“This is a difficult economy, no doubt,” says Andrea Hough, vice president of talent acquisition for ServiceMaster, a lawn care and landscape maintenance company.  “However, I would caution job seekers to be thoughtful about whom they are going to work for and not act out of desperation. There are some very strong companies with solid ethics in need of employees eager to be a part of a thriving organization.”

If you’re looking for work in the New Year, here are a variety of such strong companies in various industries, which are looking to hire a diverse selection of workers in 2009, despite the tough economy:

1. Company: 7-Eleven

Who they are: A leader in convenience retailing, with approximately 7,600 7-Eleven stores in North America [and] more than 35,000 stores in 17 countries, according to Jim Wahl, the company’s manager of talent acquisition systems.

Whom they are looking for: “At 7-Eleven, we believe your work should be more than a job. It should be an investment in your future and ours,” Wahl says. “In 2009 we will be seeking candidates for operations, accounting, information systems, merchandising and marketing.”

2. Company: Banfield

Who they are: Banfield is the largest general veterinary practice treating pets in the world, says Mike Mason, senior director of team resources. It offers a full range of comprehensive medical services and a quality assurance program.

Whom they are looking for: “Banfield seeks associates who love pets and who share in our mission of treating pets like family and increasing the value of pets in families and communities,” Mason says. “Our plan for 2009 calls for replacing new positions as they become open in our main campus in Portland, Ore., and in our hospitals, as well as hiring quality associates to staff our new hospitals. To staff our hospitals, we are looking for veterinarians, pet nurses, office managers and client service coordinators.”

3. Company: Farmers Insurance

Who they are: Farmers Insurance is the nation’s third-largest personal lines property and casualty insurance group, according to Andy Reser, vice president of agencies. It provides homeowners, auto, business, specialty products, life insurance and financial services to more than 10 million households.

Whom they are looking for: “We offer the opportunity to build your own business. You’ll have the latitude to set your own professional goals and income potential,” says Luisa Acosta-Franco, assistant vice president of diversity and emerging markets. “Farmers has a strong commitment to diverse markets; therefore the need for qualified bilingual individuals is an important component of the overall strategy to attract and retain the right people for opportunities with us.”

4. Company: Gentiva Health Services

Who they are: Gentiva offers a range of highly skilled in-home care services, including nursing, therapy, infusion, pharmacy, respiratory, orthopedics, cardiopulmonary, senior health, neurorehabilitation and hospice, says Angela McClure, assistant vice president of recruitment and staffing.

Whom they are looking for: “We have career opportunities for dedicated, compassionate nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and other clinicians; as well as sales, management and administrative support professionals,” McClure says. “At Gentiva, our clinicians have a lot of flexibility and autonomy, so they must demonstrate a high level of clinical excellence and customer service.”

5. Company: HealthMarkets

Who they are: A nationwide individual health insurance provider that aims to simplify the health insurance experience for its members and enhance the career experience for its agents, says Andrew Fortunato, senior vice president of recruiting strategy.

Whom they are looking for: “Our focus is on individuals with the desire and drive to be part of a team dedicated to delivering highly personalized health protection solutions to self-employed individuals and their families across America,” Fortunato says. “Our agents are the main point of contact with [people who must purchase health insurance on their own].”

6. Company: ITT Corp., Advanced Engineering & Sciences division

Who they are: A division of ITT’s Defense Electronics & Services group that provides leading-edge product development, technology, engineering, research and project management services to government, industrial and commercial customers, says Steve Kotecki, recruiting manager.

Whom they are looking for: “At ITT, we are looking for talented people to develop and implement innovative solutions to complex problems. We are looking for candidates with long-term vision who enjoy working in a strong team environment,” Kotecki says. “We will be looking to fill a wide spectrum of positions in 2009, which are both demanding and rewarding. Our primary focus will be on candidates with a strong engineering background or those with prior military experience.”

7. Company: M.A.R.S. International

Who they are: A franchise that offers mobile cosmetic repair and reconditioning services to industries including hotels, motorcycles, boats, automobiles, RVs and more. It specializes in the repair of the wear and tear that damages the look and functionality of items people use daily, says Allan Kelsey, president.
Whom they are looking for: “[We] have positions open for technicians to execute these kinds of repairs and for managers to oversee the technicians,” Kelsey says. “These technicians will have some aptitude for working with their hands, enjoy working outdoors and managing their own time. They will be self-starters that are motivated, friendly and determined.”

8. Company: PricewaterhouseCoopers

Who they are: An organization that provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its clients and their stakeholders, according to the company Web site.

Whom they are looking for: “PwC looks for people with diverse experiences and backgrounds. Strong technical skills that are required to perform a particular role are important, but we want people who work well with others in a team environment,” says Rod Adams, recruiting leader. “We’re currently looking to fill roles across our organization. We have needs in each line of service — audit, tax and advisory — as well as our internal firm services organization, such as marketing, sales, HR and IT.”

9. Company: ServiceMaster

Who they are: A company that provides such services as lawn care and landscape maintenance, termite and pest control, home warranties, cleaning and disaster restoration, house cleaning, furniture repair and home inspection, Hough says. Its brands include TruGreen, TruGreen LandCare, Terminix, American Home Shield, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, Furniture Medic and AmeriSpec.

Whom they are looking for: “We are a service-based organization that strives to earn our customers’ business, build trust and exceed our customers’ expectations,” Hough says. “In addition, we are a relationship-based firm that prides itself on employing hard-working, ethical employees that our customers can trust to invite into their homes and enrich their lives.”

10. Company: State Farm

Who they are: A provider of insurance and financial services products that insure more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., says Rich Garcia, director of enterprise recruiting and retention. It has 68,000 employees and 17,000 agents who service more than 78 million insurance policies and 1.9 million bank accounts.

Whom they are looking for: “In 2009, we will continue to look for a wide range of candidates with various experiences to fill internships and opportunities ranging from entry level to management,” Garcia says. “Frequently posted positions include opportunities in claims, underwriting and systems/IT. We are also always looking for that next State Farm agent.”

11. Company: Sutter Health

Who they are: A family of doctors, not-for-profit hospitals and other health-care service providers that share resources and expertise to advance health-care quality and access, says Mike Helm, senior vice president of human resources.

Whom they are looking for: “Health care is about people and at Sutter Health, our commitment is to put the patient at the center of everything we do. Our aging population and Sutter Health’s continued investment in technology are two important forces that are fueling our need for skilled employees,” Helm says. “[We] seek to hire individuals who embrace our values. From providing care at the bedside to implementing lifesaving technology and administrative professionals, there are a variety of positions available throughout our Sutter Health network.”

12. Company: The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company/Scotts LawnService

Who they are: Scotts LawnService is a division of The Scotts Co., a supplier and marketer of consumer products for do-it-yourself lawn and garden care, says Peter Korda, senior vice president. It was founded in 1997 to provide products and services for customers who desire someone else to take care of their lawns for them.

Whom they are looking for: “We are looking for people to join our team and help us deliver the very best in professional lawn care. Joining our team allows you to grow green, healthy and lush lawns, trees and shrubs, and provide the service and support customers have come to expect from a premium brand such as Scotts,” Korda says. “You will have an opportunity to grow your career; we’ll provide you with the knowledge and opportunities you need to succeed. [“We’re hiring for territory service representatives, sales representatives and customer service representatives.”]

13. Company: URS Corp.

Who they are: A provider of engineering, construction and technical services for public agencies and private-sector companies around the world, says Marian Hyder, vice president of staffing for the EG&G division. URS provides services for power, infrastructure, industrial and commercial, and federal projects and programs.

Whom they are looking for: “We seek high-quality talent in key areas of focus for our business and offer exciting domestic and global assignments for employees at every career point,” Hyder says. “In 2009, we will be looking for talent in key areas such as engineering, construction management, program management, power, environmental, health and safety, homeland security, logistics, operations and maintenance and more. Positions are available at all experience levels — from new graduates to seasoned professionals.”
Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.