Fortune 500 Companies
There are the companies that earn a place on the
Fortune 500 list of America's largest corporations. On this list, companies are ranked by revenue.
The list is currently topped by Walmart, Exxon Mobil, General Motors, and Ford follow in close succession.
Then there are the companies Fortune classifies as the 100 Best Companies To Work For. These are the companies that have done the best they could for their employees, even during a struggling economy. The leaders include Edward Jones, Container Store and SAS Institute. Edward Jones earned the number one spot because of no layoffs, paying a bonus early and because 97% of employees say that management is honest. Workers at Container Store appreciate the good pay and excellent benefits.
Best Companies for Growth
Inc.com measures success by growth.
The Inc 500 is an annual list of the fastest growing companies. Most of these are small companies with large growth.
Small firms are often better positioned to hire during a down market. These firms may have a business plan so compelling that they can succeed despite the overall economic slump or the company may be operating in a rapidly growing niche which is prospering despite a general recession.
Best Companies for Diversity
There are also the companies that best serve specific groups of employees.
The top companies for
working mothers, according to WorkingMother, include Bristol Myers Abbott Labs, IBM, Citiroup and Fannie Mae. While the top company for
diversity, according to social research firm Kinder, Lydenberg, Domini & Company, is IBM. Other companies on the list include Procter & Gamble, Hewlett Packard, and Pitney Bowes.
Company Research
How do you find out more about these companies?
How to Conduct Company Research explains how you can find information on most public companies and some private companies. Financial data, annual reports, news articles, information on products and services, and industry trends are all available online.
When reviewing the listings be sure to consider what policies these companies have implemented to make them rated the "best." Keep in mind that many skills are transferable from company to company and between industries as well - you may be qualified for more opportunities than you expect!
