I am a fisherman. I love to eat fish, catch fish, watch fish, read about fish, and talk about fish. Obviously I’m extremely worried about the state of our fisheries–both commercial and recreational. While we would all probably be healthier if we ate more fish, we have to be sure to make decisions that allows us to keep eating lots of fish well into the future. That’s why Future of Fish was started. They’re a Seattle, WA based non-profit that “envision a global seafood supply chain that produces legal, traceable, trustworthy fish; that rewards responsible fishing with better prices; and that fosters resource conservation.” They’re trying to revolutionize a very old industry, so they certainly have their work cut out for them.
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administrative,
conservation,
environmental,
food,
Internships,
non-profit,
operations,
Washington
I’m currently in Colorado on a vacation with my wife’s family. Few things make me happier than getting away from the city and enjoying the outdoors. Unfortunately, it seems as though more and more people prefer to stay inside. This seems nice at first because it means less traffic in all of our favorite places, it’s a really big problem on the conservation front. If there isn’t a critical mass of people who care about our natural resources, they’ll be very hard to protect. That’s why The Mountaineers exists. They’re a Seattle, WA based non-profit that has “been teaching skills, sharing adventures, creating volunteers, and conserving land” for more than a century. For The Mountaineers the focus is on the Pacific Northwest, but that’s only because it’s their backyard. They want to teach people how to “enjoy the lands and waters” there and beyond.
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conservation,
education,
events,
finance,
Internships,
non-profit,
outdoors,
sports,
Washington
I always enjoy when two people with moderately funny last names decide to get married. There’s always the question of will they combine their names with a hyphen? The best potential that I’ve ever heard of was Weiner-Butt, but the couple sadly did not decide to hyphenate. These funny combos can also be created by business partners. Imagine that a guy with a not very funny last name of Wong and a guy with a pretty funny last name of Doody decided to start an ad agency. They could try to invent some random brand name that doesn’t say much about who they are, or they could smash their identities together and start WONGDOODY (the company logo is equally smashed together). The agency is based in Seattle, WA and “is the most awarded independent advertising agency on the West Coast.” They’re relatively small, but they’re doing some serious work.
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account management,
accounting,
administrative,
advertising,
creative,
design,
human resources,
information technology,
interactive media,
Internships,
media,
media planner,
paid,
production,
project management,
Washington
When I think of a non-profit radio station, I immediately think of NPR, which is mostly talk with the occasional classical music. I know some people love it, but I usually can’t listen for more than about 15 minutes. My radio station preferences are for generic pop music or sports talk radio. I know it’s pretty lame, but that’s what keeps me entertained for parts of a long drive. Unfortunately, today most radio stations across the country are owned by the same big companies, so they tend to sound the same. KEXP is a Seattle, WA based non-profit radio station “where the music matters.” The goal is to enrich “people’s lives by championing music and discovery,” which is a far cry from what most radio stations are about today.
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arts,
development,
information technology,
Internships,
music,
non-profit,
radio,
unpaid,
Washington
I’m up in Michigan trying to get my fix of spring fly fishing. Now is the time of year when everyone is gearing up and buying new stuff. Usually it’s the latest, greatest technology that gets people to break out their wallets, but I’m also seeing a lot of people buying bamboo rods and other more traditional stuff. One brand that definitely falls on the traditional side is Filson. The older guys (that’s most of them) up here love it, but I’m also seeing it get popular with a younger, slightly hipsterish crowd. The Seattle, WA based company is “renowned for making products in the USA from fabrics such as heavyweight Tin Cloth and warm Mackinaw Wool.” Whether it’s workwear, hunting gear, or fishing gear, if it’s made by Filson, it’s going to last.
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apparel,
copywriting,
Internships,
outdoors,
retail,
Washington
I’m not a big gamer, but when I do play games on my mobile devices, they’re usually pretty simplistic. Some people prefer a more immersive experience–they take mobile gaming seriously. Those people probably like the games from Gameloft. They’re a New York, NY based company that allows its “fans to play games anywhere, anytime, and on any digital platform.” In fact, more than one million Gameloft games are downloaded every single day. That’s what happens when you develop great games in-house while at the same time you’ve “built the world’s largest distribution network” (for games of course).
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analyst,
animation,
arts,
California,
design,
game design,
information technology,
Internships,
Louisiana,
mobile,
New York,
operations,
paid,
social media,
software development,
user experience,
video games,
Washington
I love GPS. I have the technology in my phone (like most people these days), my camera, and even a dog collar. It’s great to know exactly where you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re going–especially if you spend a lot of time in the wilderness like I do. Some people are even more enamored with GPS than I am. Those are the people who participate in communities run by Groundspeak, a Seattle, WA based company that aims “to make everyone an explorer and to put an adventure in every location.” It all started in 2000 when the U.S. government flipped a switch and made the signal from publicly available GPS satellites far more accurate.
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communications,
community management,
geography,
human resources,
Internships,
marketing,
mobile,
social media,
software development,
Washington,
web development
My dog is getting neutered today. I didn’t want to do it, but it was medically necessary. One of the problems with having an intact dog–especially in a bit city–is that a lot of dog boarding and daycare places won’t accept your dog. That’s actually not a big deal for me because I’d much prefer that Garçon stays with someone in their home when we go out of town (usually it’s the in-laws). Rover is just what I need for when the in-laws are out of town. It’s a “community for dog lovers to connect owners with sitters for home dog stays.” The Seattle, WA based company just raised $12 million in funding (they’ve raised a total of $25 million), so the market for this kind of business must be bigger than I would have thought.
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analyst,
analytics,
animals,
customer service,
Internships,
product management,
software development,
Washington,
web development
When a group of people or businesses have a shared interest, they often form an association. Even in extremely competitive markets, it can make sense to come together and work towards common goals. As a result, there’s an association for nearly every possible interest. The problem with associations is that they can be hard to manage–administration can drain a lot of resources. Why should every association build its own management structure when that can be outsourced? Kellen Company is “an employee-owned professional services company serving associations, companies and foundations” with offices in Atlanta, GA; New York, NY; Denver, CO; Chicago, IL; and Washington, D.C. They provide essential services so that associations can focus on the important stuff.
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account management,
administrative,
Colorado,
communications,
Georgia,
Illinois,
Internships,
marketing,
New York,
paid,
public relations,
social media,
software development,
trade association,
Washington,
web development
The original idea behind employer funded health insurance was that it was supposed to improve productivity by keeping employees healthy. That’s still generally the point, but today it seems that health insurance is mostly about fixing problems after they happen instead of prevention. Corporate wellness programs are the answer for employers who want to keep employees healthy (and lower insurance costs). Limeade is a Bellevue, WA based company that is aiming to “measurably improve well-being in the world through happy, healthy, high-performing workforces.” How do they do this? By offering software that makes rolling out a wellness program a snap for employers.
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data,
design,
finance,
health care,
human resources,
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marketing,
product management,
quality assurance,
software development,
user experience,
Washington,
web development
One day I hope to have a business that makes real products. There’s something extremely alluring about designing and selling something tangible. Even though it may seem like every new company is operating entirely online, there actually has never been a better time to build physical products. Not only is it easier than ever to connect with manufacturers, but prototyping has been revolutionized with 3D printing. There’s still a barrier to entry in that it’s expensive and time consuming to get into 3D printing, and that’s why you can go to a studio like FATHOM in Oakland, CA which uses its “expertise in 3D printing and additive manufacturing to help customers innovate faster and more efficiently.”
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account management,
California,
design,
human resources,
information technology,
innovation,
Internships,
Manufacturing,
operations,
paid,
product development,
sales,
Washington
Getting a dog is one of the best things that I’ve ever done. Seriously, how could you not love this guy? I’ve been taking his training very seriously, and it has been a really rewarding process. Working with animals often brings out the best in people. That’s why the Prison Pet Partnership is such a good idea. It’s a Gig Harbor, WA based non-profit that “gives inmates the opportunity to learn valuable pet industry-related vocational skills to use in finding employment when they resume their lives outside of prison.” They take dogs from animal rescues and train them to be service dogs. Since most dogs aren’t cut out for the service life, the rest are rehomed as “Paroled Pets.”
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animals,
education,
Internships,
non-profit,
training,
Washington
I’m currently reading a book called Exploding the Phone: The Untold Story of the Teenagers and Outlaws who Hacked Ma Bell. One of the stories is about a blind man who had immense technical talent when it came to the phone system, but couldn’t land even the most basic job because of discrimination. He concocted a plan to get arrested for phreaking (phone hacking) because he knew the publicity would lead to quite a few job offers. The plan worked. Nobody should have to go to those lengths to overcome a disability or the discrimination based on it, and that’s why PROVAIL exists. They are a Seattle, WA based non-profit that “supports people with disabilities to fulfill their life choices.” It’s all about expanding opportunity and breaking down barriers that might keep people with disabilities from living the lives they want to live.
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arts,
communications,
development,
non-profit,
occupational therapy,
speech language pathology,
unpaid,
Washington
When I was in college, I could get delicious food delivered for really cheap. It wasn’t usually all that healthy, but it always hit the spot. Now that I live in Chicago, I can barely get a good non-deep dish pizza delivered for under $30 (a decent Chinese meal ends up over $60 for two of us). The situations is only worse if I want real food. While my standards have probably increased quite a bit, I still think that the state of food delivery–especially in big cities–is pretty sad. Why can’t I get something healthy, tasty, and reasonably priced brought to me in a reasonable amount of time? That’s exactly what Munchery offers. They’re a San Francisco, CA based company that offers wholesome dinners prepared by top chefs delivered to your door. Instead of searching for a restaurant to order from, you just pick the meal that you want.
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California,
culinary,
customer service,
food,
Illinois,
Internships,
New York,
photography,
software development,
Washington
While I tend to think that the importance of home ownership is overrated by most people in the U.S., I do realize how powerful the psychology of owning something can be. This becomes far more important when it comes to how you make your living. Using someone else’s capital is often the easiest choice, but it gives you very limited control over your future. This may not matter so much if you’re an accountant who is working in a competitive labor market, but it’s a huge deal if you’re farming for subsistence–and that’s what much of the world’s people do. Landesa is a Seattle, WA based non-profit that “works to secure land rights for the world’s poorest people– those 2.47 billion chiefly rural people who live on less than two dollars a day.” They do this because they believe that when people own the land, they can invest in improving it without worrying about having to worry about someone else reaping the rewards.
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agriculture,
business development,
development,
international development,
Internships,
non-profit,
policy,
public policy,
unpaid,
Washington
Whenever Amy and I enter volleyball tournaments, I end up pushing myself too far (it doesn’t help that the tournaments always end up being on 95 degree days). In past tournaments I have burned the arches of my feet on the sand, nearly thrown up in the middle of a match, and collapsed on to my bed convulsing as muscle cramps moved from muscle to muscle. Each of the three situations was preventable, and the latter two were all about hydration and nutrition. Water isn’t enough some days. I’m not a big fan of sugary sports drinks, and coconut water hasn’t seemed to do the trick. Maybe I’ll try Nuun. They’re a Seattle, WA based company that “was the first to separate electrolyte replacement from carbohydrates.” Their flagship product is a “simple, self-dissolving, sugar-free electrolyte tab” that you can pop in a bottle of water before, during, or after intense physical activity.
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food,
Internships,
New York,
nutrition,
sales,
sports,
Texas,
Washington
There are two kinds of entry level jobs. There are the professional track positions that are typically targeted towards recent college grads (what we try to cover on ODOJ), and the jobs that have very minimal education and experience requirements. Both types are extremely important to our economy because they enable people to learn how to make a living, and both seem to be getting rarer. Today many of the best job opportunities in that second category are in the food service industry. That’s why FareStart is focused on them. They are a Seattle, WA based non-profit that “transforms lives by empowering homeless and disadvantaged men, women, and families to achieve self-sufficiency through life skills, job training and employment in the food service industry.”
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culinary,
events,
food,
hospitality management,
non-profit,
operations,
program development,
training,
unpaid,
Washington
When I first heard Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop,” I knew it was going to be a massive hit (it probably already was, and I was just late). I’m no pop music genius, but how can a song with such a ridiculous beat and hilarious lyrics not succeed? While I don’t know this for sure, I have to imagine the song, which ended up at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, has to have meaningfully improved the thrift store business. Now I had always associated thrift stores with non-profits, but today I learned that isn’t always the case. Take Savers for example. They’re a Bellevue, WA based chain of retail locations that aims to “provide [their] customers with the best selection and shopping experience of any thrift store in the world.” They might even be the stores that Macklemore shops in, considering that he’s from Seattle.
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analyst,
data,
human resources,
information technology,
Internships,
Logistics,
marketing,
planner,
retail,
supply chain,
Washington
I’ve been dabbling in social media marketing since social media became a buzzword. I’ve typically been disappointed by the results. I’ve learned that it’s harder than it looks (and that most people don’t want to be social about their job search–which is why we built GIF Me a Job). The prospect of having millions of people telling their friends how awesome you are is pretty tempting, but it’s just not going to happen for most businesses. There are certainly exceptions, and many of them are major brands. When you already have millions of customers, it’s a lot easier (but still really hard) to truly engage them through social channels. SocialCode is a Washington, DC based “social marketing solutions provider” that “builds targeted communities, engages those audiences and converts them to customers and evangelists for leading global brands.”
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advertising,
analyst,
California,
Illinois,
Internships,
Michigan,
New York,
online marketing,
social media,
Washington,
Washington DC
For me Father’s Day is all about wildlife. I’ve spent every one for the past 20 years in woods of Michigan on a fishing trip with my Dad. It used to mark the end of the trip, but this year it’s the beginning. Every year we get to reap the benefits of the work done by conservation organizations. Up there a lot of the work is done by non-profits with a sporting focus, but I’ve come to realize that there quite a few organizations that protect wildlife just because it’s something that should be done. One of these is Defenders of Wildlife. They’re based in Washington, DC, and they aim to “protect and restore imperiled species throughout North America by transforming policies and institutions and promoting innovative solutions.” The organization was founded in 1947 and operates at both a national and local level.
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accounting,
administrative,
animals,
California,
conservation,
data,
development,
environmental,
finance,
Internships,
marketing,
New Mexico,
non-profit,
organizing,
policy,
production,
program development,
public policy,
unpaid,
Washington,
Washington DC
A week in the desert has reminded me just how live-giving water is. Even a tiny trickle of a river can completely change the landscape out there. Seeing that reminds me how vital our oceans are to our planet’s health. While 12% of the earth’s land is protected in one way or another, only 1% of its oceans are protected. Marine Conservation Institute is a Seattle, WA based non-profit that is trying to change that. They “use the latest science to identify important marine ecosystems around the world, and then advocate for their protection, for us and future generations.” Because of the nature of oceans and the fact that they cover more than two thirds of the earth’s surface, it’s easy to overlook how fragile and important they are. Marine Conservation Institute exists to remind us.
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advocacy,
California,
conservation,
development,
environmental,
Internships,
non-profit,
paid,
policy,
public policy,
Washington,
Washington DC
My soon to be wife and I are planning on moving to a new place in July, which means that we’ve been spending a lot of time on real estate websites. One thing that I’ve learned in the process is that many real estate agents have no idea how to use the Internet. The web is an amazing medium for showing off a property, yet time after time I come across terrible listings for really nice places. Why would you make the first photo in the slideshow of the bathroom? I have no idea, but real estate agents do it all the time. Apparently, they need all of the help that they can get, and that’s exactly what Market Leader offers. They’re a Kirkland, WA based company that provides agents with “tools to effectively generate, manage, and close more transactions.” They even go so far as to guarantee leads for their clients.
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account management,
analyst,
Colorado,
customer service,
finance,
Internships,
marketing,
online marketing,
real estate,
sales,
Washington
For as long as charitable organizations have existed, they’ve been feeding people. Yesterday we looked at Food & Friends and how they’re feeding people who are suffering from cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other illnesses. Today we’re going to look at an organization that is more focused on the quality of food that we eat. Seattle Tilth aims “to inspire and educate people to safeguard our natural resources while building an equitable and sustainable local food system.” The organization is all about maximizing the health of the community through agriculture that respects the environment.
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administrative,
all employers,
community development,
conservation,
education,
environmental,
food,
gardening,
green,
Internships,
marketing,
non-profit,
program development,
social media,
sustainability,
unpaid,
Washington
If there’s anything that the Internet is perfect for, it’s finding hotels. Whether you’re looking for a place off the highway to stop for the night or a luxury vacation, you’re going to be better off if you use the web. Since so many people go online to find hotels, the competition for attention is getting really tough (especially now that Google has entered the market and inserted their product at the top of search results). Most hotel owners aren’t Internet marketing experts, so how do they make sure that people find them? They use buuteeq, a Seattle, WA based company and “easy-to-use web application that improves your hotel’s online marketing on the web, on mobile devices, and on Facebook.” It gives hotel owners everything they need to compete with the major chains who have huge teams dedicated to online marketing.
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account management,
accounting,
business development,
customer service,
design,
finance,
hospitality management,
human resources,
information technology,
Internships,
marketing,
online marketing,
product management,
production,
quality assurance,
quality engineer,
sales,
seo,
social media,
software development,
travel,
user experience,
Washington,
web development
I had 20/12 vision until I was about fifteen. I definitely appreciated, but I didn’t realize how much until I started having trouble reading the chalk board during my Junior year in high school. Soon after I learned how life changing contact lenses (or even just glasses) can be for people with poor vision. Unfortunately, corrective lenses can’t solve all of the world’s vision problems, but there are other options. There are 36 million blind people in the world–at least one million are children in developing countries. Without treatment fifty percent of them will die within two years. SightLife is an organization that saves many of these lives. They’re based in Seattle, WA, and since 1969 they’ve been “the only non-profit global health organization solely focused on eliminating corneal blindness in the U.S. and around the world” (corneal blindness is responsible for just under a third of the world’s blindness).
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health care,
international development,
Internships,
medicine,
non-profit,
Washington
I’m the first person to admit that I’m not the best about energy efficiency. I may turn off the lights when I leave the house, but I still drive an SUV and use incandescent bulbs. I need someone to make it easy for me, and luckily more and more utilities are starting to do that. It’s a little odd that a company that sells you something wants you to use less, but that’s what’s happening. One of the best ways for utility companies to help their customers reduce energy consumption is through web-based software. It would be silly for every utility company to create their own custom software, which is why EnergySavvy exists. They’re a Seattle, WA based company that provides utilities with software that enables them “to engage with their customers, keep track of their data and optimize their operations.”
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energy,
engineering,
green,
information technology,
Internships,
marketing,
paid,
software development,
Washington,
web development
While the Holiday Season is a time that many of us offer help to the less fortunate, it’s usually in the form of gifts or donations. This kind of help is great, but it’s typically temporary. Homelessness and poverty are both societal and individual problems, so bringing about real change is going to take a lot more than a few weeks of giving. Real Change is a Seattle, WA based non-profit that “exists to provide opportunity and a voice for low-income and homeless people while taking action for economic justice.” By focusing on helping the individuals while at the same time pushing for societal change, Real Change is able to make a meaningful difference.
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advocacy,
development,
editorial,
Internships,
journalism,
non-profit,
outreach,
program development,
unpaid,
Washington,
writing
I don’t hide the fact that I’m skeptical of social media marketing. I was an early adopter, and it never really paid off for me. Still, I see tons of major brands investing heavily in social. They’re not stupid, so whether they’re hedging or actually getting a good return, social media marketing is going to keep growing. Since it’s such a new field, it’s a great industry for young people to make a name for themselves. That’s exactly what Aseem Badshah has done. When he was 16 he started a site called ThinkEssay.com “where students could post their schoolwork – such as essays, term papers, class notes, lab reports, and presentations – to provide inspiration and resources for other students.” That’s how he got his social media street cred. After he graduated from the University of Washington in 2010 he started Uptown Treehouse, a Bellevue, WA based (but they appear to be growing a team in Los Angeles) “full service marketing agency that helps brands meet their goals by leveraging social media to connect with current and potential customers.”
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blogging,
California,
community management,
Internships,
marketing,
online marketing,
paid,
social media,
Washington,
writing
Many job seekers fail to realize how important it is to write well. With so much communication happening over e-mail, your ability to express your ideas clearly and forcefully through the written word will have a direct effect on your career outcomes (and that’s why you need to spend a lot of time on writing great cover letters). While writing is something that most of us work on throughout our lives, the most important development happens in our early years. That’s why 826 National works with 8 centers across the country that “offer a variety of inventive programs that provide under-resourced students, ages 6-18, with opportunities to explore their creativity and improve their writing skills.” The San Francisco, CA based non-profit “provides strategic leadership, administration, and other resources to ensure the success of its network of eight writing and tutoring centers.” The centers are located in Ann Arbor, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC, and together they’ve serve about 30,0000 students each year.
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California,
education,
Illinois,
Internships,
Massachusetts,
Michigan,
New York,
non-profit,
program development,
teaching,
tutoring,
unpaid,
Washington,
Washington DC
One thing that is frustrating me about this year’s version of the Inc. 500 is that so many of the companies are very similar to each other–especially the ones that tend to have jobs posted. While seeing the same business model on the list repeatedly should help you identify areas to focus your job search and develop skills, it’s not nearly as interesting. At this point I’m starting to look for the companies that stand out from the crowd. RealSelf is one of those. They are a Seattle, WA based company that is building “the most trusted community around the entire journey one takes with any medical-beauty decision.” Whether you’re looking for a travel destination, restaurant, book, or public restroom (I’m not joking), you can find a multitude of online reviews. There isn’t nearly as much information available about cosmetic surgery and other similar procedures. That’s why RealSelf has been able to grow at a 1,217% rate over the past three years.
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account management,
beauty,
community management,
Internships,
marketing,
medicine,
online marketing,
sales,
social media,
software development,
Washington,
web development
