With the population of over 550,000, the largest of any city in Iowa, Des Moines' five-county metro area is a robust and active city for any job seeker. Homeowners in Des Moines have a number of career possibilities at hand.
The city of Des Moines is an epicenter of insurance companies. Trade magazines rate the city to be the top location for insurance firms in the US. Companies in the fields of finance and publishing that have headquarters there include Wellmark Blue Cross, Nationwide Mutual and Meredith..
Des Moines is also home to a large base of publishing and financial services business such as ING Group and the Principal Group. Opportunities in this area can vary from Commodity Funds to foreign exchange trading.
The Principal Group ranked 273 on the Fortune 500 in 2009 and is one of the city's largest employers. Meredith, one of the world's largest media and publishing companies, produce the widely popular Better Homes and Gardens magazine. The city also has a number of great companies in the High Tech sector, such as Electronic Data Systems, data encryption and storage companies to consider pursuing.
Some of the city's other large-scale employers include Mid/American Energy Company, Mercy Medical Center, Pioneer Hi-Bred, Firetone, FBL, John Deere, Qwest and UPS. There are also a large number of local political, shipping, arts and manufacturing opportunities. The job postings for Des Moines look for those skilled in anything from electric cutters to electric guitars.
Des Moines also has a large and important political workforce in the city. As the state capital, it is the center of the Iowa caucus. It is in Des Moines that the very first major voting event takes place in the nominations elections of a U.S. President. As such, most candidates for President open headquarters for their campaigns in Des Moines and hire a local staff..
Locally, consultants and service companies orchestrate global projects. You could work for one of the city's global insurers or shippers, overseeing wedding rentals in Mississauga getting a magazine delivered in Melbourne on time. As well, there is currently a significant amount of development happening in the downtown core that is requiring a large administrative and labor force. Recent additions to the downtown area include the Iowa Events Center, Des Moines central library, Science Center and IMAX Dome Theater.
Specialized areas such as medicine and law are a solid growth area for the city. With it's great features, culture and amazing employers, Des Moines attracts and imports specialists ranging from Neurosurgeons to class action lawyers alike. Be sure to get to know some of the great medical centers and legal firms, both large and small, that the city has to offer.
Forbes rated Des Moines as the fourth Best Place for Business in 2007. They based their rankings on elements such as the cost of living and of doing business, crime and education levels. By searching the job boards and classifieds, from both large and local sources, networking, trade news and groups, you will have great results in propelling your career in Des Moines.
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