With one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, jobs of all variety can be found in abundance in Southern Nevada. Whether you're starting your career or seeking a better position, there are many resources available to help you find the perfect job in Las Vegas.

For more than a decade, some 50,000 people have opted to move to the greater Las Vegas area each year. The area's employment growth remains unparalleled and continues to draw residents from across the country.

The Las Vegas area is home to a host of successful businesses, from "mom-and-pop" stores to manufacturing facilities employing hundreds. While resort/tourism and gaming industries have a strong market presence and provide tens of thousands of jobs, a diversifying economy is providing many new career possibilities as well.

"In home building, college graduates are in high demand at the management level," said Gary Mayo, group president of Toll Brothers Nevada division. "There's a lot of buzz about the lack of qualified labor in construction, so we're hungry for top performing, business-savvy college graduates."

Job Search Tips

Employment experts suggest starting your job search with a positive attitude and a sense of determination. Job leads can come from many sources. Talk to people, check out personnel services, answer newspaper ads, search the Internet and inquire about local professional networks and hotlines for specific industries.

Like the city of Las Vegas, the state of Nevada is one of the fastest growing states in the country, and as such, is in constant need of medical, educational, government and gaming professionals.

Recruiting Nevada is a Las Vegas-based recruitment company that assists employers with their recruitment needs by attracting talented and educated professionals to the Silver State, both online and through other innovative media.

For job seekers, Recruiting Nevada provides online job search engines that are both industry-broad and industry-specific. To search for jobs openings across various industries, job seekers can go to www.nvjobsearch.com. Industry- specific job search engines include:

www.nvnurses.com, www.nvmedicaljobs.com, www.nvdoctors.com and www.nvteachersjobs.com.

Nevada JobConnect is part of a local/state network dedicated to developing the workforce of Nevada. The network is comprised of the statewide efforts of the Workforce Investment Board coupled with planning and service provision on a regional level by two local workforce boards.

Nevada JobConnect provides workforce development services to employers and job seekers of Nevada. Nevada JobConnect offers career development information, job search resources, training programs and as appropriate, unemployment benefits information. Services for employers include recruiting, retention, training and outplacement services as well as valuable information on labor laws and labor market statistics. To learn more about Nevada JobConnect, visit www.nevadajobconnect.com.

Another great job search resource is the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Many jobs are advertised in the newspaper's employment section. For job listings visit www.lvrj.com.

Other avenues for job hunting include searching the Web pages of large and mid-size companies. Local librarians are good at helping job-seekers find directories that list companies in specific fields. University alumni magazines and directories often list current companies and titles of graduates. In addition to the Clark County Public Library, job seekers can visit libraries at area colleges and universities.

Resume Services

The value of having a strong resume cannot be overstated, as resumes are an important part of the interview process. For this reason, resumes and cover letters should be targeted to a specific industry or business.

Your resume should be clean, concise and accurate, emphasizing your best qualities and your most recent experience. Resumes should be no longer than two pages, but a one-page resume is recommended. Potential employers will take an average of 20 seconds to scan a resume to determine if they'll read further. In large companies, human resource personnel who know little about a particular type of work often prescreen resumes.

Your resume should encourage the reader to take a closer look at your qualifications and invite you in for a personal interview. Books on resumes are available at libraries and bookstores and can provide you with tips on how to make your resume stand out from your competition. You could also use any one of Las Vegas' many resume services to help you prepare a professional-looking document. You may find local copy facilities also employ desktop publishing professionals who have experience in writing resumes.

Using Technology

Computer technology allows individuals to network with people around the country and the world, access information on job openings in other locations, broadcast resumes and research potential employers - all from a home or office. While electronic job search strategies are no substitute for direct, face-to-face contact and other more traditional strategies, they provide many opportunities to gain an advantage in a competitive job market.

For a listing of employment firms, go to the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Web site, www.lvchamber.com and click on "Business Directory." Type in "employment" and you will obtain a list of reputable firms in the area, including street addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses. Some of the agencies provide additional information.

Las Vegas Work Environment

Workforce

While Southern Nevada's economic engine is running at full force, business and economic development executives are giving greater focus to other aspects necessary to the creation and maintenance of a strong local economy: economic diversification and workforce development.

Today, Las Vegas is home to more than a dozen hospitals and major medical centers, more than 300 public schools and countless new housing communities that offer residents a variety of lifestyle choices. High-tech companies are finding opportunities for growth and expansion as the valley's Cheyenne Technology Corridor continues to develop its offerings. The financial services sector is growing as well as banks continue to form and open branches. Both commercial and residential real estate continue to boom despite some recent challenges.

These workforce opportunities have increased the demands for a diversified workforce in fields such as financial services, professional and business services such as management and administrative and support services, education and health services and within the federal, state and local governments.

According to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (NVDETR), there are more than 910,000 people in the Las Vegas Paradise MSA, and the area is projected to continue as a leading employment center.