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TOP 5 Best Places to Work in DC
June 3, 2014
Things to Do in February Part 1

Wether you are in communications or technology, companies below offer a world of opportunity. Which one is your dream come true?

1. Edelman is the world’s largest public relations firm

With 67 offices and over 4,800 employees, the company provides its services to more than 15 industries through about 40 practice and expertise areas (including digital, research insight, financial communications and investor relations, corporate affairs, consumer marketing, litigation and public affairs). If marketing and advertising is your field of interest, here is why you should work there:

  • Advertising Age’s top-ranked PR firm of the decade in 2009 and one of its “A-List Agencies” in both 2010 and 2011
  • Adweek’s “2011 PR Agency of the Year”
  • PRWeek’s “2011 Large PR Agency of the Year”
  • The Holmes Report’s “2013 Global Agency of the Year” and its 2012 “Digital Agency of the Year.”

If that’s not enough, Edelman was also named one of the “Best Places to Work” by Advertising Age in 2010 and 2012 and among Glassdoor’s top ten “Best Places to Work” in 2011 and 2012. That’s pretty good PR for  a PR firm.

2. Riverbed Technology

Not to be confused with the Riverbottom Nightmare Band from Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas, Riverbed Technology is the leader in Application Performance Infrastructure, delivering the most complete platform for Location-Independent Computing. So, in other words, this is the place for all the techies out there (aka those who rule the world).  Their website boasts “Riverbed Technology and our award-winning WAN optimization solutions are changing the way organizations work.

The pride, expertise, and innovation we build into our products and services are an integral part of who we are and how we work. Whether you’re a recent college graduate or you have several years experience working in the technology sector, we’re looking for the best people to join our team.”

The bold part is for emphasis. Recent grads in the field of IT need to get those resumes into this company ASAP.

3. Gartner

Staying in the tech industry (because remember they rule the world), Gartner is the world’s leading information technology research and advisory company. They deliver to their clients the “technology-related insight and intelligence necessary to make the right decisions, every day.” As part of their global team, you’ll be challenged each day to cut through the complex world of IT and deliver unbiased insight. You’ll work in an exciting, fast-moving environment that values expert insights, bold ideas and intellectual courage. And you’ll be part of a culture that demands hard work — and rewards it with highly competitive salaries and benefits.

As a recent grad, we bolded the parts that will probably be most important to you.

 4. Red Hat

IT company here again, just in case you forgot who rules the world – and by world we mean Washington. Red Hat, connects an innovative community of customers, partners, and contributors to deliver an open source stack of trusted, high-performing technologies that solve business problems. But all you really need to know is that they are a billion dollar S&P 500 company offering solutions from Linux to everything else. They have received multiple awards and accolades and are currently hiring.

5. Genentech

Despite having the word “tech” in its name, Genentech is not in the IT industry but you know that’s just because they didn’t want to feel left out.

On a more serious note, Genentech uses human genetic information to discover, develop, manufacture and commercialize medicines to treat patients with serious or life-threatening medical conditions. Today, they are among the world’s leading biotech companies, with multiple products on the market. This is a worthwhile place to work, not only because of competitive salaries and good benefits, but also because they make a difference in the lives of patients all over the world. If medicine is your field of study, look into Genentech.

The District is one of the fastest growing cities in America and one of the few places that has an abundance of jobs available. The above only gives you a snapshot of the top places to work according Glassdoor. So do some research and get those resumes in order. Always be networking!