Top 10 Companies Hiring This Week (December 31-January 06) New Year, New Jobs

At last we reached at the last week of 2010. The economy continues try to take small steps toward a better state and hiring looks brighter than it did in 2009. If you’re comparing today’s outlook to 2008′s, things are much better. Still, anything less than a hiring boom feels frustratingly slow, I know.

While we can’t make everything better for all job seekers, we can try to make the search less painful. That’s why we’ve put together our list of companies hiring this week. Here are 10 companies that are looking for workers during this final stretch of 2010:

Wish you good luck for new year that brings a better future for jobless persons and May God help them to resolve their financial and all other problems in Year 2011.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU.

1. Mopar

Mopar is based in Center Line, Mich., and is the exclusive original equipment supplier of parts and accessories for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep® vehicles.

The term was first used by Chrysler in the 1920s and has been in continuous use ever since. Mopar parts are original equipment manufactured parts for Chrysler vehicles. In Canada, these were sold under the Chryco and AutoPar brands until the Mopar brand was phased into that nation's market, starting in the late 1970s.

Industry: Retail
Sample job titles: Store manager, assistant store manager, project manager

Top Job Categories:

Sales Jobs
Automotive Jobs
Retail Jobs
Installation - Maint - Repair Jobs
Entry Level Jobs

See All Jobs

Top Locations:

New York Jobs
Texas Jobs
Pennsylvania Jobs
California Jobs
Iowa Jobs

2. Edward Jones

Edward Jones is unlike any other investment firm. We believe that everything from our client-focused guiding principles, business philosophy and model, 33,000+ dedicated associates, and our more than 10,000 branch offices throughout the U.S. and through our affiliates in Canada and the U.K make us unique. We are a leader in the financial services industry, yet we take a personal approach to business that starts with a face-to-face meeting between a Financial Advisor and an individual investor.

Industry: Finance
Sample job titles: Financial Advisor, Former Finance, Management & Sales People

Top Job Categories:

Accounting Jobs
Finance Jobs
Sales Jobs
Management Jobs
Banking Jobs

See All Jobs

Top Locations:

California Jobs
Florida Jobs
Texas Jobs
Ohio Jobs
Pennsylvania Jobs

3. IBM

IBM is committed to environmental leadership in all of its business activities, from its operations to the design of its products and use of its technology. IBM's corporate policy on environmental affairs, first issued in 1971, is supported by the company's global environmental management system, which is the key element of the company's efforts to achieve results consistent with environmental leadership and ensures the company is vigilant in protecting the environment across all of its operations worldwide.

Industry: IT
Sample job titles: Senior project manager (enterprise e-business applications), information security specialist

Top Job Categories:

Information Technology Jobs
Management Jobs
Consultant Jobs
Sales Jobs
Customer Service Jobs

See All Jobs

Top Locations:

New York Jobs
Massachusetts Jobs
Missouri Jobs
Dist of Columbia Jobs
California Jobs

4. Kindred Healthcare, Inc.

Kindred Healthcare, Inc., a top-200 private employer in the United States, is one of the largest long-term healthcare organizations in the nation. We operate with a singular and clear vision: to be the nation's leading provider of skilled nursing, rehabilitation and long-term hospital services. We are committed to the idea of Quality Through People. We realize that to be the best, we must hire the best.

Our environment is warm and professional. Working together as a team, and fostering a welcoming, positive attitude is the Kindred way.

Industry: Health care
Sample job titles: Manager Social Services- Pacific Coast Care-Long Term Care Facil

Top Job Categories:

Health Care Jobs
Nurse Jobs
Management Jobs
Insurance Jobs
Facilities Jobs

See All Jobs

Top Locations:

California Jobs
Massachusetts Jobs
Texas Jobs
Kentucky Jobs
Wisconsin Jobs

5. ICED

ICED has a long history and proud tradition of creating franchising successes. From its roots, with the founding of Kwik Kopy Printing in the late 60s, to ongoing growth through expansion into other franchise industries, the ICED family continues to evolve as the world changes.

Starting with only a single print shop by our founder,
F.C. “Bud” Hadfield, ICED has grown into a truly global organization. Offering our center owners on-going support, a comprehensive sales training program and access to turnkey marketing programs and direct mail services, everyone in the ICED family of franchises is positioned to help you grow your business.

Industry: Education
Sample job titles: Education - Sales - Franchise

Top Job Categories:

Information Technology Jobs
Sales Jobs
Education Jobs
Management Jobs
Business Opportunity Jobs

See All Jobs

Top Locations:

California Jobs
Florida Jobs
Illinois Jobs
Texas Jobs
Virginia Jobs

6. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., one of the largest transportation logistics companies in North America, focuses on the safe and reliable transport of full truckload freight to a diverse group of customers throughout the continental United States, Canada and Mexico. Our business operations are primarily organized through three distinct, yet complementary, business segments that include dry van, intermodal and dedicated contract services. Utilizing an integrated approach, we provide capacity oriented solutions centered on delivering customer value and industry leading service.

Industry: Transportation and delivery
Sample job titles: Regional Dedicated Truck Driving Jobs

Top Job Categories:

Transportation Jobs
Skilled Labor - Trades Jobs
Distribution - Shipping Jobs

See All Jobs

Top Locations:

Pennsylvania Jobs
Ohio Jobs
Texas Jobs
New Jersey Jobs
West Virginia Jobs

7. CyberCoders

CyberCoders Engineering is your source for finding an engineering job that takes you to the next level in your career. CyberCoders Engineering is the engineering division of one of the top recruiting firms in the nation, CyberCoders. We specialize in engineering, financial, sales & operational positions across all industries.

Industry: Professional Services
Sample job titles: Director Professional Services - Management Consultant, Software

Top Job Categories:

Engineering Jobs
Information Technology Jobs
Professional Services Jobs
Design Jobs
Management Jobs

See All Jobs

Top Locations:

California Jobs
Massachusetts Jobs
New York Jobs
Texas Jobs
Virginia Jobs

8. Central Payment

Central Payment is a leading provider of transaction processing services. As one of the fastest growing payment processors in the country, we are committed to personal service, competitive pricing and solutions to help businesses grow and become more profitable. Headquartered in Marin County California, Central Payment provides credit card processing and a host of other electronic payment solutions to more than 35,000 small, medium and large businesses across the United States.

Industry: Customer Service
Sample job titles: Sales Representative / Customer Service / Account Manager

Top Job Categories:

Sales Jobs
Management Jobs
Customer Service Jobs
Business Development Jobs
Retail Jobs

See All Jobs

Top Locations:

Florida Jobs
California Jobs
Georgia Jobs
Texas Jobs
Maryland Job

9. DISH Network

DISH Network Corporation, a Fortune 200 company with more than 26,000 employees, provides outstanding entertainment to millions of customers through our DISH Network consumer brand.

When DISH Network was formed in 1980, it was impossible to find people with years of experience in satellite TV. Instead, we looked for employees who could offer energy, need for achievement, and intelligence.

Industry: Skilled Labor - Trades
Sample job titles: Senior marketing specialist, senior technical analyst

Top Job Categories:

killed Labor - Trades Jobs (116) >>
Installation - Maint - Repair Jobs (116) >>
Engineering Jobs (84) >>
Management Jobs (27) >>
Marketing Jobs

See All Jobs

Top Locations:

Colorado Jobs
Texas Jobs
Oklahoma Jobs
New Jersey Jobs
Pennsylvania Jobs

10. Robert Half Legal

Robert Half Legal is a leading provider of experienced professionals on a project and full-time basis. Our offices have dedicated teams who focus solely on attorney search, project placement, legal support search and legal support placements – so you will always work with Account Executives who are local experts for your specific job requirements.

Industry: Legal
Sample job titles: Litigation Legal Secretary for Clayton Law Firm

Top Job Categories:

Legal Jobs
Admin - Clerical Jobs
Legal Admin Jobs
Professional Services Jobs
Management Jobs

See All Jobs

Top Locations:

California Jobs
Colorado Jobs
Texas Jobs
Illinois Jobs
New York Jobs

Now its depend on your Luck in New Year, If your Luck is strong then you can get a job easily. Best wishes for all jobseekers and again HAPPY NEW YEAR in advance.

These Sites Will Help You Get Hired

Here are seven sites that stand out for their intelligence, niche, data, or usefulness

When it comes to careers, who doesn't need a little help? It's not just the 14.6 million unemployed, but the millions of employed who are stuck in comatose companies or dead-end jobs. While there are plenty of websites that have useful information for job seekers

today, many people still look to the web largely to find job openings. Here are seven sites that stand out for their intelligence, niche, data, or usefulness, rather than their job listings:

Fistful of Talent: Reading the posts on this blog is like listening to a lunchroom full of human resources professionals, hiring managers, and recruiters talk about their likes, dislikes, and strategies. You'll learn things like how recruiters find candidates online, the kinds of questions they like, or their worries about the recruiting process. Sample tip: "A while ago, [SimplyHired] instituted a LinkedIn button. It used to be hidden under their 'more' options, but now it has a prominent display at the top of your job search results. So if I run a search for a recruiting job and connect my LinkedIn network I can quickly see who I 'know' at all of the companies that return posting results. And guess what? Now there's a Facebook button."

Seeking Alpha: This website graciously transcribes public companies' earnings conference calls. That allows you to brush up on all the crucial, timely details about the company you really want to work for, giving you the kind of insight that can elevate a cover letter or interview. The more you know a company, the more hiring managers will feel your pursuit is a targeted one. And they like to be targeted. If you were, say, applying for a job at J.M. Smucker, you could listen to their most recent conference call and learn that sales of their new premium jam—made of "the best fruit" and 100 percent sugar—are exceeding expectations, and that marketing spending this next fiscal year will match last year's record marketing spending. Whether it seems relevant to the position or not, building a foundation of up-to-date knowledge is critical.

Careers at Alltop: This aggregator of topical RSS feeds puts an army of well-known career bloggers (including U.S. News Outside Voices contributors) right in front of you. Career expert Anita Bruzzese might give you a lesson in how to network without hating it. Career coach Marty Nemko will teach you how to cope with self-loathing. The folks at Careerbuilder's Work Buzz blog will keep you updated on companies that are hiring. While you're there, you might check out other Alltop pages relevant to your work.

CareerDiva: Eve Tahmincioglu describes her site as "the thinking man or woman's career blog." But even if you're not much of thinker, her advice will make you smarter, in part because she has her nose in the news. If you're short on time, just click on the "Getting Hired" tag. You'll find hundreds of posts to help you along, or answer some of the trickier questions of job hunting. For example, if you're wondering how to dress for an interview, you might consider removing or turning around the enormous rock on your finger. You'll look more serious.

Facebook: OK, this is more of an app than a site. But this site allows you to mix work with pleasure and mimic more natural and traditional styles of networking. Presumably, you have hundreds of friends all over the country and most of them have listed their current and past employers in their profiles, or "Info" tabs. If you use an application like that offered by SimplyHired, you'll be able to search for jobs where your friends work and ping them for extra information on the company, or ask for the name of the person who's hiring so you can contact them directly.

Indeed's Job Trends: Wondering what kind of positions are growing in demand? You can search any term to see the growth in percentage of posts that include the term. The kind of words that are showing up in an increasing number of posts: Facebook, iPhone, virtualization, social media. It's an inexact science—take a closer look at the kind of job postings that include the word "Facebook" and you'll find that many are either at Facebook or from staffing companies encouraging job seekers to find them on Facebook. But "virtualization"-riddled job postings are for IT positions, through and through. Bonus trend charts: job postings per capita, job market competition, and industry employment trends.

Bureau of Labor Statistics: This site is a bit of a beast, but it's incredibly useful. To start, hover your mouse over the Employment tab on the left, and click on "Employment Projections" in the drop-down menu. The most straightforward data is in the tables that start at the middle of the page. You can see the list of the projected fastest-growing occupations (physical therapists, biomedical engineers, dental hygienists, etc.) and occupations with the biggest declines (farmers and ranchers, file clerks, telemarketers, etc.). Back on the homepage, you'll see a tab indicating resources for job seekers on the left. Click it. You'll find a library of information on topics such as educational requirements for occupations that interest you. Say you're a restaurant manager and you want to move to California. You can search "occupational employment and wages by area" and find that the greatest number (by far) of foodservice jobs in the state are in Los Angeles, but the highest hourly wages are in Napa.

6 Things You Must Have for Job Success

I created this list to help people zero in on what they want in a job or work. When you know what you want, it is far easier to develop a plan to get there.

This is a list of 5-6 aspects of a job or work that you MUST have. This is not "want to have." This list is of the things that you must have in order for you to be satisfied and content in your work, the things that will make it possible for you to be excited to start the day when you wake up every morning.

You'll want to have a "must have" in most or all of these categories:

1) Work you will do
2) Role you will play
3) Impact of your efforts
4) Physical environment
5) Colleagues, culture, emotional environment
6) Compensation

1) Work you will do

What do you like doing? What gives you great satisfaction? What industry or subject area do you love, care about? In what field does your expertise and talent lie? What do you want to occupy yourself doing for work? What are your skills, talents, preferences, likes and dislikes? What brings you joy? What can you lose yourself in so time flies? Do you prefer to have a single focus or are you happier with a variety of tasks?

2) Role you will play

What position will you have in the organization or company? Will you work for someone? For yourself? With others? Be a leader or a follower? Do you like working alone or in a team? Being visible or behind the scenes? Playing the same kind of role consistently, or do you like to move around? How much time do you want to spend working? Do you want to be someone others depend on or free of responsibility for others?

3) Impact of your efforts

Does your work need to matter to anyone other than yourself? Do you want to make a difference? If so, what difference do you want to make? Does it matter what kind of company or organization you work for? If so, what kind of company? And what impact will it have? Is there anything that will make it worth doing drudge work?

4) Physical environment

What do you need to be at your best and do your best work? Do you need privacy, light, quiet, noise, open floor plan, a desk and comfortable chair, no desk and always being outside? There are many variations - only you can decide what kind of physical environment you thrive in. Also can be about location, commuting, hours.

5) Culture and colleagues

What kind of emotional environment do you want? What kind of people? Do your values need to mesh with the values of your workplace and colleagues? What kind of atmosphere helps you do your best? Fast-paced or laid-back? Lots of deadlines or little pressure? Competitive or supportive, or a little of both? Structured or flexible? Formal or casual? 9-5 or varied? Task or mission focused? Start-up or established organization/company? Close supervision or self-direction?

6) Compensation

What's the bottom line dollar pay or salary that you can live with? A figure that covers your basic needs and then some? You can have a figure you request that's higher than your "I can live with it" figure. Are there other ways you can be compensated, such as time off, benefits, recognition, or travel? How much compensation do you need to reflect your value to your employer, or to quit a temporary or maintenance job to work full-time for yourself?

After answering these questions, try to boil down your responses to short phrases of one to five words. You know the intention behind each phrase, and can explain them to people when you tell them what you want.

As you go forward in looking at potential jobs, it is probable that one or two of these items will rise to the top of your list as the most important variables for you to have your best work experience. That will help you decide whether to accept a job or not - if it doesn't meet those top "must haves," it's likely that you won't last there very long.

In a tough economy, it's great to have 51% of your "Must Have" List met. Employers have their own "must haves" and they are more likely to demand that potential employers meet 100% of their list - no matter how unrealistic that is. In a good economy, we can aim for getting 75-80% of our "must haves" - the same as an employer will get.

The goal, after all, is for your "right fit" work to be the fit of your skills, abilities and talents with the needs, requirements and opportunities of the job or work you get.

20 Industries Where Jobs Are Coming Back

If you've been paying close attention to the economy and you're inclined to look on the bright side, well, finally there is one.

As President Obama has been eager to point out, the private sector has been adding jobs for several months in a row. It's still way too early to declare the return of prosperity, since nearly 15 million Americans remain unemployed and some key industries are still mired in recession. But the good news is finally starting to outweigh the bad, and economists hope that a virtuous cycle will soon replace a culture of gloom: Gradual hiring eventually makes consumers more optimistic, and as they spend more, business confidence grows as well. If that happens, companies are likely to keep on hiring.

Everybody wants to know where the jobs are, of course, so I analyzed data from the Department of Labor on employment levels in dozens of industries over the last three years. In most industries, the trend is similar: Job losses have stopped, but hiring hasn't really picked up. So I looked for industries that have shown a notable increase in jobs over the last year.

In most of these fields, total employment is still far below the levels at the end of 2007, when the recession began. That illustrates how far we need to go until the economy is truly healthy again. But a recovery has to start somewhere, and these industries are the first to feel a hint of optimism. Here are 20 fields where jobs are starting to return:

Admin and support. It might be just one hire here and another there, but companies are finally starting to rebuild their office staffs. As corporate bosses gain more confidence in the recovery, they'll shift from temporary hires to more full-time staffers.

Jobs gained in 2010: 286,000

Change since 2007: 817,000 jobs lost

Employment services. The people who help others get jobs are finding more work themselves, a good sign that overall hiring is picking up for real. Demand for temporary workers usually comes first, followed by more interest in permanent full-timers.

Jobs gained in 2010: 262,000

Change since 2007: 591,000 jobs lost

Healthcare. There was barely a recession in healthcare—employment has been rising consistently in almost every specialty. This is one of the few fields in which there are more jobs today than before the recession began. A lot more, in fact.

Jobs gained in 2010: 204,000

Change since 2007: 738,000 jobs gained

Restaurants. Boy did we miss those restaurant fries. After a sharp cutback in 2009, Americans have started eating out again. Some luxury joints are still struggling, but family restaurants that offer good value are starting to get busy.

Jobs gained in 2010: 143,000

Change since 2007: 150,000 jobs lost

Retail. Consumers are still feeling thrifty, mainly because debt levels remain too high. But people are starting to spend again, and many retail outlets are hiring. The strongest gains are at electronics and appliance stores. Department stores, discounters, and clothing retailers are hiring, too.

Jobs gained in 2010: 128,000

Change since 2007: 1.1 million jobs lost

Mining. The growing demand by China and India for copper, aluminum, iron, and a variety of other minerals is helping boost the mining industry worldwide. So is a spike in the price of gold and silver. And domestic demand for coal is bouncing back as the economy recovers.

Jobs gained in 2010: 79,000

Change since 2007: 28,000 jobs gained

Religious and nonprofit groups. Donations dipped during the recession, but religious, nonprofit, social, and business organizations have fared okay lately as endowments linked to the stock market have recovered and other sources of funding have stabilized. Clergy—a somewhat recessionproof calling—represent the single largest profession within this group.

Jobs gained in 2010: 56,000

Change since 2007: 9,000 jobs gained

Salespeople and customer-service reps. What companies need most right now is new business, and that takes good salespeople. Plus, during the recession, some companies cut too deeply into the ranks of those who take care of customers. They're beginning to rectify that now.

Jobs gained in 2010: 36,000

Change since 2007: 437,000 jobs lost

Computer systems design. A lot of lower-end IT work has been outsourced to India, but companies still need talented systems designers and other well-trained technicians to develop customized software, keep up with new technology, and connect far-flung systems. This is likely to be one of the fastest-growing job markets over the next several years.

Jobs gained in 2010: 43,000

Change since 2007: 52,000 jobs gained

Transit and ground transportation. Bus drivers have enviable job security. As Americans have cut back on driving to save money, more people have turned to public transportation. The number of bus, subway, and other transit jobs is up overall since the recession began.

Jobs gained in 2010: 20,000

Change since 2007: 17,000 jobs gained

Hotels. Business travel is picking up after a sharp drop, and some consumers are taking vacations again, too. Budget and value properties are hiring the most.

Jobs gained in 2010: 27,000

Change since 2007: 124,000 jobs lost

Federal government. State and local governments have been cutting deeply, but federal jobs are safe—for now. Newly empowered Republicans who want to cut government could change that, however.

Jobs gained in 2010: 19,000

Change since 2007: 88,000 jobs gained

Management. Big companies cut thousands of management jobs when the recession hit—and some of them went too far. So they're slowly starting to rehire. With some foreign economies growing faster than ours, multinational companies are looking for managers willing to travel and perhaps even relocate overseas.

Jobs gained in 2010: 16,000

Change since 2007: 63,000 jobs lost

Performing arts and recreation. As Americans have cut back on lavish travel and long vacations, they've spent more time and money exploring local parks and attractions and even going to sporting events. Plus, people who have been scrimping and saving just need a night out every now and then.

Jobs gained in 2010: 24,000

Change since 2007: 96,000 jobs lost

Warehousing. It's good news for the overall economy when activity at warehouses, refrigeration facilities, and other storage areas picks up, which it has. The goods that pass through those places end up at business and retail outlets, boosting jobs elsewhere.

Jobs gained in 2010: 12,000

Change since 2007: 30,000 jobs lost

Oil and gas extraction. The energy sector dipped during the recession, as consumers and businesses cut back on use. But global demand for energy remains strong, and natural gas in particular looks like a booming industry. Jobs in this field tend to be high-paying, with a need for specialists like petroleum engineers, geologists, and hydrologists.

Jobs gained in 2010: 11,000

Change since 2007: 17,000 jobs gained

Rail transportation. Like warehousing, the railroad industry is a good gauge of which direction the overall economy is headed, since much of what we buy gets shipped by rail at some point. The train seems to be picking up steam.

Jobs gained in 2010: 9,000

Change since 2007: 9,000 jobs lost

Waste management. The trash needs to go out no matter what's happening in the economy. And as the economy recovers, we seem to be producing more of it.

Jobs gained in 2010: 8,000

Change since 2007: 3,000 jobs lost

Web portals and Internet publishing. It's killing other industries, but the Internet itself is still a booming industry that's creating jobs. The overall number of jobs at search engines like Google, portals like Yahoo, and a variety of new and growing online outfits has risen consistently over the last three years.

Jobs gained in 2010: 6,000

Change since 2007: 11,000 jobs gained

Management and technical consulting. A lot of laid-off managers and other professionals have become self-employed consultants—a trend that's likely to continue. Many companies want to hire seasoned people on a temporary or project basis, instead of bringing them on full-time. Consultants able to manage several clients at once can earn more than they did with a single employer.

Jobs gained in 2010: 2,000

Change since 2007: 1,000 jobs gained

Step-by-Step Guide to Choosing a Career For Job Seekers

There are hundreds of career options out there. How do you make a career choice when you don't really know what you want to do? Does it seem like an insurmountable task? It's not. Yes, you will have to put some time and energy into making your decision, but your effort will be well worth it in the end. Follow these steps to making a good career choice.

Assess Yourself

Before you can make a career choice you have to learn about yourself. Your values, interests, and skills, in combination with certain personality traits, will make some careers especially suitable for you and some particulary inapproprate. You can use self assessment tools, often called career tests, to gather this information and, subsequently, to generate a list of occupations that are deemed appropriate. Some people choose to have career counselors or other career development professionals administer these tests but many opt to use free career tests that are available on the Web.

Make a List of Occupations to Explore

Look over the lists of occupations generated through your use of the self assessment tools. They are probably rather lengthy. You want to come up with a much shorter list, consisting of between five and ten occupations. Circle occupations that appear on multiple lists. Circle occupations you may have considered previously and that you find appealing. Write these occupations down on a separate list titled "Occupations to Explore."

Explore the Occupations on Your List

For each occupation on your list, you will want to look at the job description , educational and other requirements, job outlook, advancement opportunities, and earnings.

Conduct Informational Interviews

At this p oint you should only have a few occupations left on your list. You now need to gather more in-depth information. Your best source of this information are people who have firsthand knowledge of the occupations in which you are interested. Identify who they are and conduct informational interviews with them.

Continue Narrowing Down your List

Pare down your list of possible occupations based on what you learned from your research. For example, you may not be willing to put the time and energy into preparing for an occupation for which an advanced degree is required, or you may consider the earnings for a particular occupation inadequate.



Set Your Goals

By now you should have decided on one occupation you want to pursue. It's time to put a plan in place so you can eventually find a job in that field, but first you will need to set some goals.

Write a Career Action Plan

Now that you have set your goals, you will need to decide how to reach them. A career action plan will help guide you as you pursue your long and short term goals.

Train for Your New Career

It is likely you will have to train for your new career. That could take the form of earning a degree, doing an internship or taking courses to learn some new skills.

12 Jobs for Home Based Workers (How technology makes it easier)

For years now, steady advances in mobile communications technology -- including smart phones, high-speed Internet and wireless laptops -- have boosted personal productivity, both at work and at home. But for home-based employees, these handy gadgets have completely transformed their work-life balance, according to findings reported from the June 2009 Kelly Global Workforce Index.

The ranks of home-based workers have grown in step with every new development in technology. Let's face it: We'd all rather commute down our own hallways than across town in bumper-to-bumper traffic. But are you actually set up for it?

While some types of work, and some types of employees, are better suited to remote working arrangements, there are also some essential technologies you'll need to have in place to be truly effective. Contemplate these key points as you set your remote career in motion:

Jobs and skills that fit home employment

Before anything, consider the nature of your existing job skills, or of the home-based position you'd like to attain. Some types of work are especially well-suited for work in the home environment, including:

1. Administrative or clerical

2. Consulting in fields such as engineering, finance, HR, IT or science

3. Contact / call center

4. Customer service

5. Creative services

6. Field sales

7. Professional services like accounting, tax or legal

8. Research

9. Telesales / telemarketing

10. Translation

11. Writing and editing

12. Web design and development

Of these categories, customer service and call center jobs in particular will continue to present options for workers seeking a home-based lifestyle. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2.06 million customer service representatives were employed in the United States in 2004. That number is expected to rise 23 percent to 2.53 million by 2014 -- all while more companies are expected to employ more home-based agents, for related savings on their infrastructure and other cost efficiencies.

Technology drives how and where we work

Recent findings from a 2009 Kelly Global Workforce Index survey indicate that the explosion of mobile communications technology is driving big changes in employee behavior and a shift in our work-life balance. Eighty-four percent of respondents said technology has boosted their personal productivity.

Seventy-five percent of respondents agreed that the opportunity provided by devices such as smart phones and laptops to remain in contact with work is a positive development -- even though almost one-third are working longer hours as a result. In deciding where to work next, 87 percent reported that a policy for working remotely would be an important factor.

George Corona, Kelly Services executive vice president and chief operating officer, confirmed that the spread of mobile technologies is transforming the way that people interact with their work and their attitudes towards employment. "There is an overwhelming view that the technology provides greater flexibility in working arrangements and a better balance between work and personal life," Corona noted.

The survey showed that globally, while Gen Y workers (ages 18-29) are at the forefront of the technology-driven lift in productivity, Gen X (ages 30-47) and baby boomers (ages 48-65) are each experiencing significant efficiency gains as well.

Technical job requirements for at-home work

A number of personal skills are commonly expected of home-based employees, like exceptional motivation, time management, self-discipline and the determination needed to succeed without much direct supervision.

But many capable applicants often overlook the common technical aspects required in working from home, including a host of basic necessities, depending on your desired assignment:

· A dedicated work space free from household distractions

· A desk, chair and work station

· A filing cabinet, drawers, shelving and office supplies

· A personal computer or laptop, with speakers and sound card preferred

· A reliable high-speed or broadband Internet connection

· A dedicated phone land line, printer and fax machine

· Windows 2003 or higher, plus office, data security and e-mail software

· A quality headset

The good news? Preferred employers often make home-based workers eligible for a wide range of employee discounts to help obtain this required equipment. Responsibility for installing and maintaining all equipment usually falls on the employee, with IT support.

Time well-spent

"The revolution in personal communications has improved work-life balance through flexible work practices, working from home and other family-friendly arrangements, while delivering a significant boost to organizational efficiency," Corona concludes. And with technology marching ever forward, these seem like improvements that are here to stay.

Without a doubt, the convenience of working from home can allow you to eliminate the time, hassle and expense of commuting; save gas; and spend more time each day doing the things you enjoy. But like any good idea, just be sure that when you're ready to make the switch to home-based employment, you have the right skills and technology in place to thrive.

Top 10 Companies Hiring This Week (December 24-December 30)

If you’ve been outside this week, you know that the streets are packed with shoppers and travelers. You need quite a bit of patience to survive at the mall, on the road, or at the airport right now. Every place you go is crowded and moving slowly right now.

Of course, you could just stay inside and avoid the crowds completely. If you do, you can continue your job hunt and not have to bother with the slow drivers who are backing up traffic for three exits. Really, the whole situation is win/win for you.

With that in mind, here are 10 companies hiring this week:

1. Kmart Corporation

Kmart, a member of the Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD) family of companies, is a mass merchandising retailer that offers customers quality products through a portfolio of exclusive brands and labels such as Craftsman, Kenmore, DieHard, Jaclyn Smith, Joe Boxer, Route 66 and Country Living. We operate over 1,300 Kmart stores with over 1,000 in-store pharmacies across 49 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This includes discount stores, averaging 92,000 square feet, and Super Centers, averaging 165,000 square feet. We also offer a wide selection of merchandise through kmart.com.

Industry: Retail
Sample job titles: Co-manager/assistant store manager,senior category strategy and innovation manager

Top Job Categories:

Customer Service Jobs (964) >>
Management Jobs (107) >>
Inventory Jobs (85) >>
Professional Services Jobs (84) >>
Retail Jobs (76) >>

See All Jobs (1187)

Top Locations:

Florida Jobs (86) >>
Michigan Jobs (77) >>
Pennsylvania Jobs (77) >>
California Jobs (60) >>
Illinois Jobs (55) >>

2. Fifth Third Bancorp

Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. As of September 30, 2010, the Company has $112 billion in assets, operates 16 affiliates with 1,309 full-service Banking Centers, including 101 Bank Mart® locations open seven days a week inside select grocery stores and 2,390 ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Georgia and North Carolina.

Industry: Finance
Sample job titles: Manager trainee, customer service representative

Top Job Categories:

Finance Jobs (442) >>
Banking Jobs (417) >>
Customer Service Jobs (215) >>
Management Jobs (133) >>
Retail Jobs (107) >>

See All Jobs (792)

Top Locations:

Ohio Jobs (341) >>
Illinois Jobs (122) >>
Michigan Jobs (91) >>
Indiana Jobs (62) >>
Florida Jobs (60) >>

3. CyberCoders Engineering

CyberCoders Engineering is your source for finding an engineering job that takes you to the next level in your career. CyberCoders Engineering is the engineering division of one of the top recruiting firms in the nation, CyberCoders. We specialize in engineering, financial, sales & operational positions across all industries.

Put us to work for you -- you will get results! Find out what Microsoft, Abbott, and hundreds of other engineering companies and thousands of candidates already know - CyberCoders Engineering connects exceptional engineering professionals with exceptional companies.

Industry: IT
Sample job titles: PHP LAMP Developer AJAX Programmer Software IT Perl Java CSS

Top Job Categories:

Engineering Jobs (1488) >>
Information Technology Jobs (1451) >>
Professional Services Jobs (1226) >>
Design Jobs (549) >>
Management Jobs (255) >>

See All Jobs (1674)

Top Locations:

California Jobs (650) >>
Massachusetts Jobs (143) >>
New York Jobs (123) >>
Texas Jobs (76) >>
Virginia Jobs (74) >>

4. 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.

Our core values of compassion, excellence, and reliability are part of The Bayada Way philosophy—and they guide everything we do. It is our commitment to these values that lets so many great people like you find a home with us.

Industry: Health care
Sample job titles: Certified nursing assistant, registered nurse

Top Job Categories:

Health Care Jobs (1491) >>
Nurse Jobs (1381) >>
Other Jobs (359) >>
Management Jobs (181) >>
Professional Services Jobs (82) >>

See All Jobs (1539)

Top Locations:

Pennsylvania Jobs (558) >>
North Carolina Jobs (312) >>
New Jersey Jobs (300) >>
New York Jobs (77) >>
Georgia Jobs (42) >>

5. Heald

Heald is a regionally accredited career college with campuses throughout the western United States in California, Oregon and Hawaii. We’ve been preparing students for workplace success since our establishment in1863.
Over 145 years ago, Edward Payson Heald opened the first Heald College in San Francisco, California. Heald’s mission was to prepare students for businesss careers by providing them with career education that focused on practical, hands-on learning. Heald has persevered since 1863 weathering two major earthquakes and two World Wars - always remaining true to its original mission. As the needs of the workplace changed, Heald College curriculum evolved from business courses to degrees in healthcare, legal, business and technology, opening campuses across California, Oregon, and Hawaii.

Industry: Education
Sample job titles: Program Director for General Education - RCC

Top Job Categories:

Education Jobs (151) >>
Training Jobs (118) >>
Health Care Jobs (52) >>
Management Jobs (28) >>
Accounting Jobs (21) >>

See All Jobs (195)

Top Locations:

California Jobs (162) >>
Oregon Jobs (21) >>
Hawaii Jobs (12) >>

6. C.R. England

For more than 90 years, the name C.R. England has stood for high quality transportation services to a growing list of satisfied, prestigious customers. Experience, integrity and a solid track record have earned C.R. England a reputation as one of the nation's leading companies specializing in temperature-controlled transportation products.

In 1994, England Dedicated was established to provide customized transportation solutions and services. Our objective is to act as an extension of our customers' businesses, providing efficient, effective transportation solutions to solve specific needs.

Industry: Transportation and delivery
Sample job titles: CDL A driver, delivery specialist position

Top Job Categories:

Distribution - Shipping Jobs (143) >>
Transportation Jobs (143) >>
Business Opportunity Jobs (120) >>
Manufacturing Jobs (14) >>
Skilled Labor - Trades Jobs (3) >>

See All Jobs (143)

Top Locations:

Illinois Jobs (64) >>
North Carolina Jobs (43) >>
Iowa Jobs (17) >>
Wisconsin Jobs (9) >>
Ohio Jobs (5) >>

7. Medical Careers

The healthcare future you want is more obtainable than you think. Medical Careers Direct focuses on the healthcare industry which will endure even the most challenging economic times. We connect you to top employers within the healthcare industry throughout the nation. In this industry there are a wide range of opportunities to advance your career.

Industry: Medical records
Sample job titles: Medical records ROI specialist

Top Job Categories:

Health Care Jobs (785) >>
Training Jobs (785) >>
Entry Level Jobs (622) >>
Admin - Clerical Jobs (509) >>
Accounting Jobs (249) >>

See All Jobs (785)

Top Locations:

California Jobs (132) >>
Florida Jobs (79) >>
Texas Jobs (75) >>
New Jersey Jobs (41) >>
Arizona Jobs (28) >>

8. National Agents Alliance

NAA is one of the largest associations of agents and agencies of its kind. With representatives in all 50 states our annual financial services sales are over $100 million. This fast growth has been sustained through high customer satisfaction, innovative lead programs, referrals, and the most lucrative agent compensation program in the industry. Our secret is: we serve our clients.

Industry: Sales
Sample job titles: Insurance Sales Opportunity

Top Job Categories:

Sales Jobs (510) >>
Entry Level Jobs (510) >>
Insurance Jobs (510) >>

See All Jobs (510)

Top Locations:

California Jobs (57) >>
Florida Jobs (36) >>
Texas Jobs (30) >>
North Carolina Jobs (27) >>
Maryland Jobs (26) >>

9. SetFocus

SetFocus is a unique training organization that provides the most current and cutting edge technologies in the training market for software developers and corporations nationwide. Specializing in Microsoft’s .NET technologies and SQL Server 2005, training is offered at SetFocus’ locations in Parsippany and Jersey City, New Jersey (USA) as well as remotely through The GRID®.

Industry: Consultant
Sample job titles: Reporting business analyst

Top Job Categories:

Information Technology Jobs (230) >>
Consultant Jobs (190) >>
Professional Services Jobs (167) >>
General Business Jobs (63) >>
Business Development Jobs (40) >>

See All Jobs (230)

Top Locations:

California Jobs (27) >>
Florida Jobs (24) >>
New Jersey Jobs (12) >>
Virginia Jobs (12) >>
Georgia Jobs (11) >>

10. Kelly Law Registry

At Kelly Law Registry, we’re at work with the most highly credentialed, energetic and intelligent legal professionals available in the nation today. We are acutely aware of the requirements of today’s legal industry. We are a business unit of Kelly Services ®, the multi-billion dollar Fortune 500 staffing company.

Industry: Legal
Sample job titles: Paralegal, legal secretary

Top Job Categories:

Legal Jobs (59) >>
Admin - Clerical Jobs (27) >>
Legal Admin Jobs (25) >>
Management Jobs (5) >>
Professional Services Jobs (4) >>

See All Jobs (61)

Top Locations:

Florida Jobs (12) >>
Connecticut Jobs (11) >>
New York Jobs (8) >>
Michigan Jobs (7) >>
Pennsylvania Jobs (3) >>

Wish you Good Luck for new year 2011. Marry Xmax to all of you.