Houston careers are full of possibility as the Brookings Institute just named Houston’s economy the best of any American city. Many people reluctantly move to Houston for a job, only to discover that the quality of life in Houston is much higher than is generally thought. Houston is more than just humidity, mosquitoes, refineries, and hurricanes.
Houston, also known as Bayou City, Space City, Magnolia City, or H-Town, has an optimistic vibe and a reputation as a “can do” place. Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States and is the largest metro area in Texas. Houston has won a large number of awards lauding it as a wonderful place to work and live. Here are some of them:
- #1 City for Careers (Monster, 2013)
- Happiest Students – Rice University (The Princeton Review, 2012)
- America’s Coolest Cities To Live (Forbes, 2012)
- Big Cities Where Self-Employment Is Growing The Fastest (Forbes, 2012)
- Cities Where A Paycheck Stretches The Fastest (Forbes, 2012)
- Top Technology Job Growth (CyberCoders, 2012)
- Fastest Growing Millionaire City in the U.S. (Forbes, 2011)
- Top Cities for IT Jobs (Modis, 2011)
- Fast City of the Year (Fast Company, 2011)
(Thank you to Greater Houston Partnership for sources for some of the above compilation.)
In 2012, The Houston Business Journal awarded a “Best Place To Work in Houston” designation to 78 companies. These are good companies to explore for potential employment.
Fortune magazine listed 10 Houston employers on their 2012 “Best Companies To Work For” list. They are:
- Burns & McDonnell (Houston)
- Camden Property Trust (Houston)
- CarMax (Houston)
- Devon Energy (Houston)
- EOG Resources (Houston)
- Men’s Wearhouse (Houston)
- Methodist Hospital (Houston and Sugar Land)
- NuStar Energy (Texas City)
- TDIndustries (Houston)
- The Container Store (Houston)
The Houston Chronicle is the main newspaper in town and is an excellent source of business news. Another great source of information is the Houston Business Journal.
VocationVillage.com’s list of Houston recruiters is a resource you can use if you wish to contact recruiters or employment agencies directly. (Keep in mind, however, that I recommend that you try to find a colleague in your professional field to introduce you. Recruiters respond more positively to you when you are introduced by a trusted third party who knows you both). If you need professional help and career advice with defining your career goals, creating a strategy to achieve them, and/or implementing a career plan, then working with a Houston area career counselor is your best bet. Here is a list of Houston career counselors and career coaches.
If you want to search for Houston job openings, here is a list of websites to help you find Houston employment:
Grant Beehler’s List of Houston Employers
Houston Chronicle’s Job Search Section
Houston Craig’s List Jobs
HoustonJobs.com
HoustonRecruiter.com
Indeed.com’s Houston Job Search
Jobing.com Houston
One of the best ways to look for a Houston job or to advance a career you already have is to become involved with the professional association for your occupational niche. Here is a directory of Houston professional associations.
And if you are seeking additional education while you are in Houston, here is a list of Houston colleges and universities.
Please contact me if you know of any other great resources that should be included on this page.
.
.
My listing at thumbtack.com: Houston Career Counselor & Career Coach
.
