How to Land a Green-Collar Job
15 ways to rev up for a job that’s good for the environment,
fills your wallet, and makes a difference
Want to get paid for protecting the planet? Soaring energy prices are sparking a unique opportunity for job hunters and career changers to go green. While most parts of the U.S. economy continue struggle, many companies involved in solar, wind, geothermal, biofuels, energy efficiency, and other sustainable efforts are in a hiring boom reminiscent of the 1990s.
Research from the American Solar Energy Society shows that there are about 9 million of these green-collar jobs in the U.S. – with many more on the way (click here to read the Green-Collar Jobs report). So how do you find one of these jobs? The following insider tips and background can give you the insight you need to help turn your career green.
1) Unmask the Myth
The biggest misconception about green jobs is that they’re primarily for researchers, scientists, and PhDs. The reality is that most of the jobs in the green economy are similar to roles in other industries. Most solar manufacturers, for example, still need project managers, accountants, assemblers, IT professionals, customer service reps, marketing professionals and account executives, just like other companies. “The green economy is not just for the Ph.D., but also for the Ph.-do,” says Van Jones, director of Green For All in Oakland, Calif. Somebody still needs to build, sell, deliver, and install this technology.
2) Paint Your Picture
Start to narrow down the type of environment in which you’d like to be working – or at least rule out the areas that don’t call to you. Kevin Doyle, president of Green Economy, a workforce consulting firm in Massachusetts, offers these four steps to get started:
- Imagine what you would like to be doing. Do you want to be up on a roof, retrofitting a house, setting policy, or perhaps making a ton of money as a venture capitalist? Focus on what you want first.
- Find people who are doing what you want to be doing. Don’t just find a company or a job title, but find a person or two who is doing what you think you’d like to do.
- Go talk to them. Set up an appointment, describe your background and ask them, “If you were me what would you do to get a job like this, what would your next steps be, and where do you see the key gaps to getting there?”
- Take their advice seriously. Perhaps you need new training, new contacts, additional experience, or a new degree. Nobody knows the path better than the people who are successfully doing what you want to be doing.
3) Bookmark the GreenStart Webpage
Once you start to define your next role, the next step is to get to know the industry. Which companies are powering the green economy? What types of positions are open at these companies? Which companies do what you want to do? Start your research by learning more about green-oriented companies and the types of jobs available there by visiting the ASES GreenStart Job Board. This is a must-visit website for any green job hunter, so bookmark it and check back often. It’s the easy way to find where the jobs are.
4) Compile Your List of Targets
If there is particular sector in the green economy you’d like to pursue, go for it. Start researching this sector and compile your top ten list of target organizations you’d like to pursue. Want to move to a certain part of the country (or perhaps to stay where you are)? Start researching the green-focused organizations in your preferred area and make your top ten list of target organizations. Not sure what you’re looking for? Start by researching which green organizations are growing rapidly in your state. Check out your local or regional business newspapers to see who’s expanding, moving to a bigger office, building strategic partnerships, or otherwise making news. They may start hiring soon.
5) Get Informed, Stay Informed
The new energy economy is changing at an unprecedented pace. You need to understand industry trends, and position yourself for the opportunities coming. If you do not yet subscribe to SOLAR TODAY, you should do so right away. It’s the best $39 investment you can make to stay informed of developments in solar energy, energy efficiency and other sustainable technologies — and your subscription includes a complementary membership to the American Solar Energy Society, the nonprofit leading the renewable energy revolution. Click here to get SOLAR TODAY.
6) Transfer in Your Role
As you learn more about the green economy and start to narrow down your search there’s a helpful shortcut you should know. If you have good job experience the easiest way to transfer to the green economy is in a role similar to what you’re already doing — just find a green company that needs your skills. If your resume is a bit thin or you are just out of college you may need to be more flexible as to the type of job you would consider in a green economy.
7) Volunteer to Lead
If you need to boost your green credentials, go volunteer for a green nonprofit, event, or initiative in your community. Make some good contacts while making a difference. There’s almost always a need for volunteers in these chronically under-resourced efforts. Identifying where the needs are is just a matter of finding the right person, building the relationship, and being respectfully persistent.
8) Take the Tour
Learn to speak with conviction about green technology in your community. See it in action during the ASES National Solar Tour — the largest solar energy event in the world. This event offers open-house tours in 2,900 communities across the United States. It’s an easy way to see green technology up close, learn the basics and hear about the experiences of the homeowners. The tour often offers great opportunities to volunteer. Tours generally take place the first Saturday in October. Click here to find a tour near you.
9) Learn from Nonprofits
Many outstanding nonprofit organizations work to strengthen the green economy. Some have job boards, background information, membership lists (an underused job hunting resource), local chapters, newsletters, and contact names of industry leaders. In addition to the many noteworthy nonprofits that protect the environment and promote sustainability, here are a few with helpful websites that can enhance your job hunt or career change:
- Alliance to Save Energy (ase.org)
- American Solar Energy Society (ases.org)
- American Wind Energy Association (awea.org)
- Bikes Belong (bikesbelong.org)
- Geothermal Energy Association (geo-energy.org)
- Interstate Renewable Energy Council (irecusa.org)
- US Green Building Council (usgbc.org)
10) Tap Into the Green Network
Learn who the key leaders and hiring managers are in your target green-economy organizations. Set up a free Google news alert to track news about these organizations (news.google.com). Set up brief informational interviews with industry leaders to better understand how things are changing and where the opportunities are likely to be. “Reach out and create relationships in spheres of influence throughout the business or sector,” recommends Dawn Dzurilla, president of Gaia Human Capital Consultants, a human resources consulting firm in New York and Florida. “Try to get to know the people who know the people.” These relationships can open doors and help you stand out from the crowd.
11) Speak the Language
If you don’t currently work in the green economy it is helpful to get some basic information so you can start speaking green. A great place to begin is with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which is part of the U.S. Department of Energy. NREL is on the cutting edge of renewable energy research and development and is an outstanding resource for getting accurate, credible information. Their website is at: nrel.gov
12) Certify Your Skills
A powerful way to kick start a new green career is by attending a workshop or class to gain the specialized skills required in the green economy. Check out the workshops at Solar Energy International (solarenergy.org), Midwest Renewable Energy Association (the-mrea.org), U.S. Green Building Council (usgbc.org) and Solar Living Institute (solarliving.org).
13) Explore Pre-Apprenticeship Programs
There’s a wide range of entry points to get a green-collar job. “You don’t have to go to college to be part of the green economy,” said Van Jones of Green For All. Contact your local labor council or community college to see how you can gain the initial skills or certificate you need to get started weatherizing buildings, conducting energy audits or working in the trades. “The green economy is not just a place for affluent people to spend money, it’s also a place for ordinary people to earn money and even save money,” says Jones.
14) Consider Incentives
State governments are increasingly developing renewable portfolio standards, policies, and incentives to attract green-collar jobs to their states. A helpful website to track the latest green policies is the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, also known as the DSIRE database. Not only is this a valuable resource for those interested in policy, but you can see how the incentives in your state compare to others – which is key to understanding which sectors are likely to grow in your state: dsireusa.org
15) Show Your Passion
Anyone hunting for a green-collar job will compete against people passionate about protecting the environment. If you don’t share this passion, or if it is not sincere, it will almost certainly show. That will hamper your ability to get hired. When interviewing, be sure to highlight how your present role helps to tackle climate change, pollution or other big issues in sustainability. Do you actively live green? Is promoting sustainability a core part of who you are? Let it show. If you cannot demonstrate passion for the field, maybe you should pursue another industry.
Article written by Neal Lurie, director of marketing for the American Solar Energy Society. After working in the Fortune 500 world he moved to the green economy by following many of the steps outlined in this article.
Want to stay informed about the green economy?
Sign up for email updates
| Be part of the renewable energy revolution. Get free email updates on the latest solar news, breakthroughs, tips, and insight -- and find out how you can make a difference. Together, we're creating a sustainable energy economy. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
