Des Moines Jobs: Overview
If you don't live in Des Moines, cornfields may be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Iowa's capital city. But Des Moines is far more than prairies and farms. According to several rankings, Des Moines is among the best and safest places to live in the U.S., a great city for young professionals, and an affordable place to buy a first home. So, if you're thinking about looking for jobs in Des Moines, you're not alone!
Des Moines has a lot to offer residents. You can admire the breathtaking architecture of the State Capitol building, browse the displays at Des Moines Art Center, or take a scenic walk through Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens before eating a "Dead Moines burger" from Zombie Burger or a crab rangoon pizza from Fong. The vibrant Historic East Village located downtown is lined with more than 90 locally owned restaurants, bars, food trucks, and shops.
The unemployment rate in Des Moines is lower than the national average, and its job market is healthy in comparison to other similarly sized metro areas. To top it off, the cost of living is pretty low in Des Moines. Jobs can also be found in other nearby cities like West Des Moines, Ankeny, and Ames.
Popular Des Moines Jobs
Several key industries drive Des Moines’s economy, including advanced manufacturing. More than 20 major manufacturers call Des Moines home due to its low-cost business climate and limited taxes on machinery and equipment. The same cost-effective conditions have drawn some of the largest tech companies in the world to Des Moines. Many of the city’s data centers belong to tech giants Facebook, Microsoft, and Apple, making it a hub for computer jobs.
Have you ever wondered how Des Moines earned the nickname “The Hartford of the West?” Like Hartford, Des Moines’s insurance and financial sectors boast a high concentration of sales jobs and finance jobs.
Des Moines also offers plenty of other popular jobs, including:
Update Your Resume
Do you have a resume written and ready to send to employers? If not, now is the time to create one. You should know what employers look for in a resume before you start writing, and make sure your resume contains a career summer and a list of credentials and accomplishments. Employers don’t spend a lot of time reviewing resumes that are difficult to read. Take some time to browse through our resume examples to learn how to make your resume visually appealing.
Once you get your resume written, it’s time to put your cover letter into focus. Want to know what goes in a cover letter? First, it should contain a brief introduction, then a description of your skills and accomplishments, and lastly, a closing paragraph. Make sure your cover letter is organized and easy to read before sending it in. Monster has tons of cover letter samples you can use as a visual guide.
Interviewing for Des Moines Jobs
After you’ve submitted your application, it’s time for one of the most critical phases of the hiring process—the interview. At an interview, a hiring manager will likely ask you questions regarding your background and skills in your field. But you should also be prepared to tackle behavioral interview questions to demonstrate your work ethic and ability to solve problems. For example, you may have to explain a time when you resolved a conflict with a coworker or an error you made on the job.
As your interview winds down, be prepared to ask some question of your own. Asking questions shows employers that you’re genuinely interested in the job and want to learn about the company’s processes. Some examples of questions to ask include:
- Where could your team use some polishing?
- What does this company value the most?
- What accomplishments do you expect from me within the first 60 days?
- How do you define and measure success?
How Much Do Des Moines Jobs Pay?
The median household income in Des Moines is $53,525 per year. But your pay will depend on several factors such as your job type and professional background. Try using Monster’s Salary Estimator to find the median salary for your field. Just enter the job title and your location into the search bar to see your results.
Want to Learn More About a Company You’re Interested In?
There are several reasons to research an employer. Maybe you want to know what the workplace culture is like before applying. Perhaps you need to learn more about an employer’s history before an upcoming interview. When you use Monster’s company profiles, you can get vital details about a company, such as:
- photos and videos depicting the workplace culture.
- the number of employees.
- products and services they offer.
- job postings and benefits.
Join Monster to Cultivate Career Success
Ready to start applying for Des Moines jobs? Just set up your profile and upload your resume to Monster. We’ll make your resume visible to top job recruiters and keep you in the loop about new jobs in your field so you’re always ready to apply.