides to help you through your search and help you navigate the 10 different categories and Career Resource Center.
That’s it for this post, more favorites to follow in future posts.
Good luck in your search.
Visit me on Facebook
 “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis
Are you in a current career rut and wishing you would have gone to or finished college? Earning a college degree can lead to a great career, if approached correctly. However, you shouldn’t fret so much about not having your degree, because there are many college graduates who are still having a hard time finding a job, let alone a career.
In fact, there are hundreds of successful people in history who never earned a college degree (some didn’t even finish high school). Listed below are ten of the greatest people in history who never earned a college degree. Let these people serve as your inspiration during your job search or career planning (and remind you that a college degree isn’t the defining factor of success).
1. Bill Gates: Co-founder of Microsoft. Dropped out of college.
2. Henry Ford: Founder of Ford Motor Company. Never graduated high school.
3. John D. Rockefeller: Founder of Standard Oil and renowned philanthropist. Dropped out of high school just two months before graduation.
4. Ansel Adams: Famous photographer who never attended college.
5. Abraham Lincoln: Sixteenth President of the United States. He attended various grammar schools but never graduated from high school.
6. Walt Disney: Founder of Walt Disney Productions and mastermind behind Disneyland and Walt Disney World. He never graduated from high school.
7. Michael Dell: Founder and CEO of Dell, Inc. He dropped out of college.
8. Mark Zuckerberg: Founder of Facebook. Dropped out of college.
9. Steven Spielberg: Movie director and producer. Dropped out of college.
10. S. Daniel Abraham: Founder of Slim-Fast. Never attended college.
11. Jack Crawford Taylor: Founder of Enterprise Rent-a-Car. Dropped out of college to serve in World War II. Worked as a car salesman before opening his car rental company.
12. Wolfgang Puck: Chef and restaurateur. Left school at the age of 14 to become an apprentice at a hotel restaurant in Monaco.
13. William Randolph Hearst: Newspaper publisher and two-term U.S. Representative. He was expelled from Harvard University for bad behavior.
14. Peter Jennings: Accomplished ABC News Journalist. Dropped out of high school.
15. Ted Turner: Founder of CNN and TBS. Was expelled from Brown University for having a girl in his room.
All of these people found success by sticking to their guns. They had an idea and a passion for something, and they turned that into a successful career. So, the next time you think that it takes a college degree to move up in this world, think again. Being book smart isn’t the only way to attain success and financial wealth.
Carrie Oakley is editor and writer for Online Universities. She likes to write articles about many topics of interest, including education and career planning.
This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines.
Good luck in your search.
 “Anything worth doing, is worth doing right.” – Hunter S. Thompson
So when you look for job opportunities, do you just do a search based on job openings or do you have a “list”? If you are now thinking “what list?” then this post is for you. So, just like today’s quote, getting the right job is worth doing right. Part of your plan for job search should include making a list of companies where you would like to work. Not to say that you should only consider the companies on your preferred company list, but the list should form a large part of your foundation for job search. Of course, lots of work goes into coming up with your preferred list. Today’s post is a first in series of “Top Pick” lists and will help with some of your research.
- The Best Companies to Work For – If you are a long time reader of CareerAlley then you will have seen some of my posts on Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For“. For the most part, no matter what your field, you should be able to find some companies from this list to add to your list. And, according to Fortune’s summary, these companies have (collectively) over 150,000 jobs to be filed. So, to help you with your research:
- The Full List – The full list can be found at this link. Each company has an embedded link which will take you to a summary page listing why they are considered one of the “Best” along with a link to their website (always look for “careers” when you are on a company website).
- Jobs at the Best Companies to Work For – Powered by SimplyHired.com, this is a job search focused specifically on the Best Companies List. You can modify your search by using the criteria boxes at the top or the criteria to the left of the page.
- Best Companies Near You – This link allows you to select the best companies near you. Use the drop down box to put in your state.
- The Fortune 500 – This is the annual list of America’s largest companies. Now big may not be your thing, but if it is, this is a great list to start with. In terms of industries and locations, this list is more diversified given the number of companies on the list. From retail to oil to telecommunications to financial services, I’m sure your industry is represented on the list. And, according to the article, the top 100 have over 96,000 job opportunities!
- FORTUNE 500 best companies to work for – This list is a cross reference between the Best Companies list and the Fortune 500 (in case you are looking for the best largest companies). If you like big, then go for the best as well.
- Industries – You can use this list to cross check your industry and pick companies that better represent your interests.
- A Fortune 500 Company Near You – Like the Best Companies, this list provides the largest companies by location. Use the drop down box to put in your state.
- Jobs at the Fortune 500 – Also powered by SimplyHired.com, this is a job search focused specifically on the Fortune 500 List. You can modify your search by using the criteria boxes at the top or the criteria to the left of the page.
- Other Ways to Conduct Research – If the two lists above do not meet your needs (or you just want additional resources), the following links should help in your list building:
- LinkedIn Company Directory – This is LinkedIn’s directory of companies listed by industry. The list starts with an alpha listing followed by the actual industries. Click on a category and this will lead to a full page for that industry based on location. Click through to find your companies. Click on any company for background and associated links.
- Vault.com Company Listing – A very different format from LinkedIn, but an amazing amount of information is available on this site (way too much to discuss here).
Good luck in your search.
Visit me on Facebook
|
|
“There is more credit and satisfaction in being a first-rate truck driver than a tenth-rate executive.” – B. C. Forbes
