Surveys abound listing the Best of  just about anything. Of interest to all of us, even if we're not actively looking for a new job, are surveys of "Best Places to Work." We found it was easier to come up with a list of best places to eat in New York City than whom to work for. That's not to say there are no lists out there; there just aren't enough timely, well-constructed surveys.

So, what we looked for in the lists was a good methodology and an adequate number of respondents. Most importantly, they needed to clearly explain how they compiled the lists.

Which brings us to one last point. Although only two of the lists chosen are specific to IT professionals, the other more general ones may be equally useful. If a company is a great place to work for one group, it probably will be for IT professionals as well. This is borne out when you cross-reference the lists. A number of the same companies pop up on all the lists.