Who is Hiring This Week -- December 20 - 26 ..

We know that your job search can get quite frustrating these days with more people trying to find a job and less employment opportunities available.

To ease the burden, we've tracked down 10 top companies with the most job openings this week from sales jobs to finance jobs, full-time jobs to part-time jobs. We hope you find a job that's perfect for you.

Good luck job hunting!


01. American Express
American Express Company is a global travel, financial and network services provider. The Company has three operating segments: Travel Related Services (TRS), American Express Financial Advisors (AEFA) and American Express Bank (AEB).AEB provides banking and other financial services to wealthy individuals, financial institutions and retail customers outside the United States.

Top Job Categories:
Sales Jobs
Customer Service Jobs
Information Technology Jobs
Finance Jobs
See all American Express jobs

02. Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a home improvement retailer, with specific emphasis on retail do-it-yourself (DIY) customers, do-it-for-me (DIFM) customers, who utilize its installation services, and commercial business customers. The company currently has 15,000 job openings across the nation!

Lowe's offers a line of products and services for home decorating, maintenance, repair, remodeling and property maintenance. Lowe's Companies, Inc. serves homeowners, renters and commercial business customers. Homeowners and renters primarily consist of do-it-yourselfers, and others buying for personal and family use. Commercial business customers include repair and remodeling contractors, electricians, landscapers, painters, plumbers, and commercial and residential property maintenance professionals, among others.

Top Job Categories:
Information Technology Jobs
Management Jobs
Engineering Jobs
See all Lowe's jobs

03. Sears
Sears Hometown Stores were developed sixteen years ago to serve our customers in locations outside of major metroploitan cities. There are currently about 900 Hometown Stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. These stores carry all of the top home appliance brands, consumer electronics, tools and lawn and garden equipment.

Top Job Categories:
Sales Jobs
Franchise Jobs
Management Jobs
See all Sears jobs


04. Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch, now part of Bank of America, is one of the world's premier providers of wealth management, securities trading and sales, corporate finance and investment banking services. Working with our clients as strategic partners, we create and execute winning solutions, which address our clients' most pressing strategic, financial and investment needs-anywhere in the world. We stand apart by building and maintaining solid partnerships with clients. Merrill Lynch places our client relationships first and is proud to conduct our business based on five unwavering principles: Client Focus, Respect for the Individual, Teamwork, Responsible Citizenship, and Integrity.

Top Job Categories:
Finance Jobs
Accounting Jobs
See all Merrill Lynch jobs

05. Dell
For more than 25 years, Dell has provided technology solutions to customers that improves their productivity, enhances their lives and meets their distinct needs. Headquartered in Round Rock, Texas, Dell has framed its business around the customers it serves, from the world's largest and most demanding businesses and public sector organizations, to small and medium businesses, to consumers worldwide.

Top Job Categories:
Management Jobs
Information Technology Jobs
Consultant Jobs
See all Dell jobs

06. IBM
Working at IBM provides opportunities you may not experience anywhere else. It gives you the chance to change the way the world works. The chance to help the world learn, to make education more available, knowledge more attainable and information more accessible. The chance to participate in research and development projects that facilitate technological and medical breakthroughs. These are the kinds of opportunities you'll find throughout our company. Opportunities that could certainly make a difference--in ways that are exciting, demanding and perhaps even unimaginable.

Top Job Categories:
Information Technology Jobs
Management Jobs
Consultant Jobs
See all IBM jobs

07. CVS
CVS Caremark, through our unmatched breadth of service offerings, is transforming the delivery of health care services in the U.S. We are an innovative, fast-growing company guided by values that focus on teamwork, integrity and respect for our colleagues and customers. What are we looking for in our colleagues? We seek fresh ideas, new perspectives, a diversity of experiences, and a dedication to service that will help us better meet the needs of the many people and businesses that rely on us each day.

Top Job Categories:
Retail Jobs
Customer Service Jobs
Management Jobs
See all CVS jobs

08. Dollar General
Dollar General stands for convenience, quality brands and low prices. Dollar General's successful prototype makes shopping a truly hassle-free experience. We design small neighborhood stores with carefully edited merchandise assortments to make shopping simpler. We don't carry every brand and size, just the most popular ones.

Top Job Categories:
Management Jobs
Retail Jobs
Customer Service Jobs
See all Dollar General jobs

09. Bayada Nurses
Bayada Nurses provides care to children, adults, and seniors in their homes. Even though we have grown from one office in 1975, to more than 140 offices in 18 states today, founder Mark Baiada still runs the company with the same compassionate, human focus that clients and employees appreciated from the beginning.

Top Job Categories:
Health Care Jobs
Nurse Jobs
Management Jobs
See all Bayada Nurses jobs

10. Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance through almost 6,000 stores, the internet and other distribution channels across North America and internationally.

Top Job Categories:
Banking Jobs
Finance Jobs
Sales Jobs
See all Wells Fargo jobs

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By AOL Jobs Contributor

20 Jobs That Pay $25 per Hour

Twenty-five dollars. It can buy you two movie tickets, one bottle of nice wine (or several of the cheap stuff), or 25 of your favorite items from the dollar menu at McDonalds. It might not seem like a lot -- but when you think about it in terms of your salary, you might change your mind.

If you earned $25 an hour and worked the standard 40-hour workweek for 52 weeks each year, you'd be raking in $52,000* per year. Considering the national average salary is $43,460, according to the National Compensation Survey, you'd be doing pretty well for yourself.

So who earns more than $25 per hour? Here are 20 jobs that pay $25 or more per hour and their predicted job growth through 2018**:

1. Vocational education teachers, postsecondary

What they do: Teach students in a variety of subjects beyond the high school level

Hourly wage: $25.01

Mean annual salary: $52,030

Job outlook: 15 percent job growth through 2018

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2. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

What they do: Control and maintain heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems

Hourly wage: $25.02

Mean annual salary: $52,040

Job outlook: 5 percent job growth through 2018

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3. Health care practitioners and technical workers, all other

What they do: N/A

Hourly wage: $25.05

Mean annual salary: $52,110

Job outlook: N/A**

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4. Curators

What they do: Oversee museum affairs and activities

Hourly wage: $25.16

Mean annual salary: $52,330

Job outlook: 23 percent job growth through 2018

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5. Transit and railroad police

What they do: Protect and patrol railroad and transit property, employees and passengers

Hourly wage: $25.17

Mean annual salary: $52,350

Job outlook: N/A

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6. Court reporters

What they do: Create verbatim transcripts of speeches, conversations, legal proceedings, meetings and other events

Hourly wage: $25.22

Mean annual salary: $52,460

Job outlook: 18 percent job growth through 2018

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7. Subway and streetcar operators

What they do: Operate train systems and handle fares for passengers

Hourly wage: $25.38

Mean annual salary: $52,800

Job outlook: N/A

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8. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

What they do: Diagnose and repair aircraft engines and assemblies

Hourly wage: $25.47

Mean annual salary: $52,970

Job outlook: 6 percent job growth through 2018

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9. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers

What they do: Set up, remove and repair switching and dialing equipment used in central offices or on customers' property

Hourly wage: $25.48

Mean annual salary: $52,990

Job outlook: 0 percent job growth through 2018

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10. Real estate sales agents

What they do: Rent, buy or sell property for clients

Hourly wage: $25.53

Mean annual salary: $53,100

Job outlook: 16 percent job growth through 2018

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11. Advertising sales agents

What they do: Sell or solicit ads or advertising space in publications, signs, TV and radio

Hourly wage: $25.57

Mean annual salary: $53,190

Job outlook: 7 percent job growth through 2018

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12. Dieticians and nutritionists

What they do: Plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to promote health and disease control

Hourly wage: $25.59

Mean annual salary: $53,230

Job outlook: 9 percent job growth through 2018

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13. Music directors and composers

What they do: Conduct and plan performances by musical groups

Hourly wage: $25.68

Mean annual salary: $53,410

Job outlook: N/A

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14. Lodging managers

What they do: Plan and coordinate accommodations of an organization or department that provides lodging

Hourly wage: $25.72

Mean annual salary: $53,500

Job outlook: N/A

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15. Appraisers and assessors of real estate

What they do: Appraise property to determine its fair value

Hourly wage: $25.73

Mean annual salary: $53,520

Job outlook: 5 percent job growth through 2018

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16. Construction and building engineers

What they do: Plan, direct, or budget activities with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities and systems

Hourly wage: $25.75

Mean annual salary: $53,550

Job outlook: 17 percent job growth through 2018

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17. Locomotive engineers

What they do: Drive locomotives to transport passengers or freight

Hourly wage: $25.77

Mean annual salary: $53,590

Job outlook: 10 percent job growth through 2018

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18. Tax examiners, collectors and revenue agents

What they do: Determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms

Hourly wage: $25.87

Mean annual salary: $53,800

Job outlook: 13 percent job growth through 2018

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19. Sound engineering technicians

What they do: Operate machines and equipment to record, synchronize, mix or reproduce music, voices or sound

Hourly wage: $25.93

Mean annual salary: $53,940

Job outlook: 2 percent job growth through 2018

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20. Chemical and plant system operators

What they do: Control or operate an entire chemical process or system of machines

Hourly wage: $25.97

Mean annual salary: $54,010

Job outlook: N/A

*Figures were found by dividing the annual salary by 52 weeks (in the year).

**Salary information according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Hourly wages and annual salaries were computed based on mean number of hours worked each week and year, which vary per occupation.

***Some occupations do not collect data for job growth.

 

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By CareerBuilder

The World's Most Reputable Companies – Scores and Rank

From Google to Volkswagen: Companies built on trust and admiration

When top executives set out to build well-regarded companies, most start in their home countries. If they're successful, strong business practices and values they craft there will translate overseas.

As companies become more connected and businesses more international, creating a first-class reputation across borders is critical. For some companies, this can be the difference between success and failure.

So what is the secret to earning esteem that spans the world? And which companies are best at doing it? Reputation Institute, a global private consulting firm based in New York, uncovered 28 companies that have established international merit. Earlier this year it conducted a survey to assess the strength of the world's 600 largest companies (by revenue) in their home countries. Then consumers in 24 countries, from Brazil and the U.S. to Spain and South Korea, judged the 54 highest-rated companies, giving them more than 181,000 reputation ratings--from 0 to 100--on their products and services, innovation, workplace, governance, citizenship, financial performance and leadership. 

Companies at the top of the list all had one thing in common: innovation. Google ( GOOG - news - people ) and Sony ( SNE - news - people ) ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively (with scores of 78.62 and 78.47), pulling in consumer admiration for new technologies that touch consumers' lives. The two companies have a history of producing forward-thinking products that have emotional and rational appeal. Google, along with pulling in $6.7 billion in advertising revenue for the first quarter of 2010 (up 23% from the same time period last year), offers free services, such as e-mail and maps, for anyone to use. Sony, the world's second-largest consumer electronics maker behind Samsung, has a 54-year history of releasing leading music players and television sets. The two companies recently announced a partnership to launch Internet-connected TVs.

Apple ( AAPL - news - people ), IKEA and Intel ( INTC - news - people ), placing sixth, eighth and 10th on the list (with scores of 76.29, 75.60, and 75.39), also won over consumers by making snappy products. Apple, based in Cupertino, Calif., sold 1 million iPad tablet computers in the first 28 days at retail. IKEA, the Swedish furniture retailer operating in 44 countries, has revolutionized home furnishings, making fashionable, affordable furniture available to families across the world. Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel makes semiconductors to help power cars, computers and even televisions. "Innovation is a powerful tool for reaching consumers," says Kasper Nielsen, managing partner of Reputation Institute.

The eighth, ninth, and 25th most reputable companies, BMW, Daimler (Mercedes-Benz) and Ferrero, established their reputations by forming prestige around their brands. Italian chocolate and confection maker Ferrero individually wraps its Ferrero Rocher chocolates in gold wrapping, which gives them an upscale look. BMW and Daimler, both German-owned, manufacture luxury cars and cater to consumers who are looking for top-notch products and services. They tap into car-buyers' emotions. BMW launched an ad campaign in February, re-branding itself as a company that makes people happy. "What you make people feel is just as important as what you make, we make joy," one of the company's ads says.

Commitment to citizenship is especially important these days. Microsoft ( MSFT - news - people ) founder Bill Gates established a philanthropic arm, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, in 1994 as a way to improve international health and education. The Redmond, Wash., software giant--once viewed as a monopolistic, monolithic company--is now seen as a charitable, approachable company and ranked No. 11 on the list. French cosmetic maker L'Oreal, No. 16, is also reaping the rewards of its benefit work. The company started in 1998 the L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science, a scholarship fund granting $100,000 to female researchers.

Companies with large international operations can thrive. Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ - news - people ), maker of medical devices, consumer products and pharmaceuticals, oversees sales in more than 175 countries. The New Brunswick, N.J., company is the world's 12th most reputable company. Food maker Nestle ( NSRGY.PK - news - people )'s expansion into South America, where it was listed regionally as the most reputable company, is paying off. The company, based in Vevey, Switzerland, ranked 20th overall.

Another important factor in building global reputation is the appearance of transparency, a category won by Google. When the Mountain View, Calif., company pulled out of China to avoid showing censored search results to users there in late March, Google sent a message to the rest of the world that its values would be placed ahead of its profits. The decision resonated strongly in Central and Northern Europe, Central and South America and in North America, where consumers rated the company within the top five most-reputable businesses.

When privacy issues arise around its business, Google usually responds quickly: Recently the search giant said it would keep its Street View cars from picking up wireless networking data after Google revealed that these vehicles had collected content of users' Internet communications on open Wi-Fi networks.

 

Most important is the realization that global consumers matter, says Nielsen. "Having a global reputation is really difficult, but future growth will come from international markets," Nielsen says. "Companies need to know how to build and trust outside of their own homes."

Global Reputation Pulse 2010 - The Most Reputable Companies in the World Pulse Scores and Rank

Company	Home Country	Rank	Reputation Pulse
Google	U.S.	1	78.62
Sony	Japan	2	78.47
The Walt Disney Company	U.S.	3	77.97
BMW	Germany	4	77.77
Daimler (Mercedes-Benz)	Germany	5	76.83
Apple	U.S.	6	76.29
Nokia	Finland	7	76.00
IKEA	Sweden	8	75.60
Volkswagen	Germany	9	75.55
Intel	U.S.	10	75.39
Microsoft	U.S.	11	74.47
Johnson & Johnson	U.S.	12	74.12
Panasonic	Japan	13	73.67
Singapore Airlines	Singapore	14	73.54
Philips Electronics	the Netherlands	15	73.31
L'Oreal	France	16	73.17
IBM	U.S.	17	73.03
Hewlett-Packard	U.S.	18	72.67
Barilla	Italy	19	72.45
Nestle	Switzerland	20	72.37
Ferrero	Italy	21	72.36
Samsung Electronics	South Korea	22	71.62
FedEx	U.S.	23	70.84
Honda Motor	Japan	24	70.82
The Coca-Cola Company	U.S.	25	70.40
Carlsberg	Denmark	26	70.31
Procter & Gamble	U.S.	27	70.21
UPS	U.S.	28	70.07

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By Laurie Burkitt – for forbs.com