New Orleans Jobs: Overview
New Orleans is known as "The Big Easy." But it's not a simple task to figure out where this nickname came from. Some say it came from a gossip columnist who coined the term to compare the city's laidback vibe to New York's Big Apple bustle. Another story links the name to the city's love of music that makes it easy for musicians to get New Orleans jobs in the city's numerous performance venues. Yet another theory says it's because Prohibition never quite took hold in New Orleans, and it was easy to get alcohol when you were out on the town. Today, the relaxed lifestyle, music, and nightlife are a bonus when you're searching for jobs in New Orleans.
Pirates and ghosts are associated with the Big Easy. In 1813, Louisiana Governor William Claiborne offered easy money to anyone who could capture notorious pirate Jean Lafitte. Lafitte thought of an easy way out and offered a $1,500 reward for the capture of Governor Claiborne. According to legend, ghosts do not rest easy in New Orleans. It's considered the most haunted city in the U.S., with endless stories about spirit sightings in graveyards, restaurants, and old mansions.
Despite the spooky legends, it's easy as pie to fall in love with New Orleans. If you're thinking of relocating to this easygoing city, be sure to look at other colorful cities nearby, including Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and Kenner.
Popular Jobs in New Orleans
New Orleans’s access to the Mississippi River makes shipping easy and its abundant natural gas provides the city with low-cost electricity, which have incentivized advanced marine and aerospace manufacturing companies to set up shop there with lots of production jobs for residents. Shipbuilding firms build and repair U.S. Navy vessels, merchant fleets, and cruise ship lines while NASA’s Michaud Assembly Facility in New Orleans manufactures some of the largest parts for the U.S. space program.
Tourism is a significant source of revenue for the city that supports tens of thousands of service jobs in restaurants, hotels, and transportation. The energy industry is also a thriving part of New Orleans’s economy and supports more than half of a billion dollars in wages every year for employees, including those in extraction jobs.
Other popular jobs in New Orleans include:
Update Your Resume
Although New Orleans has many links to the past, NOLA employers are looking for lively resumes that use action verbs to show off your skills and experience. Even if you have some skeletons in your employment closet, Monster has resume samples and resume writing tips to help you shine.
Once you have your resume in shape, ensure your cover letter is more than just a pretty piece of paper that introduces your resume. Read about some of the common cover letter mistakes that can trip you up. Then look through Monster’s cover letter samples to liven up yours.
Interviewing for New Orleans Jobs
You’ve sent resumes with on-point cover letters, and now you’re waiting for interview invitations. Make sure you don’t have anything posted online that might haunt you and turn off employers. Then, once you’re on the books for an interview, take some time to anticipate what questions the hiring manager might ask you and how you will respond. Start with something that sums up why you applied for the job, such as “Why should we hire you?”
How Much Do New Orleans Jobs Pay?
The median household income in New Orleans is $41,604. How would your salary stack up to that? Find out by using Monster’s Salary Tools. Look up your job title to get an estimated salary range. While you’re on the page, you’ll also see what the same job pays in other cities and what you can do to increase your worth to employers.
Want to Learn More About Companies Near You?
How do you know if you’ve picked the right job? At Monster, we believe the right job is the right fit for you. Start exploring companies by doing some research. Monster can get you started with its company profiles. Look up a company in our database and find out things like:
- the number of employees.
- the company’s mission statement.
- what benefits they offer.
Monster Can Put You in Touch With New Orleans Jobs
You don’t need a crystal ball to find out where the New Orleans jobs are—just look on this page! Click around and see where it leads. Then, put your resume in front of recruiters and employers by creating a Monster profile. When you sign up, job posts tailored to your background and career goals will magically appear in your email too.