One Day, One Job » logistics

Outward Bound

Willy Franzen — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:52:46 +0000

I went to small, private middle and high school. They were really big on outdoor education, so almost every year we took some kind of class trip to promote bonding and a kind of learning that can’t be done in the classroom. The trips were wonderful–even when 20 of us got lost in the woods with one teacher overnight. I was lucky to get these kind of experiences through my school, but if I hadn’t, there’s a good chance I would have done something like Outward Bound. They are “a non-profit educational organization and expedition school that serves people of all ages and backgrounds through active learning expeditions that inspire character development, self-discovery and service both in and out of the classroom.” Outward Bound is headquartered in Golden, CO (but operating across the country), and “was founded in 1941 in the tumultuous waters of the North Sea during World War II, to provide young sailors with the experiences and skills necessary to survive at sea.” They got their start in their current state in 1961.

Job Bound?

While Outward Bound may no longer be about teaching survival skills to people who are actually likely to use them, they still do some really important educational work. Outward Bound’s programs serve all kinds of people ranging from “at-risk youth” to corporate employees, and they stretch across all kind of activities including Canoeing, Rock Climbing, Dogsleeding, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, and more. I know that Outward Bound has an extremely strong connection with alumni, and that speaks to how truly great their programming is. If you want to be part of the Outward Bound family, take a look at their Careers page. Right now they have some great opportunities for new and recent grads including:

Backpack/Canoe Instructor (Baltimore, MD)
Backpack/Canoe Instructor (Philadelphia, PA)
Canoe/At Risk Instructor (Ely, MN)
Backpack/Canoe/At Risk (Newry, ME)
Course Director (Omaha, NE)
Field Instructor (St. Paul, MN)
Insight Facilitator (Baltimore, MD)
Insight Instructor (St. Paul, MN)
Logistics Coordinator (Midpines, CA)
Logistics Coordinator (Newry, ME)
Logistics Coordinator (Wheeler’s Bay, ME)
Logistics Coordinator (Redmond, OR)
Logistics Coordinator (Moab, UT)
Mountain Instructor (Leadville, CO)
Mountain/Raft Instructor (Redmond, OR)
Program Manager (Omaha, NE)
River Instructor (Moab, UT)
Sailing Instructor (Wheeler’s Bay, ME)
Urban Center/Field Instructor (Omaha, NE)

If you love the outdoors and want to work in the non-profit world, it’d be hard to beat a job with Outward Bound.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Did you do Outward Bound?

Smith Optics

Willy Franzen — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:00:36 +0000

If you’ve been reading for a while, you may have noticed that I go on a lot of fishing trips. The problem is that any time my Dad and I go somewhere, he tries to turn it into an annual trip (it’s not actually a problem at all). As long as there’s Wi-Fi so that I can get some work in while I’m not fishing, then I’m pretty much set. This week I’m writing from the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec, where I’m salmon fishing. I spend most of the day on the river, and one of my most essential pieces of equipment is probably something that you wouldn’t suspect. Polarized sunglasses are invaluable for fishing. Not only do they help you see through the glare and under the water, but they also protect your eyes from both the sun and stray hooks. Smith Optics makes some of the absolute best sunglasses for fishing on the market. They’re based in Ketchum, ID, and they have about 300 employees.

See Yourself in a New Job

Smith Optics’ products go way beyond fishing. In fact, the company was started in 1965 when Dr. Bob Smith created ” the first ever fog-free snow goggle utilizing a sealed thermal lens and breathable vent foam.” Today Smith Optics’ product line “spans the range of snow and moto goggles, performance and style eyewear, ballistic Military eyewear, Ophthalmic eyewear, and snow helmets.” It’s a company filled with people who are passionate about the outdoors, and it shows in what they make. It also shows in Smith Optics’ HR policies. They offer great benefits and were named “as one of Outside Magazine’s top eight Best Places to Work.” The Idaho location is obviously a big part of it. I’ve had my eye on Smith Optics for years, and it never seems that they post many jobs. Right now they only have a Distribution Manager job posted, but I urge you to reach out to careers@smithoptics.com and see if anything else is available.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you own any Smith Optics sunglasses?

Mimeo.com

Willy Franzen — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:41:39 +0000

My mom is a graphic designer, so many of my childhood memories consist of me sitting in the car fighting with my sister while my mom went into the print shop to drop something off or pick something up. Today’s version of me probably has it a lot easier because leaving your kids in the car is generally frowned upon, and brick and mortar print shops are a dying breed. Today, if you have a serious print job, you’re probably going to use an online printer who can do your job and ship it to you more quickly and more cheaply than the local print shop can. We’ve already looked at one company like this, VistaPrint, and today we’re going to look at Mimeo.com. They’re located in New York, NY; Newark, NJ; Memphis, TN; and Hayward, CA, and they call themselves “the innovator of online, on-demand document printing and distribution.” They were founded in 1998, and since then they’ve been focused on developing web-based technology to make online printing even easier than walking into a print shop.

Put the Me in Mimeo.com

You can get pretty much anything printed by Mimeo.com: presentations, manuals, brochures, booklets, flyers & sell sheets, posters, newsletters, postcards, and whatever else you may want to print. They must do a good job, because they’ve received a number of accolades ranging from being named to the Inc. 5000 to having their front end applications “judged to be ‘best’ in the industry 2 years in a row by the PIA, the largest print and graphics trade organization in the world.” Mimeo.com has also enlisted some major partners to share technology and make the company’s offerings even better. Mimeo.com seems to keep growing, and that’s why they have a ton of job openings posted right now. If you check out their Jobs page, you’ll see a bunch of positions suitable for new or recent grads including Account Administration Analyst (Memphis, TN), Account Executive (New York, NY), Front End Developer (New York, NY), Industrial Engineer (Mephis, TN), Lead Acquisition Specialist (New York, NY), Operations Leadership Program Associate (Memphis, TN), Quality Auditor Associate (Newark, NJ), Shipping Associate (Newark, NJ), and Solutions Advisor (Memphis, TN). Most of these positions have multiple openings, so there are a ton of jobs available.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you ever ordered anything from Mimeo.com?

Trunk Club

Willy Franzen — Thu, 12 May 2011 15:34:10 +0000

I think I went almost 3 years after graduating from college without buying any new clothes. I had a decent enough wardrobe, I didn’t need work clothes because I started my own company, and I wanted to save as much money as I could so that I could keep my company going. Then I featured Gilt Groupe and Bonobos , which both had some exciting opportunities for new grads. After looking at their job opportunities, I discovered their referral programs which allowed me to score a bunch of clothing for free. I’ve certainly become more fashion conscious as I’ve spent my referral credits, but I still have trouble deciding what looks good on me. I know there are plenty of other guys who have this problem whether they’re looking for something to wear to an interview or a night out on the town. Trunk Club is a Chicago, IL based company (their office is two blocks from mine) that aims to solve this problem by making style decisions for their customers. You tell them a little about yourself (or come in for a fitting session), and they’ll send you a “trunk” full of clothes that they’ve picked out for you. It works like a hotel mini-bar, you keep what you want and send back what you don’t (with free shipping both ways). You obviously only get charged for what you keep.

Join the Club

Trunk Club is led by Brian Spaly, who was also a Co-Founder at Bonobos (but has since moved on). He’s obviously committed to helping men take the pain out of shopping, and so far it looks like he’s been a part of two big successes. Trunk Club seems to be growing well, and has been getting a ton of press attention. Though their business works the same way as a retail store–they stock a variety of brands and sell them at a markup, they’ve adapted the model to build a unique sales channel. Why send someone a catalog or an e-mail blast when you can actually send them hand-selected clothes to try on? It really is a retail experience in your home. If you like what Trunk Club is doing, then you should check out their Jobs page. They have a number of opportunities that could be suitable for new grads including Style Expert/Sales Representative, Product Associate, Fulfillment Associate, Front-end Web Developer, and Application Developer. Just make sure you wear something cool to your interview.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Would you try Trunk Club?

Central Intelligence Agency

Willy Franzen — Mon, 02 May 2011 15:52:33 +0000

I was a senior in high school on September 11, 2001. We were told what had happened during our morning announcements period, and a few of who had free periods after went to the beach across the street from our school’s campus. We knew that on a clear day you could usually see the Twin Towers from there, but all we could see was a plume of smoke. We listened on the radio and heard reports of the towers falling and rumors of other attacks in the works. I was deeply affected by what happened that day, and since then I have been waiting for our country to bring Osama bin Laden to justice. Yesterday, a group of NAVY SEALs did just that under the command of the Central Intelligence Agency, which is based in Washington, DC but operates all over the world. I am extremely grateful to all of those who were involved–especially for those who risked their lives to make us safer. It’s a reminder of how important it is for our government agencies to have top talent working for them. WIthout great people working at the CIA and in our armed forces, bin Laden would still be at large.

Share Your Intelligence

The Central Intelligence Agency “was created in 1947 with the signing of the National Security Act by President Harry S. Truman.” We often think of it as some super secret spy agency, and in some ways that what it is; however, there’s a lot more to the CIA. As the CIA’s About page mentions, the CIA is under the direction of the Director of Central Intelligence, and he or she is tasked with:

Collecting intelligence through human sources and by other appropriate means, except that he shall have no police, subpoena, or law enforcement powers or internal security functions;
Correlating and evaluating intelligence related to the national security and providing appropriate dissemination of such intelligence;
Providing overall direction for and coordination of the collection of national intelligence outside the United States through human sources by elements of the Intelligence Community authorized to undertake such collection and, in coordination with other departments, agencies, or elements of the United States Government which are authorized to undertake such collection, ensuring that the most effective use is made of resources and that appropriate account is taken of the risks to the United States and those involved in such collection; and
Performing such other functions and duties related to intelligence affecting the national security as the President or the Director of National Intelligence may direct.

The operation that occurred yesterday is an example of the CIA at its best (well maybe at their true best we never even hear about it). Obviously, we can’t know most of the details of the operation, but it appears that the processes that the CIA developed over the past 10 years finally led to this accomplishment of one of the major goals of the War on Terror. If you’re inspired by this success, then maybe you should consider a Career with the CIA. They are a major entry level employer, and the Agency offers a very wide range of employment opportunities. Jobs are offered in the following areas:

Accounting, Budget & Finance
Analysis
Clandestine Service
Contracts & Acquisitions
Cyber Security
Engineering
Facilities Services
Geography & Cartography
Graphics, Multimedia, Publications & Photography
Information Management
Information Technology
Investigations
Legal Services
Library Services
Logistics Services
Medical Services
Science, Technology & Weapons
Security
Support Services
Trades and Labor

The CIA is one of the few government agencies that makes it extremely easy to browse through their job opportunities, and you can do that here. Today is a good day to be an American and a good day to think about career opportunities that will allow you to serve your country.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What secrets do you know about the CIA?

Jaguar Land Rover

Willy Franzen — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:22:39 +0000

After driving for nearly 14 hours to get from Connecticut back to Chicago yesterday, I fell asleep well before my usual bedtime. As a result, I woke up extra early today–but not quite early enough to watch the Royal Wedding. Lucky for me, my girlfriend decided to DVR it. Despite my pretending to be disgruntled at having to watch a wedding on television, I actually found the whole thing to be somewhat interesting. I was especially intrigued by the fact that the whole thing kind of became a British car show. There were a bunch of Bentleys, a few Rolls Royces, and a Jaguar that carried Carole and James Middleton. Oddly enough, none of these car companies are still British owned. Bentley is owned by Volkswagen, Rolls-Royce Motors is owned by BMW (and the original Rolls-Royce company isn’t in the automobile business anymore), and Jaguar was owned by Ford and is now owned by an Indian company called Tata. Still, the Brits seem to be especially proud of their car brands, and that includes Jaguar Land Rover, which is based in Gaydon, UK but they also have a reasonable presence in the United States out of Mahwah, NJ.

Hear Jaguar Roar

We all know Jaguar as a luxury automobile brand, and that’s exactly what they are. Jaguar probably doesn’t have the most youthful image, but that makes sense since most people can’t afford fancy cars until later in life. Jaguar actually got its start as the Swallow Sidecar Company, which made sidecars for motorcycles, but they eventually moved on to manufacturing automobiles and changed their name after World War II. The company is now obviously very international; however, most of their operations still occur in the United Kingdom and they’re still very much a British company. Beyond the cameo in the Royal Wedding, Jaguar manufactures cars for the British Prime Minister and “holds Royal Warrants from HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Charles.” Jaguar doesn’t offer much information about their company or their careers on their website, but you can check out their jobs here. I got excited because they have a bunch of Analyst positions, but those all require 5 years of experience. The one seemingly entry level position that they have right now is Land Rover Parts Operations Coordinator. You can check that out, or wait to see what other positions they might post in the near future. And don’t be afraid to use the Royal Wedding for other job search ideas.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Did you watch the Royal Wedding?

Russell Stover

Willy Franzen — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 11:15:58 +0000

I always like to tie in holidays to the companies that I feature, so when Easter comes around I usually go looking for candy companies. Last year I actually found a candy related non-profit in PMCA, but in previous years I’ve featured Jelly Belly and Just Born Quality Confections (Peeps!) on Good Friday. I’ve also used other holidays like Halloween and Valentine’s Day to look at even more candy companies including Mars, The Hershey Company, NECCO, Charles Chocolates, and Vosges. I guess you can tell that I have a sweet tooth. This year we’re going to take a look at Russell Stover, a Kansas City, MO based confectioner that also owns Whitman’s and Pangburn’s. They’re the nation’s third largest chocolate manufacturer behind Hershey’s and Mars, and they’re the leader when it comes to boxed chocolates.

Are You Sweet on These Jobs?

I have to admit that Russell Stover doesn’t always do it for me at Easter time. Their chocolate bunnies are pretty good, but I feel like I’m too old to be chomping on a chocolate bunny these days. I much prefer marshmallow and peanut butter eggs, and I think Hershey’s and Reese’s have Stover beat on the respective products. There must be a lot of people who disagree with me though, because Russell Stover candies seem to get a ton of shelf space. If you’re one of them, then maybe you’ll want to consider a career at Russell Stover. Their Jobs page offers some information, but it oddly doesn’t provide a listing of jobs. They do, however, invite interested applicants to apply to jobs@rstover.com. If you’d prefer to actually have a job to apply to, you can use our Indeed search function to get a better read on Russell Stover’s current job offerings. They’re a pretty big company, so there should be a relatively wide range of opportunities.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you enjoy Russell Stover candies?

Jawbone

Willy Franzen — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 14:35:27 +0000

When the phone was relegated to only the home and office (and phone booths), it wasn’t a big deal to hold it against your head. If you really used the phone a lot, you might get a headset or one of those rubber things that makes it easier to hold the phone between your ear and shoulder. Now that we take our phones everywhere, holding your phone becomes a big pain in the butt (or hand). It makes your hand cold in winter, and it’s a risk while driving. I’m completely happy with my iPhone headphones, but some people just can’t be tied down like that. That’s why Jawbone has been so successful. They’re a San Francisco, CA based company that creates “products and services for the mobile lifestyle unparalleled in their innovation, ease-of-use and sophistication of design.” They’re best know for their bluetooth headsets, but they also make wireless speakers/speakerphones and develop some mobile apps.

Jawing for a Job

Bluetooth headsets are an awesome way to make yourself look dorky. Most manufacturers seem to put function over form. Not Jawbone. They’ve not only developed a line of products that has an amazing set of features like noise canceling and HD audio, but they’ve also made the bluetooth headset cool. There’s a ton of attention to detail in the design of Jawbone products, and this has allowed them to stand out as a luxury product in a market that is largely commoditized. Jawbone doesn’t offer much information about themselves on their About page, but they do seem to have a ton of cool jobs on their Careers page. Here are some that seem suitable for a new or recent grad: Mobile Application Developer, Web Developer, Interaction Designer, Quantitative Consumer/Market Insights Researcher, User Interface Designer, Business Planner – Sales Support, Videographer, Receptionist, and Scheduling Assistant. There are a lot really cool sounding jobs that require more experience, so it’s probably worth doing what it takes to get your foot in the door.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you use a Jawbone?

Coyote Logistics

Willy Franzen — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:39:16 +0000

Did you know that there’s a wild coyote population that lives in downtown Chicago? I’ve heard plenty about suburban coyotes (my dog was attacked by one a while back), but you don’t hear much about urban coyotes. I even saw one running through the streets once, but I assumed it was someone’s German Shepherd that got loose until I learned about Chi-town’s coyotes and their affinity for eating vermin. Anyway, there are also coyotes on the North Shore–Lake Forest, IL to be specific, but I’m not talking about wild dogs. I’m talking about Coyote Logistics, a logistics firm that was referred to me by a reader and that came in at #6 on the Inc. 500 last year with 13,847% three-year growth to $249.8 million in revenue. Since many of you probably know less about logistics than you do about urban coyotes (now that I’ve told you all about them), I’m going to enlighten you with a definition straight from Wikipedia. Logistics is “the management of the flow of goods and services between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet the requirements of customers,” and it “involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and occasionally security.”

Howl for a Job

Logistics never seems to get a lot of buzz, but I’m constantly impressed by the rapid success that companies like Coyote Logistics are seeing. I don’t care what business you’re in–if you can grow your revenue by nearly 140 times in three years, there’s something exciting about what you’re doing. What I find even more exciting is that much of Coyote Logistics’ growth is fueled by the work of recent college graduates. The company does a ton of campus recruiting in the midwest, and they’ve built a reputation as a great place to work. The Chicago Tribune named them one of the Top Chicago Workplaces, and a big reason for that is because CEO Jeff Silver works in “the trenches” with his employees. It also helps that Coyote Logistics offers “a work hard/play hard atmosphere and the opportunity to earn six-figure incomes.” If you want to be part of Coyote Logistics and their continued growth (and eventual move downtown to become urban coyotes), then you should check out their Jobs page. Right now they’re recruiting new grads for their Account Management Training Program. It looks like a really cool opportunity, so check it out.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Coyote Logistics?

One Kings Lane

Willy Franzen — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:01:50 +0000

Want to sign up for One Kings Lane? Here’s an invite.

I was way ahead of the game when I told you about Gilt Groupe three years ago (it’s still where I get most of my non Bonobos clothes). Back then it was still unclear whether online sample sales would be successful–now there’s no question. Daily deals are as hot as can be, and One Kings Lane was founded in 2009 to offer the “world’s top home decor brands and designers at up to 70% off retail.” They’re headquartered in San Francisco, CA, but they also have large presences in New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA. One Kings Lane has found an extremely lucrative niche, and now they’re focused on growing their user base and continuing to deliver amazing deals on high-end products. The business model is proven, but One Kings Lane is facing stiff competition–especially from Gilt Home.

Sample These Jobs

The One Kings Lane website doesn’t show you much unless you’re a member (you can sign up here). That’s by design. Even though anyone can sign up, they want their sales to feel exclusive. They not only want you to get excited about the massive discount that you’re about to get, but they want you to feel like you’re an insider who deserves to get such a discount. The psychology works. The company increased sales 500% from 2009 to 2010, and it looks like that growth is continuing. Just look at One Kings Lane’s Jobs page. They have a ton of openings, which is a prime indicator of a company that is doing well. Right now a number of those openings seem suitable for new or recent grads including Assistant Buyer (Los Angeles), Customer Support Specialist (San Francisco), Event Product Specialist (New York), Junior QA Engineer (San Francisco), Logistics Coordinator (San Francisco), Merchandise Assistant (New York), Merchandise Assistant (Los Angeles), and Web/Mobile User Experience Designer (San Francisco). One Kings Lane looks like an awesome company to work for if you’re interested in home decor, so give these jobs a closer look.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you signed up for One Kings Lane?

Ocean Spray

Willy Franzen — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:23:55 +0000

Have you ever had Craisins? The ingredients list only says “cranberries and sugar,” but I swear that there has to be something else in there that makes them so addictive. Ocean Spray has made a name for itself by consistently finding new ways to market the fruit that they produce. See, Ocean Spray is an agricultural cooperative (I assumed they were owned by some big conglomerate or something), which means that they’re “owned by large group of cranberry growers throughout North America.” Most of the 600 members are cranberry growers, but there are also 50 Florida grapefruit growers. This means that Ocean Spray is all about finding new ways to increase demand for two tart, but delightful fruits. The company is based in Lakeville-Middleboro, MA, and they’ve been “the leading producer of canned and bottled juice drinks in North America” since 1981.

Crave the Wave

Usually when you think about innovation in fruit, you think of genetic engineering and other creepy stuff like that. At Ocean Spray it’s all about giving consumers new ways to enjoy fruits that they’ve known all their lives. At first it was Cranberry Juice Cocktail in 1930, then Cran-Apple in 1963, Ocean Spray® Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice Drink in 1991, and Craisins in 1993. Ocean Spray has a solid history of successful new product launches, yet they’ve continued to stay true to their grower owned heritage. It’s a simple business, but it’s one that has continued to grow over 8 decades–to the point where Ocean Spray did nearly $2 billion in revenue in 2008. If you love grapefruits and cranberries and would like to become part of the Ocean Spray story, then you should check out their Jobs page. But before you do that, you absolutely need to make sure that you know what a bog is. Ocean Spray has quite a few positions posted, and a few seem suitable for a new or recent grad including Client Technologies Administrator and Supply Chain Coordinator (Kenosha, WI). They had a Business Development Analyst position posted that seemed perfect for a new gradd, and they seem to have removed it just as I was writing this. You can see the Google cache here. You can always reach out to them to see if there might be other similar opportunities that aren’t posted yet.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What’s your favorite Ocean Spray product?

American Greetings

Willy Franzen — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:36:40 +0000

I can’t remember the last time that I bought a greeting card, but I can remember the last time that I was part of the purchasing process. A good friend of mine was getting married, and he needed a card for his soon to be wife. Because of the dearth of cards for brides from their grooms, I made it my job to suggest alternatives. Trying to convince a stressed out groom to give his new wife a condolences card probably isn’t the nicest thing to do, but it’s certainly entertaining. Yes, greeting cards can be funny, but there’s more to them than that. That’s why American Greetings calls themselves the “leading manufacturer of innovative social expression products that assist consumers in enhancing their relationships.” The Cleveland, OH based company is the largest publicly-traded greeting card company in the world, and their brands include American Greetings, Carlton Cards, Gibson, Recycled Paper Greetings, and Papyrus along with a number of other paper products and online brands.

A Job for Every Occasion

Greeting cards may seem like a niche business, but American Greetings is a very large company with near $1.7 billion in annual revenue and 18,000 employees according to Wikipedia. The company was started in 1906 by a Polish immigrant named Jacob Sapirstein, and it’s been able to stick around through constant innovation. They’ve developed toy brands like Strawberry Shortcake and Care Bears and digital properties like Webshots and Blue Mountain. If it can somehow be worked into “social expressions products,” then they’re on it. American Greetings seems to keep on growing, and that means lots of hiring. Their Careers page takes a little bit of navigating, but half a dozen clicks later you’ll find their job listings. There are a ton of jobs posted, but you should look out for the following opportunities: Artist Coordinator (Chicago, IL), Assistant Product Development Manager – Papyrus/Recycled Greetings (Fairfield, CA), Assistant Art Director (Cleveland, OH), Brand Analyst – Papyrus, Graphic Designer (Cleveland, OH), Graphic Line Designer – Derivative Planning (Cleveland, OH), Graphic Coordinator (Cleveland, OH), Marketing Product Assistant (Cleveland, OH), Merchandiser (Nationwide), Order Filler (Cleveland, OH), Programmer Analyst (Bardstown, KY), Receptionist – Papyrus/Recycled Greetings (Chicago, IL), Sourcing Coordinator (Cleveland, OH), and Supply Chain Leadership Rotation Program Associate (Cleveland, OH). That Leadership Rotation Program is the most intriguing, and makes me wonder if they have any other similar programs in different areas.

American Greetings’ Careers page also mentions the following business departments: Accounting, Business Intelligence, Creative, Communications, Engineering, Entertainment, Finance, Human Resources, Interactive, Information Technology, International Operations, Legal, Management, Manufacturing and Distribution, Marketing, Retail Merchandising, Sales, Supply Chain Management, Transportation/Logistics, and Writer/Editor. So if you are interested in any of those areas but don’t see a job that fits you, you might want to keep checking in (or apply for an unlisted position).

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What’s the last greeting card that you sent?

Nissan

Willy Franzen — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:52:28 +0000

If you haven’t already taken a look at our profile on MATCH Public Charter School, now is the time to do it. They’re changing the world of education, and they’re hiring a ton of new grads.

I don’t know about you, but my college never gave me Presidents’ Day off. At it’s core it’s an important holiday, but it’s pretty much become a reason for car dealerships and furniture stores to have sales. Since it’s a day for cars and I’ve been going through Fast Company’s list of The 2011 Most Innovative Companies, I decided it’s only appropriate that we take a look at Nissan USA, which came in at #4 on the list. While Nissan is headquartered in Japan, their US group is based in Franklin, TN with a number of other locations across North America. Now, the reason that Nissan is getting so much buzz is that they recently released the Nissan LEAF Electric Car, the “first mass-market all-electric car.” With the release of this automobile, Nissan went from an industry laggard to a leader in sustainability. It’s hard to say whether electric cars are truly the future, but you have to give Nissan props for going all out.

Plug In to Nissan

It’s really interesting to think about careers in the automotive industry. In some ways it seems super risky–there’s a ton of change going on. On the other hand it has to be a good bet–cars aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. The big question for car guys and girls is where do you go? Do you take a risk on a newcomer like Tesla Motors? Or do you play it safe (or not so safe) with one of the Big Three? Maybe somewhere in between? It’s really hard to say which car manufacturers will be on top in ten years, but you have to like Nissan’s chances. Their slogan is “SHIFT_the way you move,” and they say that they want to make “cars that are more efficient, more beautiful, more inspiring and more human than ever before.” If that gets you fired up, then you’ll want to check out Nissan.jobs. The site includes a section on Student Opportunities, but it really only tells you that they offer internships, entry level jobs, and an MBA rotation program. It’s completely unhelpful, and their job search function isn’t much better.

Despite Nissan’s claim that they “have many exciting opportunities for recent undergrads,” I don’t see them posted. My recommendation is that you take a look at their internship postings, and use the information in those to inform you on what might be available. Then send a general application from here. Nissan’s current internship offerings include (can’t link to them because of the way their site works): Communications Intern (Franklin, TN); Manufacturing Intern (Smyrna, TN); NTCNA Engineering Intern (Farmington Hills, MI); Production Control/SCM (Smyrna, TN); Parts, Service, & Accessores Intern (Mt. Juliet, TN); Purchasing Intern (Farmington Hills, MI); NMAC Dealer Review Coordinator Intern (Irving, TX); Sales & Marketing Intern (Franklin, TN); NMAC Collections Intern (Irving, TX); Infiniti Business Unit Intern (Franklin, TN); Finance Intern (Franklin, TN); Social Media Marketing Intern (Franklin, TN); and Engineering Intern (Canton, MS). I wish that I could be more helpful, but Nissan needs to get their campus and online recruiting acts together.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you ever driven a Nissan?

Simon & Schuster

Willy Franzen — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:46:23 +0000

It’s hard to think of an industry that hasn’t been affected by the Internet in some way, but when you think about those that have seen the most change, publishing has to be at the top of the list. Not only has technology changed the way that we read, but it’s also changed what we read. In fact, I bought a Kindle to force myself to read more books, and half of the reading that I do on it is stuff that I sent to it from the web. However, books are still huge business, and the major brands in the book publishing business still seem to be surviving, if not thriving, in a forever changed book selling environment. Simon & Schuster is a great example (and if you’re looking for other entry level jobs in publishing, you may also want to check out Hachette, Sterling, Penguin Group, and Random House). The New York, NY publisher was able to hit their profit targets last year even though they fell short of revenue targets. This article on a letter from Simon & Schuster’s CEO will give you insight into how the company is embracing digital publishing while also expanding its focus on high growth areas like Children’s publishing. The Internet may just be what keeps the big name publishers alive.

Book It

The most recent data that I can find (mid-2008) had Simon & Schuster as the fourth largest trade publisher in the United States. Back then they represented just under 10% of the market share, and there’s a good chance that they’ve grown it since they’ve really started to embrace digital formats and social media marketing. Now, 10% of the trade books in the United States aren’t labeled as being published by Simon & Schuster—they have a wide range of divisions and imprints that specialize in specific interest areas and markets. Each of these acts as “its own publisher with separate editorial and publicity departments,” but they do share “common sales and business departments.” If you’re intrigued by what Simon & Schuster is doing to maintain (or improve) their position in the trade publishing industry, then you should check out their Jobs page—specifically the section on their Associates Program, which is aimed at providing “opportunities for entry-level candidates to gain hands-on experience in different functional areas in order to broaden knowledge of publishing and fast forward careers.” It’s a rotational program that offers focuses in Adult, Children’s Publishing (including but not limited to Editorial, Publicity, Marketing, Subsidiary Rights, and Managing Editorial), Digital, or Corporate Communications. It looks great, and they expect candidates on a rolling basis, so you don’t have to worry about deadlines or being from a target campus. There also some other positions posted on Simon & Schuster’s Jobs site like Human Resources Coordinator, Editorial Assistant (Gallery Books) – Adult Trade, Inventory Analyst (NYC and Riverside, NJ), Logistics Coordinator (Riverside, NJ), and Business Intelligence Analyst, so the Associates Program isn’t the only option.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Which books from Simon & Schuster have you read lately?

Macy’s

Willy Franzen — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 15:37:20 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving! In past years we’ve taken a look at jobs at Pilgrim’s Pride, Jennie-O, and Plimoth Plantation and Colonial Williamsburg. This year we’ve been influenced by the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, so we’re going to take a look at entry level jobs at Macy’s. They’re headquartered in both New York City and Cincinnati, and they are “one of the nation’s premier retailers, with fiscal 2009 sales of $23.5 billion.” The company operates more than 810 stores across 45 states. Over the past decade or so they’ve absorbed a number of other retailers, but the Macy’s brand has reigned supreme—and I bet the popularity of today’s parade has had at least a little something to do with it.

A Parade of Job Opportunities

Obviously with a company as large as Macy’s, there are a lot of different places and ways that you can find information about them. I’m going to leave most of that up to you since I have a football game to get to, but once you start thinking about a job, you’ll want to skip over MacysJobs.com and go straight to MacysCollege.com for the company’s entry level opportunities. They offer Executive Development Programs in Store Management, Merchant, Product Development, Finance/Accounting, Human Resources, Logistics Management, Information Technology, Credit Operations, and Food Management. It looks like most of their on campus recruiting events are over; however, you can still apply for a multitude of positions all across the country by following the instructions here. So take a look at Macy’s, and then go stuff your face.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you shop at Macy’s?

Clarisonic

Willy Franzen — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 15:53:52 +0000

I’m constantly amazed by the beauty/cosmetics/consumer products industries. They seem to be constantly coming out with new stuff, yet most of their product developments are just marketing fluff. Yes, some soaps are better for your skin than others, and some shampoos smell better than others, but I rarely get the sense that a new product actually does its job better than its predecessor. Still, we all have our brand preferences. For me, I find the best way to wash my face is with a simple bar of Dove soap, but if you take your face washing a little more seriously, you may want to check out Bellevue, WA based Clarisonic (their parent company is Pacific Bioscience Laboratories, but all of the branding seems to be focused on Clarisonic). They “develop and market products that use sonic frequency to cleanse skin and help reduce dry patches, blemishes, and wrinkles.” Now, sonic technology isn’t something that you’re going to find in a face wash, so maybe there’s something more to Clarisonic’s facial brush skin care system. I’ve never tried it, but if buying it only gets you to spend more time washing your face, it’s already done its job.

The Complexion of Your Career

Clarisonic is truly a standout on the Inc. 500. Their growth rate may only be 984% over the past three years (which is still ridiculously high), but their revenues have ballooned to $58.2 million. That’s significantly more than most of the other companies that we’ve looked at. Part of the reason for Clarisonic’s success has to be experience—their technology came from the same guy who invented the Sonicare line of oral hygiene products. Clearly Clarisonic has succeeded on both the product development and the marketing fronts. If you are a fanatic about your skin and want to help Clarisonic continue to grow, then you should check out their Jobs page. They have a number of openings and quite a few seem suitable for new or recent grads. These include Customer Service Representative, Logistics Coordinator, Product Development Marketing Assistant, Mechanical Design Engineer, Order/Data Entry Specialist, and Quality Engineer. There’s a great variety of options, so check them out and see what suits you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you used any Clarisonic products?

Brazos Technology

Willy Franzen — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:39:22 +0000

Usually when we’re talking about mobile technology it’s sexy stuff—iPhones, iPads, Androids, Kindles, and similar devices that run amazing applications. But there’s a whole world of mobile that isn’t quite as exciting, and sometimes it might even tick you off. While you’re busy using mobile apps to connect with friends, find great restaurants, and play games, the police officer that just noticed your illegally parked car is using a mobile app to write you a ticket. I know it doesn’t sound that great, but it is if you’re working at Brazos Technology in College Station, TX. They “extend public safety software applications to mobile environments for organizations with widespread mobile employees,” and they’re making a lot of money doing it. They came in at #293 on the Inc. 500 with 1,026% three-year revenue growth to $3.4 million.

Mobilizing the Forces

Brazos Technology currently works with “140 agencies employing more than 10,000 users.” Most of their clients are Texas police departments, but there are also some sheriff’s offices and municipal courts mixed in there as well. Brazos Technology offers both packaged solutions and customized solutions, so they are able to easily implement their software applications into pre-existing systems. Beyond public safety uses, Brazos Technology also provides software for markets like education, inventory tracking, and field service. It’s not social networking or games, but it’s real stuff that increases efficiency and reduces long-term costs. If you’re intrigued by what Brazos Technology is doing, you should check out their Jobs page. They don’t have specific openings posted, but they seem most interested in hiring software developers. I could also see their taking on people on the sales side, but that’s just a guess. If you’re interested, reach out to them at jobs@brazostech.com.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you seen public safety officials using mobile apps?

Advanced BioHealing

Willy Franzen — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 16:16:28 +0000

Last week a friend was telling me that his wife, who is in her residency, was going to have to work in the ER on the Fourth of July. I have to imagine that’s one of the most active nights of the year with injuries from fireworks, barbecues, and gunshots (especially in Chicago). All you need is a little imagination to come up with some nasty scenarios that would have ruined your holiday and left you with a permanent injury like my friend who passed out at a barbecue and now has perfect grill marks on his forearm—yes, that means he put his arm down twice. Usually these types of injuries aren’t funny, and they can be extremely traumatic with lasting consequences. Luckily, we’re entering an age of regenerative medicine in which injuries may not be so permanent. Advanced BioHealing is a La Jolla, CA based company that “develops and commercializes living cell therapies that repair damaged human tissue and enable the body to heal itself.” Their current product is called Dermagraft, and it’s a “a bio-engineered skin substitute that assists in restoring damaged tissue and supports the body’s natural healing process.” Right now it’s FDA approved to treat diabetic foot ulcers, but it appears that Advanced BioHealing also has a product called TransCyte that might be used to treat the kind of burns that fireworks or barbecues could cause.

Can You Regenerate?

Now, my medical knowledge is pretty much limited to what I make up, so I’m not the guy to tell you all about Advanced BioHealing. You’ll have to head over to their website and delve into their Corporate Info, Product Details, and Press Releases. Once you get a feel for how Advanced BioHealing works and operates, then you can check out their Careers page. They have a ton of jobs posted, and plenty of them seem suitable for new grads with the right backgrounds. These positions include Manufacturing Associate, Shipping and Receiving Associate, Quality Control Microbiologist, Reimbursement Manager, Research Associate, and a number of Sales positions in various locations. You can check out the job descriptions to get a better feel for what they’re looking for since some of the jobs require specific educational backgrounds.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you think about Advanced BioHealing?

Net-A-Porter

Willy Franzen — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:49:45 +0000

I don’t typically read fashion magazines, but I’ve looked through a few in my day. One thing that I’ve noticed is that there are more ads than content. That would usually be a problem, except for the fact that people who read fashion magazines are often as interested in the ads for products as they are in the editorial. Why not just combine the two? That’s what Net-A-Porter did. They’re a London based “premier online luxury fashion retailer” with a large operation in New York City. They’ve been around for 10 years, and they’ve thrived through a bust by combining online retail with fashion editorial. It’s kind of like J. Peterman from Seinfeld, but not nearly as goofy.

Job-A-Porter

Imagine that you could click a “Shop Now” button on any page in your favorite fashion magazine? That’s exactly what Net-A-Porter does. Buy an iPad if you want a more authentic experience, otherwise you can browse from your computer. Of course you can browse Net-A-Porter like you do any other online store too, but it can’t possibly be as much fun. If you’re looking to work where fashion, e-commerce, and digital media intersect, then you’ll have to check out Net-A-Porter’s Careers page. They offer some great perks for fashion loving employees, and they have some really great jobs listed. Current openings include Assistant Buyer, Customer Care Assistant, Distribution Assistant, Junior Buyer, Junior Retoucher, Online Visual Merchandiser, and Seamstress/Tailor. For all of the details on how to apply, look here.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you bought anything from Net-A-Porter?

General Mills

Willy Franzen — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:51:47 +0000

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! In past years we’ve looked at Shamrock Boats and Luck Stone to celebrate the holiday, but today we’re going to take a look at jobs with Minneapolis, MN based General Mills because there’s no more authentic Irish breakfast than Lucky Charms. Now, it’s been a while since I last had a bowl of everybody’s favorite marshmallow-filled cereal—ok, it’s been a month—but it feels like it’s been much longer. Beyond Lucky Charms, General Mills’ brands include Cheerios, Pillsbury, Gushers, Haagen-Dazs, Betty Crocker, Cascadian Farm, and many more names that you’ll recognize from the center aisles in the grocery store. Most of them may have nothing to do with St. Patrick’s Day, but add some green food coloring if that’s what you’re really concerned about.

Work at the Mills

There’s not much more to say about General Mills. Their focus is on their 100+ brands, and that’s what makes them the world’s 6th largest food company. They hold the No. 1 or No. 2 position in nearly every category that they compete in, and their products are so ubiquitous that the average U.S. grocery shopper places at least one General Mills product in his or her cart every time he or she shops. Because General Mills is such a large company, they have a very strong Campus Recruiting Program. Unfortunately, their Campus Events Calendar indicates that most of their recruiting has passed. Typically they place new grads into the following areas:

Because the Campus Recruiting season has passed for General Mills, your best bet is to use their job search function to look for positions. There are certainly entry level positions available, so give it a look and hope for some St. Patrick’s day luck when you apply.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What’s your favorite General Mills brand?

Appalachian Mountain Club

Willy Franzen — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:17:54 +0000

I don’t know if you’ve ever spent anytime on the Appalachian Trail, but if you haven’t, you should. The trail stretches from Georgia to Maine, while the range of mountains touches as far south as Alabama and as far north as Newfoundland. It’s 1,500 miles of natural beauty that is prime territory for naturalists and adventurers. Back in 1876 there was a club called the Appalachian Mountain Club started in Boston for people who enjoyed the range. Now the club consists of more than 12 chapters and 100,000 members—it’s the “nation’s oldest outdoor recreation and conservation organization.” They’re still based in Boston, and they’ve developed into a non-profit that promotes “the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the Appalachian region.”

Outdoor Enthusiasts Wanted

The work that the Appalachian Mountain Club varies greatly. They fight for conservation, educate people on safe outdoors practices, maintain trails, and put on more than 8,000 trips a year. It’s a great organization that spans many different interest groups—it’s not just the hikers or the birdwatchers or the fisherman. It’s for everybody who loves being outdoors in the Appalachians. The scope of their work is really impressive, and if you want to be a part of it, you should check out the AMC’s Jobs page. Full-time opportunities include Web Production Associate and Senior Online Marketing Associate (it’s pretty entry level if you have a background in online marketing), which are both based in Boston, along with Hospitality Coordinator in Bretton Woods, NH and Storehouse Supervisor in Gorham, NH. There are also seasonal opportunities in Trail Crew type positions in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey. The application instructions vary by position, so look at the specific postings for details.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you spent any time in the Appalachians?

Oxfam America

Willy Franzen — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:56:53 +0000

Yesterday we took a look at one of the most familiar names associated with the Haiti Relief effort—the American Red Cross. This morning I came across a couple lists that shine a light on other organizations that are also putting a focus on Haiti. One is from U.S. News & World Report that discusses 10 Ways You Can Donate to Haitian Earthquake Victims, and the other is Haiti Earthquake—Best Ways to Assist in Providing Emergency Relief from the American Institute of Philanthropy, which rates charities involved with Haiti Relief. One of the organizations on both of those lists is Oxfam America, a Boston, MA based “international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice.” They already have teams delivering aid in Haiti, and you can find out all about what they’re doing their on their Haiti Earthquake page.

Relief for Your Job Search

Oxfam America’s work includes a good mix of ongoing projects and response to disasters and conflicts. The issues that they work on range from climate change to aid reform and from US public policy to indigenous & minority rights. Their recent emergency response work has focused on disasters like a flood in El Salvador and a cyclone in Bangladesh and India. The truth is that most disasters don’t get the media attention that the Haiti earthquake has, but that doesn’t stop Oxfam America from getting on the ground and providing aid. If Oxfam America sounds like the kind of organization that you’d like to join, then check out their Job postings. Current openings include Deployable Humanitarian Logistics Coordinator (Port-au-Prince, Haiti), Constituent Data Associate (Boston, MA), Administrative Assistant – Learning, Evaluation and Accountability (Boston, MA), Canvassing Organizer (Boston, MA), New Media Specialist (Boston, MA), and a number of other positions. You can apply by sending your cover letter and résumé to jobs@oxfamamerica.org.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you donated to Haiti relief?

Berry Plastics

Willy Franzen — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:39:49 +0000

A couple of days ago the blogosphere exploded (pun intended) with news about bomb proof wallpaper. The story originally came from Popular Science with a video of a wrecking ball trying to knock down a brick wall that has been reinforced with the X-Flex Blast Protection System (the video is included below). I always love news stories like this one, because it puts the spotlight on a company that you never would have otherwise. In this case it’s Berry Plastics, an Evansville, IN based plastics company. Their products range from agricultural films to plastic bottles and from drink cups to trash bags. There’s a good chance that you have dozens of items in your house/dorm/apartment that were manufactured by Berry Plastics—you just don’t know it because most people don’t care who manufactured their shampoo bottles.

Bomb Proof Your Job Search

I’m pretty sure consumers will be much more brand conscious when it comes to buying bomb proof wallpaper. Obviously the military is talking about using the X-Flex Blast Protection System, and I can also imagine the product’s being used in areas where hurricanes or tornadoes are prevalent. You’ll see why in the video below (subscribers should click through to view):

For me the obvious question whenever I find an interesting company like Berry Plastics is are they hiring? Considering that Berry Plastics has more than 13,000 employees (most of them in a manufacturing setting), I’d have to imagine that they’re always hiring at some level. Unfortunately Berry Plastics has the worst Applicant Tracking System that I’ve ever seen. It uses a Java applet, and it’s absolutely unusable. It doesn’t really make sense, since they have a pretty informative Careers page. Since I can’t get the read on specific positions, we’ll have to go by the fact that Berry Plastics says that they typically offer positions in the following areas: Accounting, Administration, Automation, Customer Service, Engineering, Graphic Arts, Human Resources, Information Technology, Production (Molding, Printing, Machine Operator, Material Handling), Maintenance, Management, Marketing, Materials Management, Purchasing, Quality Assurance, Sales, and Tool Room.

There’s no word on college recruiting, but you’d have to imagine that an Engineering focused company of 13,000 does at least some entry level hiring. You should also note that one of the benefits listed on their Careers page is “Fun.” I guess your best bet is to apply through their online application form, or if you’re really going to go for you could print your résumé on Berry Plastics’ bomb proof wallpaper and send it to them. They’d have to hire you because they wouldn’t be able to destroy your résumé.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Are you going to use bomb proof wallpaper?

Mars

Willy Franzen — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:02:10 +0000

Tomorrow is Halloween, which means that we need to talk about candy today. We’ve already looked at companies like Jelly Belly, The Hershey Company, Charles Chocolates, Vosges, and Just Born Quality Confections. We’ve also discussed jobs at Mars & Co., which is a consulting firm, and not to be confused with Mars, the CPG and candy company. You probably know them best for M&M’s, Snickers, Dove, Milky Way, Twix, and Mars bar; however, they’re also behind Pedigree, Whiskas, Uncle Ben’s, and quite a few other brands. For your sake I hope you only run into the good stuff and not Whiskas or Pedigree during your trick-or-treating. While headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars has locations all across the world. They’re a huge company with a ton of international business, which makes for a great place to gain some experience.

Take a Trip to Mars

It all started in 1911 with butter cream candies in a kitchen in Tacoma, WA. Frank C. Mars and his wife started selling these candies, and now you’d be hard pressed to find a person who has never tasted one of his company’s confections. If you’d like to be part of this true American success story, then you need to check out Mars’ Careers page. They offer a lot of information about their company and what it’s like to work for them, and they even have a separate section for students. It seems that most of the information that they provide is on International careers, but they have a job search function that will let you find what you’re looking for. And since you’re in the trick-or-treating mood, I’m going to leave that up to you—but just so you know, they have job opportunities in areas including Engineering, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Logisitcs, Manufacturing, Marketing, Purchasing, Research & Development, & Sales.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What’s your favorite candy from Mars?

Kiva Systems

Willy Franzen — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:42:08 +0000

We’ve already taken a look at Kiva, a San Francisco based microfinance non-profit, but today we’re going to take a look at Kiva Systems, a Woburn, MA based logistics and robotics company. They were ranked #6 on the Inc. 5000 this year by growing from $204,000 in revenue in 2005 to $21.4 million in revenue in 2008. That’s 10,399.0%, which is just insane. Their growth is coming from the online shopping revolution, even though they’re not an e-commerce company. This is due to the fact that their automated order fulfillment systems are huge efficiency boosters for warehouse operations. It’s hard to imagine how a Kiva Mobile Fulfillment System works, but once you see the video below, you’ll totally get it—and you will be amazed.

Kiva’s Magic Job Shelf

Since there’s no better way to understand what Kiva Systems does than to watch one of their systems in action, I’ve scrounged up a video to demonstrate what they’re all about (e-mail readers please click through to watch).

As you can see, Kiva Systems has developed technology that is changing the way fulfillment happens without completely ridding the process of humans. They’ve worked with names like Zappos, Walgreens, and Diapers.com, and that client list is just going to keep growing. They’ve only been around since 2003, so Kiva Systems is still a very young company, which means that there couldn’t be a better time to get in than now. They’re one of the most fascinating companies that I’ve come across in my nearly two years of profiling companies, and they’re looking to hire lots of entry level talent. They have a special Jobs page for college students/grads that describes that they’re looking for. They are mostly hiring engineers to join their Software, Hardware, and Manufacturing Teams; however, they also have opportunities on their Professional Services and Customer Experience Teams. You can apply for a job by e-mailing your résumé and cover letter to jobs@kivasystems.com noting your area of interest and graduation date. Unlike items in a warehouse with a Kiva Mobile Fulfillment System, these jobs aren’t going to bring themselves to you, so get to work!

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you think about Kiva Systems?

Burberry

Willy Franzen — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:22:55 +0000

It’s funny how well respected brands that have been around forever will get swept up in a fad. Some, like Abercrombie & Fitch, will make it part of a new identity, while others like Burberry will enjoy the popularity but maintain their core image. Burberry is a British company that has been making quality garments since 1856, but they became especially trendy in the early 2000s, if I remember correctly. While most brands are recognized for their logo or a specific product, Burberry is known for their plaid. In fact, unless you’re a tartan freak, “Burberry Check” is probably the only plaid that you recognize by name. Over their 150 years Burberry has moved more towards luxury goods than outdoor garments, which is best evidenced by their new ad campaigns with Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame.

Check Out Burberry

Although Burberry is a British based company, they happen to have a significant presence in the United States. That means that they also have quite a few job opportunities on this side of the pond. Their Careers page doesn’t offer much information about what it’s like to work for them, but you can get a listing of job openings here in the US. You should be sure to check out jobs at their New York office like Account Specialist, Allocator, Assistant Buyer, Assistant Buyer – Outlets, Planning Analyst, and Planning Analyst – Wholesale. There are also a number of retail and in-store positions in places like Chicago, Boston, Beverly Hills, Palo Alto, Scottsdale, and other cities with high end retail stores, but we’ve focused on their corporate positions. Additionally, there are positions with Burberry in the United Kingdom (obviously), elsewhere in Europe, and in Asia. You can apply for any of these jobs online directly from the job descriptions.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you think of when you see the “Burberry Check?”

New Era

Willy Franzen — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:46:49 +0000

In my younger days hats were a big deal. I wasn’t particularly image conscious, but when it came to hats, I was. I remember one summer college hats were in. You know—the simple white hats with horizontal lines and the college’s name. Getting them just dirty enough with the just the right bend was essential (heaven forbid if someone “doritoed” your favorite hat), and, of course, you had to pop off the button on top. The next summer they were out. It was all about fitted caps—just like major leaguers wear. I was suddenly aware of how big my head really was, as I had to buy a properly sized hat. Then it was different color hats or hats with Japanese lettering. At some point I stopped obsessing over my hats, but Buffalo, NY based New Era has continued to be THE hat manufacturer of choice for all of the cool kids.

Enter a New Era

New Era entered the cap making business in 1920 as the E. Koch Cap Co. By the 1950s they were the “only independent cap maker supplying big league teams.” In 1954 they redesigned their pro cap and named it the 5950, which has been the iconic cap that you are probably familiar with. In 1993 New Era became the exclusive manufacturer of caps for all Major League Baseball teams, and then things got exciting. When Spike Lee personally requested a red Yankees hat in 1996, it changed everything. New Era caps became more than just a fan item—they became a fashion item. Now, finding all of this information about New Era isn’t easy, because their home page doesn’t seem to link to their About page. The good news for the hat junkies out there is that their Jobs page is easy to find. We can’t list to specific positions because of the Applicant Tracking System that they use, but you should definitely look for the following positions: Logistics Coordinator and Project Coordinator. There’s also an opportunity to send an unsolicited résumé for consideration. You can apply online for any of these positions.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you own any New Era capos?

lululemon athletica

Willy Franzen — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:57:32 +0000

When I graduated from college a semester early and started thinking about looking for a job (thinking about doing something and doing something are very different, by the way), I quickly became overwhelmed by my lack of time commitments and lack of a plan. I was suffering from too much freedom, so my first response to join a gym and to commit to keeping my body strong while I figured out what I was going to do with my brain. It was a great idea, and I strongly recommend a gym membership for all job seekers. (I also strongly recommend that all first-time job seekers take our online job search training course). Anyway, I always try to join a relatively expensive gym, but not for the obvious reason. I don’t care about all of the frivolities. I just know that if I’m paying $10 a month for a gym, I’m a lot less likely to go – I need to feel invested. With expensive gyms come lots of people in expensive, designer workout outfits. That’s where I learned about lululemon athletica, a Vancouver, British Columbia based manufacturer and retailer of “yoga-inspired athletic apparel.” Everyone at my gym is wearing lululemon, and the retail stores around here are packed, so it’s no big surprise that they’re hiring.

Find a Job That Fits Like Yoga Pants

I didn’t realize how big lululemon athletica is until I started doing some research. They’re publicly traded on NASDAQ (although their stock has tumbled big time over the past year), and they have 260 jobs (many with multiple openings) posted on their Careers site right now. Most of the jobs are based out of lululemon athletica’s retail stores and fall under three titles – Educator, Community Leader, and Key Leader. Beyond these titles other jobs include Video/Motion Designer, Seamstress, Quality Assurance Technician, and Distribution Industrial Engineer. You can find all of lululemon athletica’s job postings here, and you can apply online for any of the positions. The retail positions are located all across North America and beyond, while the corporate positions are all in Vancouver, BC. lululemon athletica has a great website that is filled with information, so the links below will give you a ton of insight into what it’s like to work for lululemon.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you own any lululemon?

Seventh Generation

Willy Franzen — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:39:20 +0000

I have to admit that the first time that I noticed the Seventh Generation brand in the grocery store, I was kind of grossed out. That’s because I noticed a big display of toilet paper packages all bearing the company’s name. When I think about what I want from toilet paper, the most important thing is that it’s first generation. We can talk about softness and how many ply it is after that. I realize that my disgust was completely irrational, but I don’t ever want to think that the toilet paper that I’m buying is anything but new. After visiting Seventh Generation’s website, I found out that “the company derives its name from the Great Law of the Iroquois that states, ‘In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.’” This makes sense because Seventh Generation, which is based in Burlington, VT, is aiming to become “the world’s most trusted brand of authentic, safe, and environmentally-responsible products for a healthy home.” They seem to be doing a good job considering that their products have saved 287,359 trees and 584,650 gallons of petroleum at last count.

Be Part of the New Generation at Seventh Generation

What Seventh Generation does is simple. They make simple home products that are better for the environment and for the health of the people who use them. Seventh Generation also puts a strong emphasis on consumer education. Not only do they want people to be well informed, but they are also smart marketers. When you play the role of educator and marketer, you’re in a good spot – as long as the facts are on your side. It seems to us like the facts are on Seventh Generation’s side. Karma certainly is, for they give 10% of their profits to “non-profit community, environmental, health, and responsible business organizations working for positive change.”

So how can you join Seventh Generation’s team? There are a number of ways. I first started looking at their jobs after I saw a job posting for a Green Parenting Blogger. It’s not the best job for new college grads since most of you probably don’t have kids yet, but it shows that Seventh Generation is moving in a cool direction. After checking out this posting I moved on to their Jobs at Seventh Generation which led to me to opportunities like Consumer Insights Specialist, Distribution Operations Coordinator, and Product Manager. These aren’t by definition entry level jobs, but they are certainly worth considering if you have the right internship and educational backgrounds. All of the jobs are based in Burlington, VT and you can apply by sending a cover letter and resume to staffing@seventhgeneration.com.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Don’t forget about our job search training course. It’s a green product too. How can it not be when it’s administered online?

Echo Global Logistics

Willy Franzen — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:52:13 +0000

This is what we like to see! One of our readers contacted us earlier this week to tell us about a company that he is interning for this summer. He’s been a Fan of One Day, One Job for quite a while, so he knows the drill around here. He says he’s really enjoying working for Echo Global Logistics, and that we should do a post about their entry-level jobs. There’s nothing like a firsthand recommendation from a loyal reader, so lets figure out what Logistics actually means and how it might be an interesting industry to consider in your job search.

Echoooooooooooooooooo

Echo Global Logistics is “a leading provider of technology enabled business process outsourcing, serving the transportation and logistics needs of our clients.” What does that mean? Echo actually has a great graphic on their website that explains what logistics is about. Here it is:

As you can see, there is a whole lot of shipping going on. Echo doesn’t do the shipping, but they help other companies find the right shipper. It’s not always as easy as using UPS or FedEx. It sounds like a pretty simple business, but it obviously comes with its complexities. That’s why companies hire Echo to do the logistics for them.

Working at Echo

Now that you know what logistics is, let’s talk about why Echo is probably a great company to work for. We all know that readers of One Day, One Job are extremely intelligent, savvy, and perceptive. If another reader recommends a company, you should listen! Here are some of the points our reader made in the e-mail to us: Echo was named one of Chicago’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, they’re doing a lot of entry-level hiring, they have an awesome Careers page, and they’re a young company that has grown to 500 employees and 1,000 clients since they were started in 2005. Most important, our reader really enjoys working there.

That’s what he said, here’s what we found. Echo’s Careers site is truly phenomenal. In terms of content, it has everything that you could ever want from a company that you are researching. There are actually two Careers sites, one for new grads, and another for experience hires. How cool is that? Echo includes information such as life at echo, a day in the life of an entry-level employee, a tour of their office, and overviews of the company’s departments. There’s a lot more information that you’ll find easily by browsing Echo’s site. Our only complaint is that the site is mostly Flash based, which looks great, but hurts their search engine optimization. Using Google to find jobs with Echo won’t be very successful. Still, the Careers site is top notch.

What Kind of Jobs Are There in Logistics?

Our other slight complaint is that Echo doesn’t make it clear which job opportunities are available for new grads at the entry-level. Their Job Openings page is the same for experienced and entry-level job searchers. Our reader told us that they’re hiring new grads in all of their departments, but we only see a few jobs listed that are appropriate for new grads. These include Business Development Representative – Inside Sales, Account Executive (Park City, UT or Rancho Palos Verdes, CA), and .Net Developer. We imagine that there are more opportunities available, so we hope someone from Echo will stop in and leave a comment advising new grads on how to apply for jobs that aren’t listed on the site (like the ones that we heard about from our reader in Finance, IT, HR, Sales, and, of course, Logistics). Since Echo is headquartered in Chicago, IL, we’d imagine that most of their entry-level jobs would be located there.

Despite our nitpicking, we think that Echo looks like a great place to start your career after college. Their online presence is phenomenal, and that always impresses us. Now that you know what Logistics is, take a look and see if Echo has anything that interests you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you know of a company that we should feature? Send an e-mail to info@onedayonejob.com and tell us about it.