Houston Careers

Houston careers are full of possibility as the Houston metro area has weathered the recent recession extremely well and job growth has been less stagnant than in many other geographic areas of the United States. Houston is a city that under-promises and over-delivers, offering a much higher quality of life than many citizens of other cities realize. Houston is such a well-kept secret, many people don’t know whether to congratulate you or offer condolences when you tell them you landed a new job in Houston, Texas!

Houston, Texas, USA

My favorite advertising campaign about Houston is this one: “Houston. It’s Worth It.” Also known as Bayou City, Space City, Magnolia City, or H-Town, Houston 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. In 2011, Fast Company magazine named Houston the “Fast Company City of the Year.” In 2009, Forbes magazine named “Houston the #1 Best City To Get Ahead.”

Fortune magazine lists 10 Houston employers on their 2011 “Best Companies To Work For” list. They are:

Camden Property Trust (Houston)
Container Store (Houston)
Darden Restaurants (Houston)
Devon Energy (Houston)
EOG Resources (Houston)
Gilbane (Houston)
Men’s Wearhouse (Houston)
NuStar Energy (Texas City)
TDIndustries (Houston)
The Methodist Hospital System (Houston, Baytown, and Sugar Land)

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
HoustonJobBoard.com
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.