Career Desire

The 10 Hottest Private Companies in Tech

2010-12-29T04:20:00.001-08:00

SecondMarket, a firm that facilitates alternative investments, has shared with Mashable () a list of private companies its buyers and potential buyers were most interested in this year. The list is based on the percentage who indicated they were interested in each company.

1. Facebook (): More than 25% of the firm’s buyers and potential buyers indicated that they were interested in Facebook. With the company reportedly on track to bring in $2 billion in revenue this year and attracting 81% of Gen Yers daily, it’s easy to see why.
2. LinkedIn (): Last month, the professional social networking platform announced that it was adding a member every second to its 85 million-person community. Earlier this year, estimates placed LinkedIn’s valuation at $2 billion.
3. Twitter (): Twitter finally tried to make money this year with promoted tweets, and it bodes well that beta testers are finding the new marketing channel valuable. The company just raised another $200 million that values it at a reported $3.7 billion.
4. Zynga: The New York Times pondered whether Zynga might be the “Google () of Games” this year. The company has more than 45 million active users on its social games like FarmVille and Mafia Wars.
5. Craigslist (): Craigslist makes money on recruitment listings, and it used to make money on adult services listings. Alas (for Craigslist, at least), the questionably legal section that expected to comprise about 30% of its revenue was shut down yesterday.
6. Groupon: Google was willing to pay $5.3 billion for the group-buying company, which has about an $800 million annual gross revenue run rate.
7. Yelp (): This year Yelp took new funding and challenged Foursquare () and Groupon with new features.
8. SecondMarket: Given that the investors who indicated SecondMarket was an interest were signing up to buy through SecondMarket, this one isn’t a surprise.
9. Pandora (): Pandora reported its first profitable quarter — and $50 million in revenue — at the end of 2009. Earlier this year, a Wall Street analyst predicted the company’s 2010 revenue would reach $100 million.
10. Bloom Energy: Building a refrigerator-sized box that can power a whole house with sand-based fuel cells will inevitably attract some attention from investors. Before the Bloom Box launch, it’s rumored that the company had already won more than $400 million in funding.

Do you agree with SecondMarket’s users? What companies would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments below.

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By Sarah Kessler

6 Ways to Score a Job Through Twitter

2010-12-29T04:19:00.000-08:00

Twitter has become a great resource for just about anything, including jobs. From industry chats to Twitter accounts dedicated to posting vacancies, there are a ton of resources for landing a gig.

We’ve already chronicled how to get a job through Facebook () and YouTube (), and now we’re taking a look at the job hunting process on Twitter.

We spoke with nine Tweeters who have landed jobs through Twitter () to get their top tips for success on the platform. Below you’ll find a guide to their job hunt strategies on the microblogging service.

If you’ve also been successful in finding a position via Twitter, let us know about your experience in the comments below.

1. Tweet Like an Industry Expert

Words to tweet by: You are what you tweet. Keep in mind that everything you tweet lends to or takes away from your online persona. Whether or not you’re searching for a job, make sure your Twitter stream represents you as a professional individual that has important and unique thoughts to contribute. Your goal should be to become an industry expert or at least tweet like one.

Share links that are relevant to your followers, adding commentary to the latest industry news. This shows that you’re keeping up with industry trends and gives potential employers a look into what you read and care about, which will help them to envision how you may fit into their company’s work environment.

If your commentary on Twitter is interesting enough, you may have employers knocking on your door. Christa Keizer, a recent intern at Cone, a strategy and communications firm, used Twitter during her job search to “[post] relevant, industry-related tweets on a daily basis to establish credibility.” After commenting on one of Cone’s blogs, Marcus Andrews, the New Media Associate at Cone, tweeted to Keizer, thanking her for her comment and asking her about her summer work plans. A few tweets and an interview later, Keizer was hired.

Kate Ottavio, an account executive at PR agency Quinn & Co., had a similar experience. Prior to working at Quinn, she worked at a small PR agency in Connecticut. One day, Allyns Melendez, HR Director at Quinn, started following Ottavio on Twitter she waited for Ottavio to follow back, and then asked her if she’d like to move to New York, where Quinn is headquartered. Little did she know, Melendez was looking for a new hire for the real estate division of the firm. Melendez had first searched for “PR” and “real estate” on LinkedIn (), where Ottavio’s profile popped up.

Although Ottavio wasn’t looking for a job at the time, her Twitter strategy had always been to “represent myself as a knowledgeable and reputable PR professional. I tweet about 10-20 times a day about anything from personal experiences to Mashable () articles to PR blog posts.” Loving the opportunity that Quinn presented her, she promptly accepted.

2. Use Twitter Hashtags

There are lots of ways to use Twitter hashtags to get a job. Here are a few types of hashtags to get you started:

Job Listings: You can find general job advice and lots of listings through hashtags like #jobs, #recruiting, #jobadvice, #jobposting, #jobhunt and #jobsearch. To narrow it down, though, seek out more specific hashtags, such as or #prjobs or #salesjobs.
Industry Conferences: Most conferences these days have their own hashtags when a relevant industry conference is approaching, get active with attendees using the hashtag. Whether you’re attending the conference or not, you can contribute to the conversation. Many conferences also have live streams, so it’s as if you’re attending anyway! Live tweet panels and speeches that you’re interested in and connect with other tweeters along the way. By using Twitter for networking within your industry, you’ll increase your chances of getting hired down the road.
Job-Related and Industry Chats: Getting involved with industry chats is a way to show your industry in a particular field and represent yourself as a knowledgeable person. Check out this Twitter chat schedule to get a head start. Also, if your search isn’t going so well, get involved in job-related chats, such as #jobhuntchat, #careerchat, #internchat and #hirefriday for friendly advice.

Liz (Pope) Schmidt

Sevans Strategy

Sarah Evans

3. Connect with Recruiters and Current Employees

two jobs

Zoho ()

“In April 2010, Ben Hendricks, Senior VP at The CHT Group, and I began corresponding about corporate communications and social media’s role in the corporate environment. Much to my dismay, CHT was not yet hiring. In June, after a few months distance, Ben sent me an email to let me know the agency was hiring and that he wanted me to apply. Still looking for a job, I sent over my resume, and about a week later, I was employed.”

Marissa Green

4. Build a Relevant Network

ChaiONE

Meghan Stephens

“Through Twitter, I am connected to other marketing professionals, digital creatives, community stewards, and new media experts — simply because those are the types of people that I enjoy interacting with and learning from… When it came time to look for a job in the technology sector, all I did was turn to those who I already gained inspiration from. When glancing through my stream, I saw a job link posted by my now-boss that sounded immediately like what I was looking for. I read through the description, realized I already knew the company through another connection made on Twitter, and sent in my resume.”

5. Start a “Hire Me” Campaign

every

6. Take It Offline

Three simple words: “Let’s get coffee.”

DJ Waldow

Greg Cangialosi

wrote

“The transition from online to in real life is critical… All of the loose connections you’ve made with that person are suddenly solidified when you put the name/avatar/tweets together with a face. Nothing can replace this. Nothing.”

Your Tips

Mashable

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By Erica Swallow

Work At Home Jobs And Programs - Ways to Make A Respectable Earnings From Your Home ..

2010-12-23T00:44:00.000-08:00

Millions of people worldwide are enticed by the opportunity to work at home. A job from residence permits people considerably extra flexibility, further time with family and customarily alleviates the immense stress which can end result from an active career. At home jobs are also desirable for individuals who want to make an additional earnings along with their day job, faculty college students, disabled persons, at home mothers and senior citizens.

Thousands of individuals search the web on a regular basis in hopes of finding financial freedom from the comfort of their own home. Unfortunately, the internet is plagued with work at home scams. There are tons of of firms which promote 'get rich quick schemes' or 'assured' opportunities to make a residing from home. Scams embody, but are usually not limited to, envelope stuffing, mail order, pyramid schemes, medical billing, typist jobs and quite a few different ways to make money.

The FTC has already charged several individuals involved in managing and promoting fraudulent work at home opportunities. "The dream of proudly owning a business is as American as apple pie, however enterprise opportunity scammers spoil the recipe for achievement," said FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras. In accordance with the Higher Enterprise Bureau, customers may lose amounts starting from $10 as much as $70,000 or more of their search to become profitable from home. So how are you aware which alternatives are reliable and which aren't?

Fortuitously, there are actually authentic money making opportunities out there on the internet. A lot of individuals actually do earn an excellent dwelling on the internet. There are individuals who make hundreds of thousands on the web and are living the life all of us would like to live.

Many extra, nevertheless, earn an revenue akin to their salary or, in many circumstances, higher.

Many professional telecommuting jobs from qualified employers exist. A big number of them do require some type of talent, however that doesn't imply you want an university diploma to earn a living on the internet. The World Vast Web is filled with opportunities, and all varieties of persons from all around the world are making their goals come true by working at home.

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By GaryUpland

11 Hot Fields for Hiring in 2011

2010-12-23T00:43:00.000-08:00

Occupational experts like Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., say that America is climbing out of recession and job opportunities are better now than they've been for a long time. But what does this mean for people hoping to advance their career? What can they do in 2011 to be strong candidates in the future job market?

Shatkin answers these essential questions in his book "2011 Career Plan: The Best Moves Now for a Solid Future." In it, he explains that the recovery is a steady upswing, not a hiring boom, and that people will need to be strategic about how and where they pursue employment.

"Jobs are not expected to be plentiful in 2011 or for several years afterward. In fact, we may see a repeat of what happened after the recession of 2001, when 39 months passed before employment rose back to pre-recession levels. This recovery is also a patchwork affair, with some industries bouncing back much faster than others. For example, in March 2010, while manufacturers were adding jobs, the news and information business was still losing jobs," says Shatkin. "That's why 'I'll find something' is not an adequate career plan for 2011. You need to choose a specific goal and develop a smart strategy to take advantage of the opportunities that 2011 does have to offer."

One career strategy Shatkin recommends is to focus on fast-growing fields, where job opportunities tend to be more plentiful than in fields where jobs are slow-growing or disappearing. According to Shatkin and information from the U.S. Department of Labor, the following 11 fields are projected to grow fastest through 2018.

1. Management, scientific and technical consulting services

Hottest jobs in this field: network systems and data communications analysts; industrial engineers; financial analysts; customer service representatives; and public relations specialists

2. Computer systems design and related services

Hottest jobs in this field: network systems and data communications analysts; network and computer systems administrators; accountants and auditors; computer software engineers, systems software; and computer support specialists

3. Social assistance, except child day care

Hottest jobs in this field: medical and public health social workers; special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten and elementary school; first-line supervisors/managers of personal service workers; occupational therapists; and social and human service assistants

4. Software publishers

Hottest jobs in this field: network and computer systems administrators; computer systems analysts; computer support specialists; market research analysts; and customer service representatives

5. Scientific research and development services

Hottest jobs in this field: biomedical engineers; network systems and data communications analysts; biochemists and biophysicists; medical scientists, except epidemiologists; and compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety and transportation

6. Health care

Hottest jobs in this field: physician assistants; physical therapist aides; speech-language pathologists; physical therapist assistants; and physical therapists

7. Employment services

Hottest jobs in this field: accountants and auditors; customer service representatives; construction laborers; computer software engineers, systems software; and computer software engineers, applications

8. Construction

Hottest jobs in this field: heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers; septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners; telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers; purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail and farm products; and cost estimators

9. Child day care services

Hottest jobs in this field: preschool teachers, except special education; special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school; office clerks, general; kindergarten teachers, except special education; and first-line supervisors/managers of personal service workers

10. Advocacy, grantmaking and civic organizations

Hottest jobs in this field: network systems and data communications analysts; compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety and transportation; compensation, benefits and job analysis specialists; market research analysts; and customer service representatives

11. Educational services

Hottest jobs in this field: network systems and data communications analysts; self-enrichment education teachers; customer service representatives; loan counselors; and medical scientists, except epidemiologists

Shatkin reminds people to "keep in mind that these 11 fields are not the only fields where job opportunities will be available in 2011. They're fast-growing, but jobs can still be found in many fields that are not growing as fast even shrinking."

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By CareerBuilder

Top 10 Part-Time Jobs with Benefits

2010-12-20T21:10:00.001-08:00

Employment benefits are often reserved for full-time employees, but working less than 40 hours a week doesn't necessarily mean you're out of luck. Some companies do offer their part-time employees benefit packages, with some rivaling what you'd expect to get from a full-time position. The requirements for eligibility vary but usually include a minimum number of hours worked per week and/or only kick in after you've worked for a specified length of time. In the market for a part-time gig?
Here's our list of the10 best part-time jobs with benefits.

1. REI (Recreational Equipment)

REI offers all employees some form of health care coverage (even temporary and seasonal staff) with the best plan kicking in at just 20 hours a week. Other perks include merchandise discounts, incentive pay, retirement and profit sharing, and even discounted travel through the REI Adventures program.

Find REI Jobs

2. Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods added 14 new stores last year and offers a laundry list of benefits to all their employees, including those working part time. Team members are eligible for health, dental, and vision plans after 400 service hours as well as a 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off, and a 20 percent store discount.

Find Whole Food Market Jobs

3. Nordstrom

Among Nordstrom's offerings to part-time staff are health insurance, 401(k), life, disability, and accidental death insurance, paid time off, and adoption assistance.

Find Nordstrom Jobs

4. Starbucks Coffee

Every Starbucks "partner" that works 20 hours per week or more is eligible for full benefits that include health, retirement, and stock options, plus a free pound of coffee (or box of tea) every single week.

Find Starbucks Jobs

5. UPS

UPS describes their benefit package for part-time workers as "world class." It includes medical, dental, and vision coverage plus life and long-term care insurance, 401(k), discounted stock options, tuition reimbursement, and an income protection plan.

Find UPS Jobs

6. Lowe's

Part-time employees at Lowe's have access to a limited benefit health plan plus life, vision, dental, and disability, as well as a 401(k). They also earn 40 hours of vacation after just 180 days of service.

Find Lowe's Jobs

7. JCPenney

At JCPenney anyone working fewer than 35 hours per week is eligible for their Additional Benefits Choices program, which includes medical, dental, and vision coverage plus life insurance and critical illness/accident coverage.

Find JCPenney Jobs

8. Lands' End

Working at Lands' End part time not only qualifies you for dental, vision, and retirement plans (and access to an onsite medical clinic if you live in Dodgeville, Wisc.) but also discounts on merchandise at both Lands' End and Sears stores and special deals at area attractions such as theme parks.

Find Lands' End Jobs

9. JP Morgan Chase

At JP Morgan Chase part-time employees working at least 20 hours per week are eligible for most benefits after 90 days of service. Offerings include medical, dental, vision, retirement, and stock purchase plans plus paid time off, tuition and adoption assistance, and various banking-related options like checking account and credit card perks.

Find JP Morgan Chase Jobs

10. Barnes & Noble

Part-time employees at Barnes & Noble are eligible for medical, dental, and flex spending as well as life insurance, 401(k), a discount on books, access to a book loan program if you don't want to buy, and interesting deals on useful stuff like electronics, flowers, and banking services.

America's Most Popular Jobs - (according to MSN) ...

2010-12-20T21:01:00.000-08:00

The following is a list of jobs with little in common. Annual salaries for these jobs range from just over $18,000 to more than $110,000. Some don't require workers to graduate from high school, while others require a master's degree or higher. The reason they all appear here? They are the most popular jobs in America.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the following 15 jobs account for more than 25 percent of total U.S. employment. For comparison purposes, the largest job -- retail sales -- employs 4.21 million people, or 3.2 percent of the total American work force. By contrast, a mere 660 people are employed as prosthodontists, 1,170 as geographers and 870 as radio operators nationally.

So what are these mega-professions that employ so many people? According to the BLS, the following jobs are America's most popular:

1. Retail salespeople: Perhaps a testament to consumerism, retail salespeople rank No. 1 in job popularity. Besides great communication and customer service skills, retails salespeople also have to know how to close a deal; many of these jobs are commission-based.

Total employment: 4.21 million
Salary: $24,630*
Requirements: A high school diploma is preferred for entry-level positions. For those who hope to move on to retail management, a bachelor's degree is helpful.

2. Cashiers: Cashiers are responsible for working registers, monitoring cash drawers and taking payments at establishments that range from supermarkets and gas stations to retail stores and theme parks. Like retail salespeople, cashiers must have good customer-service and people skills, since they spend their day dealing with the public.

Total employment: 3.44 million
Salary: $19,030
Requirements: On-the-job training

3. Office clerks: Workers spend their days filling a variety of roles in an office environment, from entering data to preparing mailings. An office clerk's duties may vary daily, according to the needs of the company.

Total employment: 2.81 million
Salary: $27,700
Requirements: A high school diploma and a combination of word processing, computer and proofreading skills.

4. Combined food preparation and service workers: This category primarily encompasses those who work in fast food establishments as counter attendants and food prep workers. Duties often include taking orders and accepting payment, filling beverage cups, assembling food items and providing customer service.

Total employment: 2.69 million
Salary: $18,120
Requirements: On-the-job training. Employers look for workers with excellent customer-service skills, a neat appearance and the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.

5. Registered nurses: Nursing is the most common profession in the health-care field. RNs treat patients in hospitals, outpatient facilities and doctors' offices. Some provide home care to patients.

Total employment: 2.58 million

Salary: $66,530
Requirements: There are three different educational requirements for RNs: a bachelor's of science degree in nursing (BSN), an associate degree in nursing (ASN) or a diploma. Many hold master's degrees or an advanced practice nursing license (APRN).

6. Waiters and waitresses: Waiters and waitresses take food orders, accept payment and provide menu information to restaurant customers.

Total employment: 2.3 million
Salary: $20,380
Requirements: There are no minimal education requirements, though many establishments prefer staff to have high school diplomas.

7. Customer service representatives: Customer service workers answer questions, provide information, fulfill customer requests and handle customer complaints. While many work in call centers, others are employed in retail stores or at banks.

Total employment: 2.19 million
Salary: $32,410
Requirements: High school diploma, on-the-job training.

8. Material movers: This broad job category encompasses laborers who literally move materials. Think truck loaders, loading dock workers and baggage handlers.

Total employment: 2.13 million
Salary: $25,290
Requirements: On-the-job training

9. Janitors: Janitors are responsible for maintaining cleanliness in places such as office buildings, museums, schools and hospitals.

Total employment: 2.1 million
Salary: $24,120
Requirements: On-the-job training, ability to perform physical work for extended periods.

10. Stock clerks and order fillers: Stock clerks and order fillers work in storage facilities, warehouses, and shipping and receiving departments, ensuring that orders are properly filled, stocked, priced and accounted for.

Total employment: 1.86 million
Salary: $23,460
Requirements: High school diploma, on-the-job training, ability to perform physically strenuous work.

11. Secretaries: Secretaries (not including medical, legal and executive secretaries) provide administrative assistance to an office in the form of answering phones, greeting visitors, ordering catering services, proofreading, entering data, scanning and faxing documents, and more.

Total employment: 1.8 million
Salary: $31,060
Requirements: High school diploma, though an increasing number hold an associate or bachelor's degree. Secretaries must also have good computer and communication skills.

12. Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks: Employees in these positions serve as a corporation's record-keepers. Tasks include maintaining accounts payable and receivable, documenting and tracking budgets and preparing financial statements.

Total employment: 1.76 million
Salary: $34,750
Requirements: High school diploma, though many employers now require workers in these positions to hold an associate or bachelor's degree.

13. General managers: General managers are the top executives of establishments and organizations such as restaurants, hotels, amusement parks and sports teams. They are in charge of the business's day-to-day operations and long-term goals.

Total employment: 1.69 million
Salary: $110,550
Requirements: Most hold a bachelor's or advanced-level degree.

14. Tractor-trailer truck drivers: This category includes only those drivers who operate trucks with a capacity of more than 26,001 pounds. These drivers are responsible for the timely delivery of goods along routes that may cover multiple states.

Total employment: 1.55 million
Salary: $39,260
Requirements: A commercial driver's license is necessary for all drivers. Some states also require a training program.

15. Elementary school teachers: The category includes elementary school teachers except those who teach special education. Elementary school teachers are responsible for instructing students in kindergarten through fifth grade on a variety of subjects.

Total employment: 1.54 million
Salary: $53,150
Requirements: Bachelor's degree, teaching certification.

* Salary information is according to the BLS, and is based on average annual salary)

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By Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder Writer

Top Five Industries for Salary Growth

2010-12-20T03:54:00.000-08:00

Looking for a well-paid job in construction or real estate? Most people know that the chances of getting hired or getting a raise in either of those industries are pretty slim these days. In fact, average salaries in both real estate and construction are down even from where they were a year ago. But, there are industries where wages are finally growing, post-recession.

Online salary database PayScale.com has collected salary data dating back to 2006 to create a new economic indicator, The PayScale Index. The PayScale Index, which will be refreshed quarterly, tracks the changes in average wages of private industry, full-time employees in 16 different industries. It's clear that the recession hit every sector. But, which industries suffered the greatest wage losses and which are recovering fastest?

The following is a list of the top five industries for salary growth and the percentage of average wage increase between Q3 2009 and Q3 2010 for each:

1. Utilities +0.8%

This industry's resilience isn't too surprising considering that, no matter what the economy is doing, consumers are likely going to spend money on electricity, natural gas and other basics, says Al Lee, PayScale's director of quantitative analysis. They may try to cut back on electricity use, but they'll still need it and pay for it.

2. Mining, Oil & Gas Exploration +0.6%

Commodities have been doing well in recent years, with the price of gold up fourfold since 2001, according to OnlyGold.com. Plus, oil and gas exploration continues to expand through the use of new extraction technologies and the discovery of new deposits. And, oil and gas demand tends to stay high because it is measured internationally and if one country is growing slowly for a while and using less petroleum another one is booming and consuming more, says Lee.

3. Finance & Insurance +0.5%

Banks suffered big human resource losses during the recession, with layoffs becoming the norm. Yet, while many finance industry people may remain unemployed, those who have jobs are seeing an increase in wages. Lee suspects this is due to a return to profitability across the industry in 2010, after the crisis and federal bailouts of 2008 and early 2009.

4. Health Care & Social Assistance +0.2%

Health care is not a cyclical industry so it's no surprise that it is on the positive side, according to Lee. "People don't stop going in for surgery or high blood pressure medication," he says. Compared to all of the industries in The PayScale Index, health care suffered a relatively small, brief drop in wages during the recession.

5. Retail +0.2%

Retail certainly wasn't the place to be when the recession was hitting bottom, but it wasn't the worst and is currently showing signs of life. And, considering how badly retail was hit during the recession, this uptick is a strong hint at economic recovery. Less than half a percent of growth is very small, but it isn't negative and that's the key point, says Lee.

How Are Other Industries Doing?

Of the 16 industries The PayScale Index tracks, seven of them have experienced upward wage trends, or at least not losses remained steady in the last year. Among the remaining industries, those recovering the slowest are still seeing a dip in wages over the previous year:

1. Construction -0.8%

2. Business Operation & Support Services -0.6%

3. Real Estate & Rental Services -0.5%

4. Arts, Entertainment & Recreation -0.5%

5. Information, Media & Telecommunications -0.3%

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By Bridget Quigg

Sears Has 21,800 and Lowe's Has 15,000 Job Openings, apply now ..

2010-12-20T01:01:00.001-08:00

1. Sears Has 21,800 Job Openings:

Sears Holdings is hiring on both its corporate and its operations side of their business. There are openings for about 1,800 salaried positions and roughly 20,000 hourly ones, reports Fortune.

Those jobs are spread over a broad spectrum of skills, including home services, Sears and Kmart distribution centers, as well as Sears auto centers. These opening will provide opportunities for job seekers with backgrounds ranging from experience operating a store to running an e-commerce site.

When you apply, those screening are looking for future employees who can provide an edge. You can demonstrate you are that kind of employee by already having gone the distance by the time an interview rolls around. This means go beyond checking out the website when you research Sears. If, for instance, you're interested in a career in retail, you might try swinging by a Sears store or Sears auto center in order to observe how it functions. By talking to people already employed by the company, you can get a feel for the metabolism of the organization. If you see yourself as not only fitting in but also making a difference, don't hesitate to tell Sears about that in your application and during the interview.

-- Find Sears Jobs

2. Lowe's Has 15,000 Job Openings:

Just in time for its busy spring season, Lowe's is hiring 15,000 workers, reports Fortune. That's when home-improvement enthusiasts as well as professional contractors dig in on projects. It's also when homeowners think about buying new appliances, another line of products Lowe's sells.

The open positions are diverse. Some are in the Lowe's retail stores, some in the Lowe's office, and some in the Lowe's distribution centers. You could be doing direct customer service or overseeing content in a warehouse.

Many of the jobs are seasonal ones; however, given that Lowe's has an outstanding brand name in home improvement as well as appliance sales and it ranks No. 42 on the Fortune 500 companies, this experience is an enhancer for any resume.

What Lowe's is looking for is that you already have experience in the job you're applying for. In your application and during the interview, highlight that. In addition, emphasize what you achieved in your previous jobs. You can also get an edge by swinging by stores or distribution centers where you want to get hired. Get a feel for the organizational culture. Ask workers some operational questions.

How to snag a Lowe's job:

Apply online for open Lowe's positions.
Stop by a Lowe's facility, resume in hand, and ask to meet with the manager for a few minutes.
Hang around a Lowe's facility and observe how the place runs. That outreach demonstrates initiative.

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By Jane Genova

Top 10 Companies Hiring This Week (December 20 - 26), Hurry Up ..

2010-12-19T23:42:00.001-08:00

We know that your job search can get quite frustrating these days with more people trying to find a job and less employment opportunities available.

To ease the burden, we've tracked down 10 top companies with the most job openings this week from sales jobs to finance jobs, full-time jobs to part-time jobs. We hope you find a job that's perfect for you.

Good luck job hunting!

01. American Express
American Express Company is a global travel, financial and network services provider. The Company has three operating segments: Travel Related Services (TRS), American Express Financial Advisors (AEFA) and American Express Bank (AEB).AEB provides banking and other financial services to wealthy individuals, financial institutions and retail customers outside the United States.

Top Job Categories:
Sales Jobs
Customer Service Jobs
Information Technology Jobs
Finance Jobs
See all American Express jobs

02. Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a home improvement retailer, with specific emphasis on retail do-it-yourself (DIY) customers, do-it-for-me (DIFM) customers, who utilize its installation services, and commercial business customers. The company currently has 15,000 job openings across the nation!

Lowe's offers a line of products and services for home decorating, maintenance, repair, remodeling and property maintenance. Lowe's Companies, Inc. serves homeowners, renters and commercial business customers. Homeowners and renters primarily consist of do-it-yourselfers, and others buying for personal and family use. Commercial business customers include repair and remodeling contractors, electricians, landscapers, painters, plumbers, and commercial and residential property maintenance professionals, among others.

Top Job Categories:
Information Technology Jobs
Management Jobs
Engineering Jobs
See all Lowe's jobs

03. Sears
Sears Hometown Stores were developed sixteen years ago to serve our customers in locations outside of major metroploitan cities. There are currently about 900 Hometown Stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. These stores carry all of the top home appliance brands, consumer electronics, tools and lawn and garden equipment.

Top Job Categories:
Sales Jobs
Franchise Jobs
Management Jobs
See all Sears jobs

04. Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch, now part of Bank of America, is one of the world's premier providers of wealth management, securities trading and sales, corporate finance and investment banking services. Working with our clients as strategic partners, we create and execute winning solutions, which address our clients' most pressing strategic, financial and investment needs-anywhere in the world. We stand apart by building and maintaining solid partnerships with clients. Merrill Lynch places our client relationships first and is proud to conduct our business based on five unwavering principles: Client Focus, Respect for the Individual, Teamwork, Responsible Citizenship, and Integrity.

Top Job Categories:
Finance Jobs
Accounting Jobs
See all Merrill Lynch jobs

05. Dell
For more than 25 years, Dell has provided technology solutions to customers that improves their productivity, enhances their lives and meets their distinct needs. Headquartered in Round Rock, Texas, Dell has framed its business around the customers it serves, from the world's largest and most demanding businesses and public sector organizations, to small and medium businesses, to consumers worldwide.

Top Job Categories:
Management Jobs
Information Technology Jobs
Consultant Jobs
See all Dell jobs

06. IBM
Working at IBM provides opportunities you may not experience anywhere else. It gives you the chance to change the way the world works. The chance to help the world learn, to make education more available, knowledge more attainable and information more accessible. The chance to participate in research and development projects that facilitate technological and medical breakthroughs. These are the kinds of opportunities you'll find throughout our company. Opportunities that could certainly make a difference--in ways that are exciting, demanding and perhaps even unimaginable.

Top Job Categories:
Information Technology Jobs
Management Jobs
Consultant Jobs
See all IBM jobs

07. CVS
CVS Caremark, through our unmatched breadth of service offerings, is transforming the delivery of health care services in the U.S. We are an innovative, fast-growing company guided by values that focus on teamwork, integrity and respect for our colleagues and customers. What are we looking for in our colleagues? We seek fresh ideas, new perspectives, a diversity of experiences, and a dedication to service that will help us better meet the needs of the many people and businesses that rely on us each day.

Top Job Categories:
Retail Jobs
Customer Service Jobs
Management Jobs
See all CVS jobs

08. Dollar General
Dollar General stands for convenience, quality brands and low prices. Dollar General's successful prototype makes shopping a truly hassle-free experience. We design small neighborhood stores with carefully edited merchandise assortments to make shopping simpler. We don't carry every brand and size, just the most popular ones.

Top Job Categories:
Management Jobs
Retail Jobs
Customer Service Jobs
See all Dollar General jobs

09. Bayada Nurses
Bayada Nurses provides care to children, adults, and seniors in their homes. Even though we have grown from one office in 1975, to more than 140 offices in 18 states today, founder Mark Baiada still runs the company with the same compassionate, human focus that clients and employees appreciated from the beginning.

Top Job Categories:
Health Care Jobs
Nurse Jobs
Management Jobs
See all Bayada Nurses jobs

10. Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance through almost 6,000 stores, the internet and other distribution channels across North America and internationally.

Top Job Categories:
Banking Jobs
Finance Jobs
Sales Jobs
See all Wells Fargo jobs

----------------------------

By AOL Jobs Contributor

30+ Websites to Visit When You’re Laid Off

2010-12-19T23:41:00.000-08:00

The worst time to panic is when you are laid off and lose your main source of income. We live in a new and powerful era of communication, one where we can find support, gather news, and network without ever leaving our computers. The following collection of websites has been put together as a comprehensive resource for anybody who has lost their job and is looking to get back on their feet again. Our hope is that this post will be a hub for finding support and financial resources.

Have an important site to add? Please help us out by adding it in the comments.

Step 1: Find Support and Recover

1. eHow: eHow has a massive collection of articles that can help you learn everything from how to support a laid off spouse to how to claim unemployment benefits. It’s tough to find the quality articles, so here is a good starter pack:

2. About.com: Job Searching: About has a similar set of articles, but focuses more on tasks such as acquiring unemployment benefits and how to file for them.

3. LaidOffCamp: LaidOffCamp is a movement to bring anyone who has lost their job or is self-employed together to discuss topics that are important to the laid off – living on tight budgets, becoming a freelancer, and more. The first LaidOffCamp is in San Francisco on March 3rd.

4. Department of Labor Employment & Training Administration: The DOL’s first resource for those laid off, it outlines ways to get benefits, provides fact sheets, and gives you contact information for your state. It’s a good resource.

5. I’m in like with you: Seriously, relieve the stress by playing games for a few hours and indulging in the fun.

6 & 7. PlentyofFish and Okcupid: You need to get your mind off of losing your job and get out of the house and meet people. If you’re single, there is no better way than dating. PlentyofFish and Okcupid are both free dating services, making it cheap to find a date. Just make sure to pick an affordable date; I suggest a trip to the zoo.

8. Diddit: Now is the best time to pick up a hobby you’ve always wanted to do but never had time for. diddit is a relatively new social network for finding people who are doing the things you want to do. Use it to learn more or just find partners to go skydiving with.

Step 2: Manage Your Money and Stay Afloat

9. Careeronestop Unemployment Benefits Map: This map will link you to unemployment benefit information for your state.

10. Department of Labor Health and Retirement Benefits Toolkit: Another U.S. government website, this is the DoL’s job loss toolkit. It has fact sheets and publications on COBRA, pensions, and more.

11. Mint: Mint is a free budget management and finance tracking service. After connecting it with your online bank accounts and credit cards, you can see all of your financial activity and set budgets based on categories of spending. When you lose your income source, you need to be sure you are keeping on budget. Mint will even send an SMS if you go over your budget or have unusual charges.

12. Wesabe: Wesabe is similar to Mint in that it can track your finances by linking to your online finance accounts, but it also leverages its community to make recommendations and tips that can help save you money. Users can also share advice with the rest of the community by commenting on items.

13. Employment at SmartMoney.com: SmartMoney is a great resource for investing and managing your money. The Employment section specifically has videos, columns, and articles on starting your own business or surviving a layoff. It’s from the Wall Street Journal – it’s quality information.

14. Slickdeals: The popular deals website allows you to find discounts and freebies on a random assortment of items. When you’re in a crunch, every penny matters.

Step 3: Earn Short-term Cash

15. Craigslist: Even if you’re receiving unemployment checks and have a few months of savings to rely on, earning a couple of extra dollars can mean the difference between making rent and being in hot water. The #1 place to look is the world’s largest classified section, Craigslist.

16. Workstir: A newer website, Workstir allows you to find contract jobs near you. Everything from painting to web design can be requested, searched for, and accepted as work. Its Facebook Connect integration helps you search for gigs geographically.

17. HotGigs: HotGigs is a hub for freelance consultants and staffing firms. You can join, connect with contract firms, and even see information on average market rates for consultants in your industry.

18. Freelance Writing Jobs: Blog and write for some extra cash and get some added exposure as a bonus.

Step 4: Network, Network, Network!

19. LinkedIn: Start at the world’s largest professional network and start contacting everyone who might owe you a favor, be in debt to you, or fear your wrath. It’s time to let the world know that you’re looking.

20. Plaxo: One thing Plaxo does very well is contact management – it’s quick and simple to organize all of your business cards and contacts. Take the time to type them in and categorize them. Then email every contact you’ve got.

21. GarysGuide: Although most of us techies do our work from a computer, networking doesn’t always work that way. GarysGuide lists out tech events and gatherings in metropolitan areas. Start a system of attending at least two of these a week and shake hands with as many people as possible. You’re not going to find your next opportunity sleeping in late.

22. AllConferences: The same deal as GarysGuide; find conferences in your industry and attend them. If you’re low on cash to attend them, talk to the organizers and tell them about your situation, get yourself in as a speaker, or strike a deal to blog about the event with a news blog – you’d be surprised how easy it can be to get free conference passes if you put in some effort.

23. MeetUp: Even more networking homework for you, MeetUp is extraordinarily comprehensive in its listing of events and includes events for non-metropolitan areas.

24. Twitter: Oh yes, our favorite social media darling can also become your favorite networking darling in dire times. Primarily using Twitter, Bostoners were able to quickly organize a pink slip party. Use it to tell your followers you’re looking for a new opportunity, ask them to retweet, and then search twitter for relevant job keywords.

Step 5: Time to Hunt For a Job

25. Mashable’s Career Toolbox: One of my absolute favorite posts on Mashable is the Career Toolbox, a comprehensive listing and description of websites that can help you find a job and then land it. Start here when you’re looking for a job.

26 & 27. LinkUp and SimplyHired: Unlike most job sites, LinkUp and SimplyHired are aggregate search engines that search company and job websites for job postings and openings. This will give you an idea of openings in your industry and the general feel of what companies are looking for.

28, 29, & 30.USAJOBS, DirectGov (UK), and Australian JobSearch: There are a lot of government websites that can help you directly search for a job, I’ve only listed three of the best examples here. With multi-billion dollar stimulus packages flying everywhere, there’s bound to be some government jobs.

31. Mashable’s Job Board: No list would be complete without the Mashable Job Board. If you’re an avid reader of our blog, you’re probably going to find a job that suits you here. You can tell them that I sent you. If only that would actually help you land a job…

Don’t Lose Hope

When you are directly affected by the economic crisis, the most important thing to remember is don’t lose hope! There are jobs out there for hard-working, talented, clever individuals, but you’re going to have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and talk to every person you possibly can. I hope this post helps you or someone close to you get through this crisis. We’re all in this together.

If you have some other websites you think will help those who are laid off, make sure to leave them in the comments.

----------------------------

By Ben Parr for Mashable

Google Zeitgeist 2010: iPhone Beats Android, Twitter Beats Facebook, Chatroulette Beats All

2010-12-17T01:30:00.000-08:00

It’s now nearly the end of the year, and you know what that means: end-of-the-year lists. Apple has just released a bunch, and now Google has too. As they do every year, Google has unveiled their “Zeitgeist 2010“. And they have some nifty interactive data visualizations once again and now they’re in HTML5.

Google singles out the Olympics, the World Cup, earthquakes, the oil spill, and Lady Gaga among others in their post on the matter. But their charts focus mainly on the fastest-rising queries. Of note in the top queries, the top iPhone (iPhone 4) beat the top Android phone (Evo 4G), Twitter beat Facebook, and Chatroulette beat everyone. In fact, the service (which no one seems to talk about anymore) was far ahead of every other fast-rising query expect for the iPad, which was a close second.

It’s worth noting again that these lists are just for the fastest-rising queries of the year. While Twitter beat Facebook in that area, Facebook is far ahead of Twitter in terms of overall queries, for example.

Below, the top 10 fastest-rising queries of 2010:

1. chatroulette
2. ipad
3. justin bieber
4. nicki minaj
5. friv
6. myxer
7. katy perry
8. twitter
9. gamezer
10. facebook

And here were the fastest-rising queries in consumer electronics in 2010:

1. ipad
2. iphone 4
3. nokia 5530
4. htc evo 4g
5. nokia n900
6. blackberry apps
7. duracell mygrid
8. 트위터
9. otterbox
10. pdanet

Interestingly enough, we’re told that number 8 is “Twitter” in Korean.
Also cool, Google’s “Strangest Searches Of The Year”:

1. can a horse have ocd?
2. am i bipolar or overachiever?
3. why are americans afraid of dragons?
4. ninjas are better than pirates
5. why is a raven like a writing desk?
6. why does brian wilson dye his beard?
7. should i marry him?
8. i wish i could speak whale
9. why couldn’t you stand on the sun’s surface?
10. why does my baby grunt?

-------------------
By MG Siegler

Million-dollar salaries are back at Infosys

2010-12-16T01:17:00.001-08:00

Infosys Technologies is on a mission to mop up the top executive talent in the industry and is willing to pay the price for it. In three months, Infosys has shopped for at least four people in the million dollar-a-year bracket.

Big ticket hiring, which nosedived thanks to recession, appears to have made a strong comeback. The rest of the industry too seems to be looking up to Infosys in this regard.

Infosys HR chief Mohandas Pai agrees that fat salaries are back. “In the million dollar category, we have hired three to four people abroad in the last quarter whereas in India, we have hired 10 people in the $1,50,000-$2,00,000 bracket,” he said. Senior level management hiring at Infosys has been made across verticals in the technology and consulting business. “In the US, the hiring was done with the aid of the top five consulting firms and in India we followed a similar process,” he said.

"These people were not necessarily from the IT industry but with domain expertise in sectors like retail, banking and insurance,” said Infosys senior vice-president and global head (HR) Nandita Gurjar. The company refused to name the candidates. Gurjar added that senior management hiring has picked up in the IT industry overall and since people at senior levels come with domain expertise, the salary structures are typically higher as well. “During the slowdown, we hired around 2 to 3 a year at the top level,” she said. Meanwhile, Infosys has increased its lateral hiring targets for the full year to the highest ever, about 10,000 of the proposed 36,000 new hires will be laterals. The firm has already hired 2,400 laterals in the first quarter and expects to get on board another 3,000 in the second quarter to create the necessary capacity for capitalizing on the strong volume uptick.

Most companies refrain from disclosing the number of top hires. However, a cross section of headhunters FE spoke to said most top and mid-tier IT services firms were now hiring people at huge salaries.

BS Murthy, CEO, executive search firm Leadership Capital, said, “In the quarter ended June, the hiring of operational leadership has gone up significantly.” “Almost all IT services firms are hiring them, they are the practice heads, delivery heads, location heads, vice presidents and associate VPs. They form the largest leadership chunk in any firm and in a big IT services firm, there could...

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By Goutam Das, Debojyoti Ghosh for The Financial Express

Top 10 real tips to manage pressure at work (tips by msn)

2010-12-16T01:11:00.000-08:00

Work stress is the reaction that many people have when they are under high pressure at work for a given period. Many of us are motivated by the challenges and difficulties arising from the requirements of the work. Fulfilling these requirements leads satisfaction. However, when the pressure at work reaches high levels and lasts for a long time, people find the existence of a threat to the welfare or interests and then experienced feelings like fear, anger or anxiety.

1. Start your day day with a healthy breakfast: It's better for your health (and your weight) to eat breakfast than to skip it. And it's definitely better to eat a healthy breakfast, high in fibers and nutrients, than one full of refined grains, sugar, salt, and/or saturated fat. Balancing carbohydrates (preferably from whole grains, fruit and vegetables) with some protein and a little healthier fat will do a better job of staving off hunger until lunch and fueling your entire morning's activities. According to the American Dietetic Association (ADA), most adults consume less than 15 grams (g) of fiber daily, and yet the recommended intake for optimum health is 20 to 35 g.

2. Learn to manage your boss: Never tell your boss "I can't do this. I don't have time." Instead, always say something like: "Of all the things you want me to do, what would be most useful right now?" Or, "What is your highest priority?" Or, say something like: "According to the 80-20 rule, 80% of the value I can add for you will be achieved with 20% of the things I do, so which 20% is most likely, in your view, to add the most value for you right now?" Another useful line is: "I always want to do the best possible job for you in the least possible time. Which things are most important to you right now?" Don't forget to appreciate the pressure your boss is under. Show a little empathy by saying something like: "I imagine you are under so much pressure, I don't know how you think straight. Would it help to take 10 minutes to do some prioritizing?"

3. Get organized! You can avoid a lot of pressure and stress by prioritizing your tasks. Take yourself five minutes before you start working to prioritize all upcoming tasks from high-priority and very urgent to low-priority and not urgent. Furthermore, it can be really helpful to break big projects or tasks into sub-goals, which you start to target one after another.

4. Effective Time Management: The stress factor number one is having a lot of workload and tight time limitations to get that work done. Taking this into account we can see the high importance that effective time management techniques can have on our stress level.

5. Confront your fears: The best way to ease your anxiety at work? Face your fears. Begin by just picturing yourself going face-to-face with the very things that worry you and cause anxiety. By getting used to the idea of confronting your anxiety-causing concerns before you actually do it, you will actually feel more comfortable the time comes to face them.

6. Exercise a must: Regular exercises can reduce your stress level drastically as it decreases stress hormones and increases the production of endorphins, which will make you feel good! A person that is exercising regularly is less affected by stress than others! Plyometric twice a week is an excellent option if you are limited on time and want to burn some serious fat while toning and creating separation in the legs. I would recommend a 15 to 30 minute session of squat jumps; tuck jumps, jumping jacks, plyo pushups, using a bench to jump up AND off of, jumping rope, etc. Hop on your treadmill and walk at a very steep incline of at least 10+ at a pace that allows your heart rate to rise but remain manageable. Stairs are also ideal for walking up and down if you are desperate for something to do in an office environment-put a backpack on with some heavy books or a gallon jug of water in it and get to it. For strength training, do a variety of exercises for each muscle group, typically to add variety to your workout? Exercising regularly will help you manage work pressure.

7. Laughter: Another very effective stress management technique is quite simple: laugh! Laughing releases endorphins, lets you forget your worries and reduces stress quite effective. Just invest some time to read some really good jokes or watch a comedy show on TV.

8. The negative effect of alcohol and nicotine: Besides all health-related conditions drugs can cause: alcohol and nicotine can also have a negative impact on your ability to cope with stress effectively. Furthermore, it is important to note that drugs cannot be considered as helpful stress relievers. Alcohol and nicotine might seem calming and therefore helpful when you are stressed in the first moment, but they both can lead to addictions, which increases the stress level drastically when they wear off.

9. Proper sleep: Sleep deprivation can have negative influences on our performance in our professional life, but it can also cause us to feel stressed at home. The importance of enough sleep cannot be stressed enough as it keeps you balanced and allows you to handle stress more effective. You need to sleep for 8 hours, Once you get up from the bed you need to Immediately do some simple floor exercises for at least 20 minutes and walk for 10 minutes your body will be ready for the challenges. Individuals who struggle to fall asleep within 30 minutes of lying down are more prone to anxiety, a university study in Quebec found. "Our brain is sort of a one-track loop," says Suzanne Segerstrom, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky. "If that track is full of work worries, crowd them out by tuning in to something else, like talk radio or an audiobook."

10. Give thanks: At the end of the day no matter how things turned out – perhaps your best intentions went awry, or perhaps they were spot on – give yourself a moment as you ease into bed or the shower or a moment between the To Dos and the Got Dones and appreciate you did the best you could in the time you had. Allow yourself to BE more of who you already are because time is worth more than what shows up on a lifetime of lists. Be thankful for the person you are and for the being you are now willing to actively embrace. Over time, you'll find yourself making more meaningful To Dos and feeling far less stress in accomplishing them.

Be polite, be happy, and most of all enjoy what you're doing.

--------------------------

By MSN

Facebook is Hiring

2010-12-15T04:38:00.000-08:00

Analyst, User Operations (Hyderabad)

Facebook is seeking analysts to join our User Operations team. Analysts are responsible for maintaining user safety, engagement, and site understanding by responding to email inquiries and abuse reports. Additionally, this position is responsible for understanding, analyzing, and communicating patterns in user behavior to the rest of the company. This is a full-time position in our new Hyderabad, India office.

Apply for this position

Responsibilities

Respond to contacts from users regarding a variety of site issues
Enforce our Terms of Use by carefully monitoring reports of abuse on the site
Analyze user interaction with the product and communicate this analysis to others within the department and company
Identify inefficiencies in work flow and suggest solutions
Interface effectively with other teams

Requirements

B.A., B.S., or higher
Excellent English written and verbal communication skills
Flexibility to take on multiple tasks
Extremely reliable, consistent, and hard-working
Strong attention to detail and critical thinking skills
Deep understanding of Facebook preferred
Passion for ensuring a good user experience

Apply for this position

More on http://www.facebook.com/careers/department.php?dept=online-ops&req=121127044573206

Nontraditional Jobs That Pay $100K

2010-12-15T00:40:00.001-08:00

It's no secret that doctors, lawyers, and senior executives at large corporations typically earn six figures or more. But where are the $100,000 jobs for the rest of us--the 140 million American workers who lack the inclination, the aptitude, or the tolerance for student debt to go for the classic big-money careers?

It turns out that, these days, there are quite a number of six-figure occupations. Here are just a few worth your consideration:

Technology
Developing nations may graduate more engineers than the United States, but we've still got enough jobs to keep salaries generous, at least in some specialties. According to May 2009 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the top 10 percent of electrical engineers posted median salaries of nearly $127,000, and half of engineering managers earned median salaries in excess of $117,000.

In interactive specialties such as Web design, information architecture, and usability, "there's an absolute dearth of talent with three to five years of experience," says Allison Hemming, president of the staffing firm

Hired Guns.

Senior Web producers can earn $85,000 to $110,000. "Interactive feels very 1999 right now," Hemming says. "It's a real opportunity for people who may have left the field and come back or are just out of college."

Can production workers approach six figures? They can if they're in the right high-tech specialty. According to Jack Dolmat-Connell, president of the compensation consulting firm DolmatConnell & Partners, some semiconductor fab technicians can make up to $90,000 with overtime.

Financial Services
Professionals involved in the provision of bread-and-butter financial services--not just those ensconced on Wall Street--often earn six figures. "Producers [salespeople] in insurance and branch managers--those can average $120,000 to $125,000," says Dolmat-Connell.

Real estate may be suffering from an overabundance of new entrants, but long-term prospects for high earnings in pricey markets are still bullish. "Real estate agent--that's one of those quiet little jobs where you can make a boatload of money," says Bill Coleman, senior vice president for compensation at Salary.com. An agent who participates in the sale of 12 or 14 half-million-dollar homes per year--easy to do in big-money markets like the Northeast--is likely to hit $100,000 in commissions.

Entertainment and Hospitality
Can a worker ascend from burger flipper to six-figure earner? Not every day, but it happens. Restaurant managers can earn $100,000 at high-end restaurants and resorts," says Coleman.

For people who live near a casino, big earnings may be within reach, even without a college education. "The top 25 percent of casino pit managers earn over $100,000, with just high school and five years of experience," says Dolmat-Connell.

Security and Hazard Duty
Run-of-the-mill security guards generally earn low pay, but well-placed security professionals can do much better. "Security guards for celebrities can earn six figures," says Coleman. These jobs are concentrated in New York and Los Angeles, but sports superstars may have security based in their teams' hometowns.

Less-glamorous gigs can pay equally well, if work conditions warrant a premium. Oil-rig workers must cope with hazardous and remote work sites, so high-ranking crew members earn up to $100,000.

Government
If you're a six-figure aspirant, the federal government may be one of the last employers to come to mind. But Uncle Sam is looking for thousands of professionals at this level each year.

"Retirement rates for midlevel managers are high; more and more, the government is hiring people from the outside directly into management," says Kathryn Troutman, the author of "Ten Steps to a Federal Job" and former Monster contributor.

And middle-management jobs in government may be better compensated than their private-sector counterparts. "Midrange professional salaries are much higher, and the flexibility and benefits are much better," says Troutman. These jobs generally fall into the GS-14 and GS-15 grade levels.

Here are just a few of the federal jobs that can pay $100,000 or more, according to USAJOBS:

-------------------------------------------------------

by John Rossheim, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

2010-11 Working Mother 100 Best Companies

2010-12-13T05:44:00.000-08:00

No one would say that being a working parent is easy. If you have a newborn at home, good luck getting more than a few hours of sleep each night. Once your children are in school and participating in extracurricular activities, you have to pick them up at one place and drop them off at another. Don’t forget the overall pressure of having another human being relying on you for food, shelter and clothing. You have enough responsibilities to make parenting a full-time job without ever having to set foot in an office.

And if no reasonable person would claim the life of a working parent is easy, you probably won’t find anyone who thinks working mothers have had an easy time balancing work and family. Working women have faced an uphill battle for generations and still do. As we’ve pointed out, don’t be an attractive woman who wants a traditionally masculine job or you’ll be sorely disappointed. Progress has a long way to go.

But the situation for working women in 2010 is better than in previous generations, as we have recently noted. As that study explains, 20-something single women are the ones making the greatest financial gains, and experts suspect that this is because many women wait to get married and have children in their 30s and 40s. Essentially, once a woman becomes a mother, her professional life becomes more affected than that of her male counterparts. Each couple decides how it wants to divvy up the daily responsibility, but women still seem to be the ones who leave work to pick up the children from school or who stay home if they get sick.

Realizing that mothers – and women who plan on having children – have extra factors to consider in a job hunt, Working Mother magazine has compiled a list of the best places to work. The Working Mother 100 Best Companies list is based on “work force, compensation, child care, flexibility programs, leave policies” and other factors affecting workplace productivity and culture.

For any worker, especially a working mother, access to on-site child care or the ability to telecommute is important for balancing work and life. Working Mother magazine says that the companies on the list are ahead of most national organizations. For example, only 37 percent of nationwide companies offer health insurance for part-time workers, whereas 100 percent of the companies on the list do.

Family-friendly benefits and programs that help keep working moms' careers on track have mored forward in the 25 years since the launch of Working Mother's first Best Companies list. Now Working Mother 100 Best Companies offer programs that help all employees with their struggles to gain some work-life balance. Here's what we have found.

Abbott

Mothers who work at this health-care company don't need to skip their kids' choir practices or school plays just to impress the boss: Last year, 89% of employees held jobs that permitted them to flex...

Accenture

Whatever their personal goals may be, women can find support for them at this management consulting, technology and outsourcing firm.

Allstate Insurance

Women make up a third of all officers, board members and management team members at this financial services and insurance company.

American Electric Power

Adding spaces at a child-care facility near headquarters helped more parents enjoy sliding-scale fees for care; those with teens took advantage of the company's 42 $7,000 college scholarships.

American Express

"Hub, club, home and roam‚" might sound like the chorus of a preschool song, but it's actually the motto of a formal flexibility initiative that's growing at this financial company.

AOL

Kids get a great start in life when their moms work for this Web services company. Its innovative Well Baby program offers coaching on prenatal care, childbirth, lactation and newborn health.

Arnold & Porter

In 1997, this law firm opened a child-care center at its headquarters, making it one of the first in its industry to do so.

AstraZeneca

Working moms at this pharmaceutical firm enjoyed last year's pilot of its Total Leadership program, an initiative that used guided exercises and group coaching to help participants prioritize and...

Automatic Data Processing

Wake up, get dressed, grab coffee, walk to desk. That's the extent of the daily commute for moms enrolled in this technology company's "homeshoring‚" program, which allows associates to work...

Bain & Co.

This management consulting firm is committed to advancing and retaining the talented women who work for it.

Bank of America

Despite a history that stretches back more than 200 years, this bank stays modern by allowing its employees to define how they work.

Baptist Health South Florida

Women can really improve their families' fortunes when they work for this Florida healthcare network, which offers up to $4,000 in annual tuition aid for a bachelor's degree and up to $6,000...

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina

Alternative work options are big at this health-care insurance company, where all employees used flextime in 2009.

Boehringer Ingelheim USA

Making its list debut, this pharmaceutical company offers great benefits that include 100% tuition reimbursement for job-related courses, which saved employees $7,597 on average last year.

Bon Secours Richmond Health System

Women flock to the system's mentoring and career counseling programs, apply for up to $5,000 in annual tuition aid and score 72% of top salaries.

Booz Allen Hamilton

Change was in the air at this strategy- and technology-consulting firm last year.

The Boston Consulting Group

There's a lot to admire about this management consulting firm, where the number of female consultants has doubled in the past six years.

Bristol-Myers Squibb

Parents rejoiced recently when this biopharmaceutical company opened its fifth child-care center near its New Brunswick, NJ, campus.

Bronson Healthcare Group

Despite the faltering economy, last year this Midwestern health-care system refused to cut benefits that help employee families.

Capital One Financial

Anyone who works at least 20 hours per week is eligible for health insurance; at three campuses, health centers treat kids over age 2 for free.

Carlson

The company's focus on creating a new generation of leaders may be paying off: Half of its highest earners and management team members are women.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Moms are deeply appreciated by this pediatric health-care system, which annually names one female employee Working Mother of the Year and rewards her with a paid day off, a spa trip and Atlanta...

Cisco

In 2009, the company introduced job-sharing, formalized both part-time schedules and full-time work-from-home arrangements and added global policies that made flextime and telecommuting easier to use.

Citi

Last November, this financial services company launched Women Leading Citi, a program pairing female directors and managing directors with career advocates who help them locate development...

Colgate-Palmolive

Education is highly prized by this consumer products company, which generously grants its employees up to $10,000 in annual tuition aid for job related courses and offers their teen children college...

Covington & Burling

Parents at this law firm's headquarters find its near-site day care, which serves 85 kids from infancy through age 5, a huge stress reliever–but no matter where they work, they'll find support: The...

Credit Suisse

In 2009, this financial services firm piloted Maternity Coaching, a quarterly program that prepares women for maternity leave by establishing the steps they need to take to ensure a smooth departure...

Dell

Celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary last year inspired this information technology and services company to think big.

Deloitte

The new sabbatical program offered by this professional services organization supports such aspirations, granting employees four unpaid weeks off to do anything they like (climb Everest, hang with...

Deutsche Bank

To enhance their knowledge, moms can apply for annual tuition aid of up to $5,000 for undergraduate studies or $10,000 for graduate work.What We Love

Diageo North America

Finding a good child-care provider is stressful, but for employees of this alcoholic beverage company, it's easy. Parents can utilize a resource and referral service to locate care and may now access...

Discovery Communications

Moms cherish this media company's family-friendly atmosphere. If they have a baby, they can take nine fully paid weeks off to bond and enjoy; new fathers and adoptive parents receive three fully paid...

Dow Corning

Women frequently work unorthodox schedules for this silicones supplier, but what matters to their employer is what they do, not when they do it.

DuPont

Moms who need to travel overnight for work are fully reimbursed for their childcare costs.

Eli Lilly and Co.

Bicycling on a beautiful day, fishing in a well-stocked lake or gathering family for a picnic and softball game relaxes the moms who work for this pharmaceutical company, which maintains its own 267-...

Ernst & Young

With 75% of its employees working out of client offices, this professional services firm offers scheduling freedom to those who pursue it.

Fannie Mae

All new parents receive at least four fully paid weeks off after a birth or adoption, with up to $10,000 in adoption aid; at most sites there are lactation rooms with pumps and refrigerators, and a...

FINRA

Flexible schedules (compressed weeks, telecommuting) are increasingly popular; if their positions allow, moms may design their work around use of these two arrangements.

First Horizon National

Making impressive strides last year, this Memphis-based financial services company introduced both a diversity council and an executive advisory council that support the advancement of women, as well...

First National Bank

Women anticipating the birth or adoption of a new family member still get 16 job-guaranteed weeks off, including seven partially paid for birth moms and two fully paid for primary adoptive caregivers...

Freddie Mac

With 5,350 employees at 17 sites in seven states, this mortgage finance firm wisely focuses on benefits that can be customized.

Genentech

Parents who work at the headquarters of this biotechnology firm rely on two near-site child-care centers with fulltime, backup and school holiday care for 565 kids, plus "date nights‚" for Mom and...

General Electric

To show employees that hard work and a healthy lifestyle aren't mutually exclusive, this infrastructure, finance and media company launched Health Ahead, its new global wellness program, last...

General Mills

Moms head five of the seven U.S. retail divisions of this food manufacturing company, with Yoplait president Becky O'Grady added in 2009.

Goldman Sachs

In 2009, after internal surveys found that its employees sought greater work-life balance, this investment banking, securities and investment management firm sprang into action.

Grant Thornton

Sometimes just knowing the right way to handle things can set a leader apart. Last year, this professional services firm introduced the Centered Leadership development series, which helps women at...

Hallmark Cards

At monthly gatherings, female leaders talk to up-and-coming women about the lessons they have learned during their careers; last year, women represented 63% of all managers and executives at the...

HCA Virginia Health System–Richmond Market

It's all about family at this health-care system, where employees are eligible for 24 job guaranteed weeks off to deliver or adopt a child.

Hewitt Associates

During the extraordinarily busy time that surrounds the arrival of a new child, parents at this human resources outsourcing and consulting firm now have a little more breathing room.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Starting the week on a high note is easy at this health insurer, thanks to Monday Morning Leadership, a four-month training and peer-mentoring program for managers and team leaders in each business...

After the birth of a child, mothers can take six fully paid weeks off; adoptive parents receive up to $3,000 to cover their costs.

IBM

This information technology company offers real help to employees whose children have mental, physical or developmental issues. Its Special Care for Children program covers medical testing and...

Intel

Parents enjoy this technology company's Family Fun events, held at least 55 times a year, at which they play games, watch movies and volunteer with their kids.

Johnson & Johnson

Anyone with a teenager knows the anxiety of preparing a child to leave the nest, but with this health-care company's free College Coach program, the next stage doesn't have to be stressful.

Katten Muchin Rosenman

At this law firm, women have taken sabbaticals to travel Europe, create works of art or just enjoy time with their kids.

Kellogg

Keeping its workforce healthy is a priority for this food giant, whose Feeling Gr-r-reat wellness program offers $1,100 in annual incentives to salaried and nonunion employees.

KPMG

After the birth or adoption of a child, employees may take 26 job guaranteed weeks off, with 12 weeks partially paid for moms and eight weeks fully paid for primary adoptive caregivers, who are...

Kraft Foods

Smart women do well at this consumer-goods company. If they are considered "high-potential," they are given executive coaches (who help them sharpen their skills) and connected with company leaders.

LEGO Systems

This iconic toy maker merits a high approval rating among employees, with 100% of those surveyed saying they are proud to work here.

March of Dimes Foundation

Employees care deeply about the work they do at this nonprofit foundation, which supports prenatal care and baby health. To honor fathers' participation in their infants' lives, management last year...

Marriott International

Marking the tenth anniversary of its Women's Leadership Development Initiative last year, this hospitality services company took a look back at how the program helped diversify its pipeline for top...

MasterCard Worldwide

Mothers of children with autism were comforted last year when this payments-solutions company began covering up to 60 annual visits to speech, physical and outpatient behavior therapy for their kids.

McGladrey

Alternative schedules are popular at the accounting, tax and business consulting firms known as McGladrey, the brand that comprises RSM McGladrey and McGladrey & Pullen. In 2009, 90% of their...

The McGraw-Hill Companies

Expectant moms have struck gold with this information services provider's new Maternity Management program, which streamlines doctors' appointments and nursing consultations to take them smoothly...

McKinsey & Co.

With the formal launch of its Mom's Network last year, this management consulting firm gave all women who were expecting or raising children their own representative–a dedicated manager assigned to...

Merck

This giant pharmaceutical company really did its employees proud in 2009. Its new Exceptional Caregiving website provided a variety of resources for those raising kids, teens and young adults with...

Mercy Health System

From its Janesville, WI, travel clinic to its six-bed hospital in Lake Geneva, WI, this health-care system offers moms many opportunities to advance.

MetLife

The arrival of a child is celebrated by this financial services firm, which allows new moms to take eight fully paid weeks off and grants two fully paid weeks off to new dads and adoptive parents.

Microsoft

With 100 hours of emergency care at their disposal every year, parents can easily request an in-home visit by a caregiver, and they'll pay just $4 per hour for up to three dependents.

Moffitt Cancer Center

Women make up 71% of the workforce at this cancer research and treatment center, and they have formed a real community. Workers praise managers who've championed them to pursue education or allowed...

Monsanto

First laugh, first step, first word. No parent wants to miss these milestones of a baby's development, which is why this agricultural company offers them the option of applying for a year of job-...

Morgan Stanley

Moms at this financial services firm are constantly being connected to employee networks that help them maintain work-life balance.

National Education Association

Taking five paid days off to spend at a child's school or participate in a school-related activity might seem too good to be true to most moms, but at this labor organization, parents can do it every...

New York Life Insurance

Moms get at least three fully paid weeks off for a birth and can express breast milk in the facilities' Mothers' Centers.

Northern Trust

It's been 20 years since this financial services firm opened a childcare center at its Chicago headquarters, the jewel of its work-life program. Since then, once-foreign offerings such as flex hours...

Northwestern Memorial HealthCare

Moms can have lasting careers at this academic medical center, where women already serve as two thirds of all managers, senior managers and top earners.

Novo Nordisk

Every mom wants her child to get a solid education, but many worry about the best way to save for tuition. By opening its "Saving and Paying for College" seminar to employees with kids of all ages,...

Patagonia

Imagine working for an employer that encourages taking a long lunch break to train for a half-marathon, provides free yoga classes on-site and even repairs your bike.

Pearson

Raising young children while caring for elderly relatives can be stressful, which is why sandwich-generation parents are so grateful for this media company's thoughtful solutions.

Pfizer

From conception through college, employee kids are supported by the policies and programs of this health-care company.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman

Getting attorneys to relax is tricky–there's always work to do. So in 2009, this law firm made a revision to its flexible work initiative, encouraging moms to take a break.

The PNC Financial Services Group

Women are moving into the top echelons of this financial services company. While they currently serve as 68% of branch managers and 53% of regional managers, they are assuming assistant vice...

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Female partners who are chosen for the new Breakthrough Leadership Development program at this professional services firm are destined for the executive suite.

The Principal Financial Group

When this financial services company recently surveyed workers about its flexible schedules, the response was staggering. People raved about how they were saving time, exercising more and seeing...

Procter & Gamble

Adopting a child takes time, money and patience, but for so many parents, it's the realization of a dream. Recognizing that, this consumer products company offers employees who adopt up to $5,000 in...

Prudential Financial

Parents hold 54% of the jobs at this financial services firm, and 36% have children young enough to attend day care. They appreciate the childcare center that the firm offers at its Woodbridge, NJ,...

Sanofi-aventis U.S.

Wellness is emphasized by this pharmaceutical firm, where a multitasking mom might find herself flexing her hours, telecommuting, working half days on Fridays or even applying for a six-month leave...

SC Johnson

Moms at this consumer products company can take mildly ill children to a local hospital for temporary care, with 75% of the cost covered by their employer (up to $500 per year).

Scripps Health

Last year this health-care system doled out $3.9 million in bonuses to employees through its Success Shares incentive program.

Texas Instruments

All those little things no one tells you about being a mother are addressed by the Practical Parent Education program at this semiconductor and educational technology company. Available on-site and...

TriHealth

Getting a master's for $280 (plus the price of books) is just one of the great deals available to moms who work at this health-care system.

Turner Broadcasting System

In times of challenge and crisis, moms at this media company don't have to go far to find support. If they are concerned about their physical well-being, they can visit the new health and wellness...

University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics

Investing in its people is a priority for this academic medical center, which last year spent $1.6 million on tuition to help employees pursue certifications and academic degrees.

VCU Health System

Scheduling freedom abounds for the employees of this academic medical center, who earn 27 to 43 paid days off every year.

Verizon Communications

Lunchtime workouts keep moms fit at this telecommunications company, where 31 on-site health and wellness centers offer yoga, spin and Pilates classes for $15 per month.

WellPoint

Working from home has become a way of life for many mothers at this health benefits company. Last year, 14% of associates telecommuted full-time, and thousands more did so casually.

WellStar Health System

Sometimes moms just need an extra hand to get things done, which is why the launch of a concierge service by this health-care organization made such a big splash last year.

Wyndham Worldwide

Unlimited paid vacation time–could such a thing exist? Yes, if you're at the level of vice president or above at this hospitality company, where tantalizing perks are the norm.

Yale University

When you look at the amazing benefits that this university offers its employees, it's obvious why 11% of them have worked there for more than 25 years

Yale-New Haven Hospital

You can tell a great deal about an organization by how it treats employees when the chips are down. Last year, senior managers at this teaching hospital donated more than $50,000 to create a fund for...

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By Anthony Balderrama and Working Mother

Six-Figure Jobs in High Demand - Yahoo most popular careers ...

2010-12-12T22:07:00.001-08:00

All six-figure jobs were NOT created equal.

Not only do some require more education and experience than others, some are just more in demand than others. So, if you want to increase your chances of landing a six-figure job, it helps to know which ones have the most positions available.

Finance-related jobs accounted for more than half of the top 25 jobs with the most openings that paid over $100,000, according to research by Monster.com. That's everything from a finance manager to an internal audit supervisor and an accounting director.

There's still a lot of competition for those jobs, though: Indeed.com estimates that for every online job listing in financial services and banking, 30 people click on it. For accounting jobs, that number rises to 34. Health care and information technology had the least clicks per post, while media and construction had the most.

So, where are the best opportunities? Here are eight of the top six-figure jobs that have the most openings -- and who's hiring.

Finance Manager

Finance-related positions dominate Monster.com's list of the most in-demand six-figure jobs and, of those, finance managers are near the top of the list.

The good thing about pursuing a career as a finance manager is that nearly every company, government agency or other type of organization requires a finance manager -- no matter what the economy's doing. That's the person who oversees the preparation of financial reports and handles the cash management and investment activities of the firm.

A bachelor's degree is required by most firms -- and many require a master's degree or professional certification. The hours can be long, typically 50 to 60 hours a week, plus some travel.

The field is expected to grow by 8 percent over the next decade, which is average, according to the Labor Department. Competition is expected to be tough for these jobs, so those with a master's degree are likely to have the edge.

Who's hiring right now? Ernst & Young, Bank of America and Deloitte are among the firms doing the most hiring for finance managers, according to Indeed.com.

Software Engineers

Not only are software engineers in demand right now, the field is expected to be one of the fastest growing over the next decade, rising 32 percent.

But let the programmer beware: While computer software engineers, the guys who write software, are projected be in demand in the next 10 years, demand for computer programmers, the guys who write the instructions for a computer to use that software, is expected to shrink 3 percent in that time.

The reason? Software engineers will be in demand due to increased computer networking, expanding technologies and the need for more security on those systems, while programmer demand will take a hit from the rise of open-source software and outsourcing.

Most software-engineer positions require a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or mathematics, and many require graduate degrees.

Who's hiring right now? Microsoft, EMC and Broadcom, according to Indeed.com.

Corporate Public Relations Director

Demand for public-relations managers is expected to be stronger than average due to an increasingly competitive and global business environment. It is crucial for a firm to have a good relationship with the public their profitability, whether they're publicly traded or not, is dependent on their reputation.

Public-relations managers do everything from managing PR campaigns to doing damage control when a negative rumor or story about the company emerges. Some work traditional 40-hour workweeks but most need to be on call 24-7 in case of emergency.

Employment for PR specialists is expected to grow 24 percent over the next decade, faster than other professions. Being on top of new trends, like social media, is crucial and additional languages are a bonus.

Who's hiring right now? Kaiser Permanente and AstraZeneca, according to Indeed.com.

Investor-Relations Manager

Demand for public-relations managers is expected to be stronger than average and that is particularly true for those who specialize in investor relations, communicating the firm's financial information to investors, analysts and the media. Increased regulation and scrutiny in particular will drive the need for skilled investor-relations managers.

The qualifications for this job are unique: Not only does the person have to have strong communications skills but also a firm command of financial systems and statements -- and how to explain that in plain English. They also have to be good at crisis management and willing to work long hours, should the stock come under pressure from a rumor or news event.

A bachelor's degree is usually required, with a focus on finance, economics and journalism. Being a member of the National Investor Relations Institute is particularly helpful for networking -- they have local chapters in most states.

Who's hiring right now? Citigroup and Bank of America, according to Indeed.com.

Sales Executive

As companies dig out from the recession, sales executives are going to be in particular demand because they're the ones that drive growth, bringing in new business and new sources of revenue.

Sales executives are the ones that set strategies and goals, and direct their sales reps for the best way to improve their sales performance. You need good people skills for this job but also good analytical skills -- knowing the trends and making sure your team is out front. There's a lot of pressure with a sales executive job because once you set those goals you have to meet and exceed them. The firm is counting on you.

Having a bachelor's and/or MBA is helpful, with courses in marketing as well as law, management, economics, accounting, finance, mathematics and statistics helping to provide an extra edge. Most firms tend to promote from within. Advancement is typically quicker at large firms than small ones, according to the Labor Department's outlook for the industry.

Who's hiring right now? IBM, CSC and ADP, according to Indeed.com.

Compensation Analyst

A compensation analyst develops salary, bonus and benefits structures, identifies compensation and benefits issues and makes adjustments based on new regulatory requirements.

Typically this position requires a bachelor's degree, preferably in mathematics, business administration or human-resources management.

Not only is there solid demand for compensation analysts today but the outlook is also strong for the next decade, due to health-care reform and globalization.

Who's hiring right now? KPMG, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America, according to Indeed.com.

Associate Professor

The number of tenure-track professors is on the decline as schools increasingly seek flexibility in dealing with compensation issues, making associate professors one of the most in-demand $100k+ jobs on Monster.com.

The trend now is toward hiring professors for limited-term contracts, typically 2 to 5 years. Competition is expected to be tough for the tenured positions and often a professor will have to move into a more administrative or managerial role such as department chairperson in order to achieve tenure. Those with a PhD have the best job prospects, according to the Labor Department.

Overall, demand for postsecondary teachers is expected to grow by 15 percent in the next decade, faster than average, as enrollment is projected to increase -- not just among those 18 to 24 but also adults returning to college to change professions or enhance their prospects in an existing field. Demand is expected to be strongest for professors in fast-growing fields such as business, nursing, biological sciences and other health specialties.

Who's hiring right now? George Mason, University of Iowa and University of Miami, according to Indeed.com.

Company Attorney

Globalization and legislative changes are driving the need for more in-house attorneys.

Among other issues a corporate attorney has to deal with are patents, contracts, property interests and negotiating with unions. Lawyers typically work long hours, though the hours are slightly less brutal for corporate attorneys.

Not only is demand strong now but it's projected to be strong over the next decade, according to the Labor Department, amid increased demand for services such as health care, intellectual property, bankruptcy, corporate and security litigation, antitrust law and environmental law. Though, a shift toward using big accounting firms or paralegals for some of these functions will curb demand to some degree. Economic downturns also take a toll as companies are less inclined to pay hefty legal fees.

Competition is expected to be tough, so a willingness to relocate is a plus.

Who's hiring right now? KPMG, Ernst & Young and JPMorgan Chase, according to Indeed.com.

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by Cindy Perman

How to Be a Millionaire by Age 25

2010-12-08T22:37:00.000-08:00

Wish you were as wealthy as this guy?

Credit: Associated Press

He's Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook, and his super-geek-to-billionaire story is the basis of the hit movie The Social Network. "Young people are just smarter," he told a Stanford University audience in 2007. He started Facebook from his Harvard dorm in 2004 as a sophomore. Now he's a 26-year-old philanthropist, recently donating $100 million to the Newark, N.J., school district.

Zuckerberg's youthful fame and fortune makes for a riveting tale. But across America every year, plenty of entrepreneurs make their first million under the age of 25, some in high school. It takes vision, smarts, determination and a little luck. Here are five of them, along with their advice for achieving prosperity.

Michael Dell

Age now: 45
Title/Company: Founder and CEO, Dell Computers
Made his first million by age: 19

Dell launched his computer company in 1984, just before dropping out of the University of Texas. By selling direct, Dell lowered prices and won over customers. At 24, the company had revenues of $258 million. At last check, his estimated net worth was $13.5 billion.

His advice for young entrepreneurs: "You've got to be passionate about it," he said in an interview with the Academy of Achievement.

"I think people that look for great ideas to make money aren't nearly as successful as those who say, 'Okay, what do I really love to do? What am I excited about?' "

Catherine Cook

Age now: 20
Title/Company: Founder, myyearbook.com
Made her first million by age: 18

In 2005, Catherine and her brother founded the social-networking site, which functions like a digital yearbook with pictures, friends and virtual currency called "lunch money." Today, it boasts 20 million members and is one of the 25 most-trafficked Web sites in the U.S.

Her advice for young entrepreneurs: "Stop just thinking about it, and make it happen.

When you're young is the best time to start your own business, as you do not have the responsibilities you will have when you're older. The worst that can happen if you fail now is that you have firsthand experience to make your next venture a success."

Sean Belnick

Age now: 23
Title/Company: Founder, BizChair.com
Made his first million by age: 16

Belnick's been selling business furnishings online for nearly a decade now, but the recent B.A. graduate of Emory University's Goizueta School of Business still saw value in a college education.

His advice for young entrepreneurs: "It is never too early to start. I started when I was 14.There was a lot of great information on the Internet. Just do the research and find a way to do what you want to do."

Juliette Brindak

Age now: 21
Title/Company: Cofounder/CEO, MissOandFriends.com
Made her first million by age: 19 (Brindak won't divulge when she earned her first million, but says that her company was valued at $15 million when she was 19)

At 10, Brindak started drawing the "cool girls" cartoon figures who became stars in 2005 of her online community for tween girls. Today, she is seeking investors and preparing to take the site public as she attends Washington University in St. Louis.

Her advice for young entrepreneurs:: Find a solid support team who believe in your idea. "If someone starts to doubt your company and what you're doing, you need to get rid of them."

Matt Mickiewicz

Age now: 27
Title/Companies: Founder, Sitepoint, 99 Designs and Flippa
Made his first million by age: 22

Mickiewicz, who launched his first company in 1998, points out that the Internet enables immediate customer feedback, making it relatively inexpensive to test and launch new ideas.

His advice for young entrepreneurs: "People who say it takes money to make money are using the worst excuse ever. . . Create massive value for others by providing a solution where no other exists."

Million-Dollar Businesses You've Never Heard Of

2010-12-08T00:38:00.001-08:00

Read this before you toss your nutty business idea aside.

While visiting Las Vegas in 2004, auto-dealership fleet manager Rico Elmore decided he needed some stylish sunglasses for his honeymoon. Elmore is six-foot-three, weighs 300-pounds and has a head to match, so finding shades that fit proved a struggle.

I must have tried on 300 pairs and literally found nothing that fit," recalls Elmore, 36. "I walked out and said, 'This is ridiculous.' I decided to make sunglasses for people like me with fat heads." Elmore's company, Fatheadz, now sells "full-figure" glasses, for $28 to $54 a pair, and is on track to hit $2 million in sales this year--up from $700,000 in 2009.

Have a nutty business idea and need some inspiration to pull it off? We went looking for small companies that generate at least $1 million in annual revenue in unexpected ways. Look hard enough and they are legion.

Like many entrepreneurs, Elmore had a good idea but needed a little luck, too. Back in Brownsburg, Ind., after his honeymoon, he worked up a basic design for his super-wide specs. He hired a product-engineering company to make the molds and a contract manufacturer to crank out the frames and temple arms; he assembled the glasses at home during the evenings after work. Elmore tried patenting his discovery, but lawyers told him he could only patent the design of the glasses, not their size. Sales were a trickle.

Luck struck about a year later when an Indianapolis Star reporter called to interview Elmore about his friend, Rupert Boneham, the gentle-giant star of CBS' Survivor series. She mentioned Fatheadz in the article.

The ripples eventually reached a top Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT - News) executive, who ordered 300 pairs in three styles as a trial run. By 2008 Elmore's glasses were in 3,000 Wal-Marts and Sam's Club stores. Elmore also happened to know an equipment manager with the Indianapolis Colts; soon the players were sporting Fatheadz rims. (Elmore has no promotional deal with the NFL, but he says it's on his to-do list.) Now with a full-time staff of 10, Elmore plans to launch a new line for women--under a different name, of course.

Here are a few more highlights from our search for million-dollar businesses you've never heard of:

Geese Police

Courtesy of Geese Police

Howell, N.J.
Entrepreneur: Dave Marcks
Product/Service: Geese abatement using collies
Start Date: 1987
Startup Costs: About $3,000
Revenue: Estimated $2.5 million in 2010
Every Roadrunner has his Wile E. Coyote, and for golf-course superintendent Marcks, geese were the mortal enemy. Their incessant droppings vexed golfers and "fowled" water hazards, and he couldn't get rid of them. Then he discovered that border collies--an intelligent and persistent dog breed--are great at banishing the big birds for good. His elite force now includes 33 animals.

Texas Driving Experience

Courtesy of Texas Driving Experience

Ft. Worth, Texas
Entrepreneur: Dawn Stokes
Product/Service: High-performance driving lessons and retreats
Start Date: 2004
Startup Costs: About $500,000
Revenue: Estimated $1.8 million in 2010
Stokes never outgrew the driving thrills she got from her first car--a '63 Chevrolet Monza Corvair convertible--and she knew she had plenty of suppressed company. So the medical-products saleswoman cashed in her 401(k) to buy 10 Corvettes and start a racing school, hosted at local tracks. Stokes found a mother lode in the corporate-team-building market. "It fits well with sales vernacular," she says--as in, "racing toward the end of the year."

Mabel's Labels

Courtesy of Mabel's Labels

Hamilton, Ontario
Entrepreneur: Julie Cole
Product/Service: Personalized, permanent labels for kids' stuff.
Start Date: 2002
Startup Costs: About $10,000
Revenue: $4 million in 2009
Moms hate it when their kids lose jackets at school or mix up sippy cups at play dates. Four Canadian career Moms hit upon a solution: durable, kid-proof labels. It took years to certify that their products were dishwasher- and microwave-safe. Now the line includes shoe labels, metal bag tags, ID wristbands and Allergy Alerts labels.

Stave Puzzles

Courtesy of Stave Puzzles

Norwich, Vt.
Entrepreneur: Steve Richardson
Product/Service: Hand-made wooden jigsaw puzzles.
Start Date: 1974
Startup Costs: About $5,000.
Revenue: $2.5 million in 2009
Ranging in price from $125 to $5,000, these puzzles are made of cherry wood, covered with a dry-mounted image drawn by one of 100 licensed artists, and individually hand-cut into as many as 2,500 pieces. Bill Gates has one, and Barbara Bush gave another as a gift to Queen Elizabeth. "We try to make them hard to put together," said Richardson, 71, who calls himself the company's chief tormentor.

PetRelocation.com

Courtesy of PetRelocation.com

Austin, Texas
Entrepreneur: Kevin O'Brien and Angie O'Brien
Product/Service: Pet travel
Start Date: 2004
Startup Costs: $97,000
Revenue: Estimated $4 million in 2010
This husband-and-wife team sold a doggy day-care business to get into the pet-moving game. Initial investments included a new van, Google ads, a website and a $300 membership to IPATA, an international trade association of animal handlers. The couple claims it can move any live animal, anywhere around the world--say, a dog from Seattle to Shanghai, mole rats from South Africa to San Antonio and dart frogs from Switzerland to the U.S. It's a turn-key service, covering airline bookings, blood tests, vet check-ups, logistics, customs and quarantine.

BlackSocks

Courtesy of BlackSocks

Zürich, Switzerland
Entrepreneur: Samuel Liechti
Product/Service: Sock subscriptions
Start Date: 1999
Startup Costs: $30,000
Revenue: $5 million in 2009
BlackSocks will ship you a batch of Italian-made, knee-high or calf-length cotton or cashmere/silk dress socks, automatically, several times a year, starting at $89 for nine pairs. Each new "sockscriber" receives a calculation of how much time he will save by not making sock purchases: about 12 hours every year, or three weeks in the lifetime of an average Swiss male, expected to reach age 82. Liechti brought his "sock-scription" service to the U.S. in 2005. Two years later, BlackSocks began selling subscriptions for underwear. Liechti now boasts 60,000 active customers in 74 countries. BlackSocks opened a New York office last year.

Sky Zone

Courtesy of Sky Zone

Las Vegas
Entrepreneur: Rick Platt
Product/Service: Arenas covered with trampolines
Start Date: 2009
Startup Costs: About $2 million
Revenue: $3 million-plus in 2009
Cover five of the six sides of a gymnasium-size room with seamless trampolines and what do you get? People bouncing off the walls with excitement. Platt's three Sky Zones are hives of birthday parties, corporate events, three-dimensional dodge ball tournaments and rabid trampoliners willing to pay up to $12 an hour. He aims to begin franchising in 2011. "It was a wild bet," admits Platt, 60, a former scrap-metal broker. "Some people thought the idea was ridiculous. I thought if I could pull it off, I would have something unique."

DNA 11

Courtesy of DNA 11

Ottawa, Ontario
Entrepreneurs: Adrian Salamunovic and Nazim Ahmed
Product/Service: DNA artwork
Start Date: 2005
Start-up Costs: $2,000
Revenue: $1.4 million in 2009
Best friends Salamunovic and Ahmed blend science and medicine with modern art. With a simple cheek swab, they collect enough organic matter to create an image of human DNA using equipment similar to the machines Ahmed used to sell for a Canadian biotech firm. After selling a few prints to family and friends, the twosome was invited to showcase their work at an Absolut Vodka-sponsored party in Ottawa's SOHO neighborhood. An 8"x10" mini-DNA portrait goes for $200, while a 36"x54" wall canvas garners $1,300. The Museum of Modern Art features DNA 11 art in its museum stores in New York and Tokyo.

Murray Associates

Courtesy of Murray Associates

Oldwick, N.J.
Entrepreneur: Kevin D. Murray
Product/Service: Eavesdropping detection and counterespionage
Start Date: 1978
Startup Costs: $5,000
Revenue in 2009: $760,000
Ever since taking a part-time job manning surveillance equipment for the Dennis Port, Mass., police department, Kevin Murray has been a spy buster. Businesses and governments hire him to find hidden bugs and such, which he does using sensitive thermal-imaging equipment (which picks up the heat given off by hidden sensors) to lots of plain old looking around. Murray handles about 125 cases per year, typically charging between $7,000 and $8,000 per day of inspection. Revenue dipped below $1 million in 2009 as Wall Street cut back on its anti-snooping efforts, but things are looking up this year.

The Fiero Store

Courtesy of The Fiero Store

Stafford Springs, Conn.
Entrepreneur: Matthew Hartzog.
Product/Service: Parts and accessories for the Pontiac Fiero
Start Date: 1991
Start-up Costs: $5,000
Revenue: $2 million in 2009
Hartzog spent his teenage summers and school breaks working for his stepfather selling parts and accessories for GM Opels. But the long-defunct, two-seat, mid-engine Fiero was where his heart lay. Approximately 370,000 Fieros rolled off the lines between 1984 and 1988 before Pontiac stopped producing the car; less than 75,000 are currently registered in the U.S. Fanatics make great customers.

Six Top Industries Hiring in 2011 - Don't Miss it ..

2010-12-07T01:50:00.001-08:00

Which industries will be the hottest in 2011? Though the economy is still sleepy, some industries are moving again, while others struggle.

To find out where there's high job demand, we talked to two employment experts: Career expert Robin Ryan, author of '60 Seconds and You're Hired,' and Laurence Shatkin, author of '2011 Career Plan.' Here's their advice on the industries and jobs that'll be in demand next year.

1. Health care

There's never been a recession in this sector, says Shatkin, and demand will continue to be strong next year. Jobs in demand include home health care aides and registered nurses ($61,148). Hot specialties within nursing include nurse anesthetists ($144,821), nurse practitioners ($86,774) and psychiatric nurses ($55,155).

Many nurses begin with just a two-year associate's degree or acquire their skills during military service, Shatkin notes. Advanced nursing specialties may require a master's degree.

"Health care is the industry where almost none of the work can be outsourced overseas," he says. "Most of it has to be done hands-on with patients."

Health care opportunities aren't all where you might think, says Ryan.

"It's not just doctor's offices and hospitals," she says. "It's with pharmaceutical companies, insurers, suppliers -- any company that provides services to keep medical facilities in operation."

-- Find Health Care Jobs

2. Federal government

While local and state governments have seen their budgets slashed, there's no recession at the federal level. Between new government programs and a wave of baby-boomer civil servants who are retiring, hiring will be huge in government for the next couple of years. It's forecast that 600,000 need to be hired by 2013.

There are many administrative positions such as accountants ($55,188) and auditors ($104,762), says Shatkin.

-- Find Government Jobs

3. Human resources

As companies begin to hire, Ryan notes, they first need human resource professionals to help manage that process. Jobs in demand at larger companies include human-resource manager ($56,227) and human-resource specialist ($45,267), while smaller companies usually seek a human resources generalist ($50,950).

-- Find Human Resources Jobs

4. Manufacturing

This one may surprise you, but because manufacturing went down so sharply in the downturn, it's now one of the industries doing substantial hiring as production expands again, says Shatkin. Unlike in decades past, many manufacturing jobs today are highly skilled, he notes. One in high demand is a Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) programmer ($50,466), who runs a tool-and-die computer that creates tools for manufacturing processes.

"In some places there are shortages of workers with these skills," he notes, "because of the prejudice people have against blue-collar jobs."

-- Find Manufacturing Jobs

5. Energy

Thanks to federal stimulus funding, green jobs have grown. One in demand is energy auditor ($48,098), says Shatkin, along with wind-turbine technicians ($48,990) and solar-energy system installers ($47,658).

Traditional energy is thriving too, he notes, with strong need for petroleum engineers ($121,214). One engineering role in energy that requires less training is engineering technician ($47,918), who assist senior engineers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports many engineering technicians specialize in electricity or electronics. A two-year degree at a technical institute or community college can get you started in this career.

-- Find Energy Jobs

6. Education

While many districts have laid off teachers, opportunity remains in inner cities, says Ryan. Cities such as Memphis are hiring teachers ($45,914) with just a six-week bootcamp training. You need a bachelor's degree to qualify for such programs, she notes.

"You used to need to get a teaching certificate in most states," she says. "Now, you can find a teaching job without one."

-- Find Education Jobs

-----------------

By Carol Tice

More Temporary Jobs and Contract Positions Coming in 2011

2010-12-06T04:43:00.001-08:00

When times get tough, temporary jobs are the first to go. And when times get better, temporary jobs are the first to reappear. So it’s good to hear that the pace of growth in the temporary staffing agency industry in the fall of 2010 was the fastest recorded since the industry began keeping statistics back in the mid-1940s.

On a year-to-year basis, 19.5 percent more temporary workers were employed in September 2010 compared with the same month last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Companies create temporary jobs to staff up without making a long-term commitment a practice that appeals when the economy is uncertain and healthcare requirements are changing, says Brendan Courtney, president of recruiting and staffing agency The Mergis Group, a division of SFN Group in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The trend toward temporary jobs was going strong in the final quarters of 2010, and that bodes well for 2011, says Rachel Russell, marketing director for TEKsystems, a Hanover, Maryland, staffing agency specializing in IT contracting. “Shareholders aren’t smiling on permanent hiring just yet,” she says. “They want to see things go well consistently before you bring on staff.”

A Permanent Shift to Temp Jobs

The number of temporary jobs has been climbing steadily for the past year -- a trend Melanie Holmes, vice president of staffing agency Manpower, expects to continue into 2011.

It’s not just a recovering economy that’s leading to growth in the number of temporary jobs, she says. “The nature of work is changing,” she says. “Because of technology, we’re able to work anywhere, at any time, and not just from home or from Starbucks, but from India. That’s changed the way some employers look for employees. They recognize they’re always going to want to have a contingent workforce and to staff up or down to meet their needs.”

On the other side of the recession, temporary jobs and contract jobs will become more the norm, Courtney predicts. “A lot of people who would normally only want to work in a permanent, full-time position are going to have to look at contract and temporary positions because that’s going to become a bigger part of how companies hire and staff,” he says.

The move toward temporary jobs is pronounced in finance and accounting, says Jodi Chavez, a senior vice president at Ajilon Professional Staffing, a staffing agency division of the Adecco Group in Melville, New York.

“We’ve seen an increase in companies that have never used temporary services before using them now,” Chavez says. “Across the county, we’ve probably seen a 17 percent to 20 percent increase in new customers in education, nonprofits, healthcare, manufacturing and financial services. And 90 percent of the clients we work with are telling us they plan to increase hiring in the first or second quarter of 2011.”

Who’s Got Temp Jobs?

Who’s hiring temp workers? Historically, temp hiring follows a certain path after recessions: Light industrial jobs come out first, then clerical and administrative, followed by professional jobs, Courtney says. “Right now it’s disproportionately light industrial and clerical, and on the professional side, IT, engineering and accounting have begun to pick up,” he says.

Holiday retail hiring is booming, rising 25 percent year-over-year even after seasonal adjustments are made, Chavez says.

Healthcare companies are turning to temps to help them comply with international diagnostic coding mandates. “All healthcare companies are looking for the same IT project managers to get the job done,” Russell says.

In IT, the skill sets in most demand in the coming year will be project managers; business analysts; enterprise, networking and Java architects; as well as security, data warehousing and business intelligence, Russell predicts.

“Technology today is seen as a strategic function, so even though it’s a tough economy, we’re seeing the rate of employment going up in IT,” she says. “IT includes a lot of project-based work, so that bodes well for the temp sector.”

How to Find a Temp Job

If you’re seeking a temporary job or contract work:

Reskill yourself and continue learning so you stay on the cutting edge of your industry.
Wrap your head around the fact that the temporary job and contract labor markets are growing faster than the full-time, permanent labor market, so a full-on job search should include looking for a temporary job and project work.
The stigma attached to having a temporary job is diminishing. Better to be a temp or contract worker than unemployed.
Seek out project-based assignments that put your skill set to work in a new industry.
If you use a temporary agency, pick one that specializes in your industry. It’s more likely to find you work with companies that value your industry knowledge.

Top 10 Companies Hiring This Week (December 6 - 12) – Hurry up Apply Now

2010-12-06T04:40:00.001-08:00

We know that your job search can get quite frustrating these days with more people trying to find a job and less employment opportunities available.

To ease the burden, we've tracked down 10 top companies with the most job openings this week -- from sales jobs to finance jobs, full-time jobs to part-time jobs. We hope you find a job that's perfect for you.

Good luck job hunting!

01. UPS

As the world's largest package delivery company and a leading global provider of specialized transportation and logistics services, UPS continues to develop the frontiers of logistics, supply chain management, and e-Commerce... combining the flows of goods, information, and funds.

Top Job Categories:

02. IBM

Working at IBM provides opportunities you may not experience anywhere else. It gives you the chance to change the way the world works. The chance to help the world learn, to make education more available, knowledge more attainable and information more accessible. The chance to participate in research and development projects that facilitate technological and medical breakthroughs. These are the kinds of opportunities you'll find throughout our company. Opportunities that could certainly make a difference--in ways that are exciting, demanding and perhaps even unimaginable.

Top Job Categories:

03. Walmart

Walmart Stores, Inc. is the world's largest retailer with more than 1.8 million associates worldwide and nearly 6,500 stores and wholesale clubs across 15 countries.

Top Job Categories:

04. Sears

Sears Hometown Stores were developed sixteen years ago to serve our customers in locations outside of major metroploitan cities. There are currently about 900 Hometown Stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. These stores carry all of the top home appliance brands, consumer electronics, tools and lawn and garden equipment.

Top Job Categories:

05. AT&T

For more than a century, AT&T has consistently provided innovative, reliable, high-quality products and services and excellent customer care. Today, our mission is to connect people with their world, everywhere they live and work, and do it better than anyone else. We're fulfilling this vision by creating new solutions for consumers and businesses and by driving innovation.

Top Job Categories:

06. Macy's

Macy's, Inc., with corporate offices in Cincinnati and New York, is one of the nation's premier retailers, with fiscal 2008 sales of $24.9 billion. The company operates more than 800 Macy's department stores and furniture galleries in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico, as well as 40 Bloomingdale's stores in 12 states.

Top Job Categories:

07. Kohl's

If you've ever shopped one of our clean, bright department stores, you've already experienced our commitment to family, value and national brands. Our stores are stocked with everything you need for yourself and your home - apparel, shoes & accessories for women, children and men, plus home products like small electrics, bedding, luggage and more.

Top Job Categories:

08. CarMax

We always knew there had to be a better way to buy used cars. One that would make the process easy and fun. So we created CarMax, and we've been changing the way America buys cars since we opened our first store in Richmond, Virginia, in 1993.

Top Job Categories:

09. COMSYS

COMSYS is a leading provider of IT staffing, technical, and business process solutions with over 50 offices across the United States (including Puerto Rico) and international offices in Toronto and London. COMSYS employs 800 full-time staff and approximately 5,000 consultants. We currently serve more than 30% of the Fortune 500, 60% of the Fortune 100 as well as hundreds of other organizations in both the public and private sector.

Top Job Categories:

10. Chase

We're a recognized leader in investment banking, asset management, private equity, commercial banking, credit cards, and financial services for consumers, small business and commercial banking. We serve millions of consumers in the United States as well as many of the world's most prominent corporations, institutions and government entities through our key brands: J.P. Morgan and Chase.

Top Job Categories:

-------------------
By AOL Jobs

Google Movie: Producers Seek Writer To Rival ‘Social Network’ Success

2010-12-03T04:58:00.001-08:00

Following the huge critical and box-officesuccess of ‘The Social Network’ on its opening weekend, the team behind the planned big-screen adaptation of a movie about Google is hunting for the perfect writer to turn the story of dot-com billionaires Sergey Brin and Larry Pageinto a blockbuster.

A spokesperson for production companyGroundswell told Forbes that the search is on for a writer to adapt Ken Auletta’s bestsellerGoogled: The End of the World as We Know Itinto a screenplay, as Aaron Sorkin successfully did for Ben Mezrich’s tale of Mark Zuckerberg and the founding of Facebook. The spokesperson said the team expects to announce its chosen writer in coming weeks.

In August, Groundswell’s Michael London announced his company had acquired the movie rights to New Yorker writer Auletta’s book, which chronicles Google’s rise from dot-com upstart to preeminent search engine.

At the time of the announcement, it was unclear when the film would make it to the screen, if ever; plans were at a very early stage, with the only names attached to the project that of London and co-producer John Morris.

Now, with the success of ‘The Social Network’, a release date for the big-screen adaptation of Googled has been set for 2012, according to Groundswell’s spokesperson. The Los Angeles-based production house is responsible for such critically-acclaimed movies as the Harvey Milk biopic ‘Milk’ and Matt Damon vehicle ‘The Informant’.

Watch this space for news on the film, its writer, and its yet-to-be-announced cast. Ideas for who should play Brin and Page are welcome in the Comments section.

--------------------------------

By CLARE O'CONNOR

"100 Best" companies for women

2010-12-03T04:15:00.001-08:00

Five D.C. companies were among 100 who are being highlighted by Working Mother magazine for maintaining workplaces that allow women to keep balance between their work and home lives. For the 25th year, the list of "Working Mother Best 100" companies spotlights companies that "set a new standard for family-friendly policies." The local companies include:

Arnold & Porter
Covington & Burling
Fannie Mae
FINRA
National Education Association

Congratulations to them and to their very fortunate employees. The news release below, e-mailed to me by Ila Tyagi of The Rosen Group, a publicist for the magazine, explains the list and why the magazine chose to celebrate such companies.

Print out and show this post to your boss, give or her a hard look and then say something like, "How nice it must be to work for a company with such progressive, enlightened leadership. How wonderful that must be for the employees and the bottom line!"

New York, NY (September 14, 2010) -- Celebrating its silver anniversary this year, the Working Mother 100 Best Companies initiative has set the bar for forward-thinking, family-friendly workplace policies for a quarter-century. Today, the Working Mother 100 Best Companies offer better benefits than ever before, eclipsing their counterparts nationwide. With 70 percent of mothers working and women outnumbering men in the workplace for the first time in U.S. history working moms have come a long way.

"Twenty-five years ago, we made a bold decision to launch our Best Companies initiative and challenge businesses to address the unique needs of working mothers," said Carol Evans, President, Working Mother Media. "The immense influx of women into the workforce demanded changes in workplace culture as companies strove to keep working moms' talent and loyalty. Today, we celebrate our winners' untiring commitment to their employees through an impressive array of programs."

While the Working Mother 100 Best Companies continue expanding their benefits, those at companies nationwide° lag. Just 44 percent of American companies offer telecommuting (vs. 100 percent of the 100 Best), 17 percent offer formal mentoring (vs. 95 percent), and 37 percent offer health insurance for part-timers (vs. 100 percent). 49 percent of employers offered flextime last year, down from 54 percent the prior year. In contrast, all of the 100 Best Companies offer paid maternity leave, lactation rooms, flextime, mental health consultations and elder-care resources; and 98 percent offer health screening and wellness programs--particularly significant in a stress-inducing, poor economy.

Improvements in these companies' offerings to working-family employees include:

THEN: Six weeks of partially-paid maternity leave
NOW: Six to 14 weeks at full pay, with pre-maternity leaves and new-mom phase-back

THEN: Four percent of Best Companies offered paternity leave
NOW: 75 percent of Best Companies offer paternity leave

THEN: Seven Best Companies offered on-site childcare
NOW: 99 Best Companies offer a range of services including backup child-care, sick childcare, before- and after-school care and summer camps for kids

THEN: Stress reduction programs
NOW: Fully-staffed medical centers at 63 percent, fitness centers at 78 percent and exercise classes at 80 percent of Best Companies

"There's been a dramatic change in America's mindset," said Suzanne Riss, Editor in Chief, Working Mother. "In 1986, women didn't acknowledge the fact that they were a mom at work for fear of being 'mommy tracked.' Today, moms have photos of their kids on their desks because companies recognize that moms make high-achieving, loyal and ambitious employees. What's more, other employee groups - including dads and people with aging parents - have benefited from the policies promoted by the 100 Best."

The Working Mother 100 Best Companies employ dynamic programs that adeptly help employees in all areas of their lives. Employees who want to learn how to build a nest egg in a cracked economy can benefit from Prudential Financial's one-on-one budget coaching. Intel supplies employees and their children and grandchildren with homework help via a tutoring hotline. And employees at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey work with a former stand-up comedian to learn how humor can reduce stress, as part of a five-year program focused on education, exercise and overall well-being.

Profiles of the 100 Best Companies, as well as national comparisons, are in the October issue of

Working Mother and at workingmother.com/bestcompanies.

THE 2010 WORKING MOTHER 100 BEST COMPANIES

*Indicates a Top 10 winning company
־ Indicates a company on the list for all 25 years

Abbott
Accenture
Allstate Insurance Company
American Electric Power
American Express Company
AOL
Arnold & Porter LLP
AstraZeneca
Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
Bain & Company, Inc.
Bank of America*
Baptist Health South Florida
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceutical USA
Bon Secours Richmond Health System
Booz Allen Hamilton
The Boston Consulting Group, Inc.
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bronson Healthcare Group, Inc.
Capital One Financial Corporation
Carlson Companies
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Cisco
Citi
Colgate-Palmolive Company
Covington & Burling LLP
Credit Suisse
Dell Inc.
Deloitte*
Deutsche Bank
Diageo North America
Discovery Communications*
Dow Corning Corporation
DuPont
Eli Lilly and Company
Ernst & Young*
Fannie Mae
FINRA
First Horizon National Corporation
First National Bank
Freddie Mac
Genentech
General Electric Company
General Mills*
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Grant Thornton LLP
Hallmark Cards, Inc.
HCA Virginia Health System - Richmond Market
Hewitt Associates LLC
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
HP
IBM Corporation* ־
Intel
Johnson & Johnson ־
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Kellogg Company
KPMG LLP*
Kraft Foods, Inc.
LEGO Systems, Inc.
March of Dimes Foundation
Marriott International, Inc.
MasterCard Worldwide
McGladrey
The McGraw-Hill Companies
McKinsey & Company
Merck & Co., Inc.
Mercy Health System
MetLife, Inc.
Microsoft Corporation
Moffitt Cancer Center
Monsanto Company
Morgan Stanley
National Education Association
New York Life Insurance Company
Northern Trust Corporation
Northwestern Memorial HealthCare
Novo Nordisk Inc.
Patagonia, Inc.
Pearson Inc.
Pfizer Inc.
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
The PNC Financial Services Group
PricewaterhouseCoopers*
The Principal Financial Group
Procter & Gamble
Prudential Financial, Inc.
sanofi-aventis U.S.
SC Johnson
Scripps Health
Texas Instruments Incorporated
TriHealth, A Partnership of Bethesda and Good Samaritan
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics*
VCU Health System
Verizon Communications Inc.
WellPoint, Inc.
WellStar Health System*
Wyndham Worldwide
Yale University
Yale-New Haven Hospital

_______________________

By Avis Thomas-Lester for the Washington Post

Working for Google From Home

2010-12-03T03:10:00.000-08:00

The California-based company is known for its employee-friendly Mountain View campus and quirky corporate culture. So, given the investment in Google’s workplace, it’s no surprise that the company’s culture does not emphasize telecommuting. That said, there are a few legitimate Google jobs from home. But Google is pretty quiet about advertising for these jobs, which are mostly for people with foreign language skills, and it does the hiring for these independent contractor jobs through a temporary agency.