What is a green job? A green job is generally defined as any job that helps or encourages an environmental and sustainable world economy. Collectively, these green jobs have created what many call a green economy, or more technically speaking, a “clean energy” economy. A clean energy economy has been defined as one that “generates jobs, businesses and investments while expanding clean energy production, increasing energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste and pollution, and conserving water and other natural resources.”1 The green job market can be categorized into five major sectors of the green economy:
Many of the green jobs that exist currently are relabeled positions that have changed their end product to fit into the green economy. While lawyers, engineers, product designers, marketing specialists, manual laborers, etc., all perform similar functions as they did before, these roles have also found a new place in the green economy.
Where are the jobs at?
The green economy has been the new hot ticket over the last several years. What’s even better is the fact that green jobs pay well—the clean economy median wage is 13% higher than median wages in the rest of the U.S. economy.3 Geographically, the hot spots have for the most part been localized in metropolitan areas across the United States. In fact, 75% of the clean economy jobs created from 2003-2010 are in the 100 largest metro areas of the country.4 A 2010 Clean-Tech report found the five biggest sectors to work in: 1) solar, 2) biofuel & biomaterial, 3) smart grid & energy efficiency, 4) wind power, and 5) advanced transportation/vehicle.5
Where do I fit Into the Green Economy? In a sea of jobs and industries it may seem impossible to figure out where to get started. Identifying where you stand is the first step. Ask yourself the following questions:
1.What are my interests? The green industry spans across 12 large sectors that encompass everything from renewable energy to environmental policy. Check out this resource that breaks down each the green job market by industry and job function.
2. What is my educational background? The many different jobs have varying levels of educational requirements. Depending on what type of work you are looking for, specialized degrees (scientist and engineer to name a few) or certifications may be a requisite of the job. Recognizing what your educational credentials lend themselves to (or limit) can save you from reaching for jobs outside your qualifications.
3. What skill sets do I possess, what is my prior job experience? The biggest part of landing any job is to have the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to perform the duties of the job. In many cases job basics such as writing skills, communication, and teamwork are transferable skills that many employers look for. You can research the KSAs of different jobs in any sector here.
Clean Economy Trends to Pursue for your Career:
- Solar—Photovoltaic (PV) solar panel production should increase while prices stay low. While China may be the manufacturing king of PV panels currently,6 the U.S. is in talks with Mexico to ramp up manufacturing in the near future.7 This means a lot more solar power for both residential and commercial markets.
- Biofuels—fuel made from foodstock/oils are on the rise and a major one to watch is biofuel produced from algae !
- Renewable electricity generation should ramp up. Many renewable technologies are not at cost parity, but government subsidies such as the ever popular feed in tariffs will keep renewables around. Legislative incentives such as these guarantee long term buying contracts for renewable energy producers.8
- Energy efficiency products and services are a cost efficient choice. Many newly formed software and energy auditing device manufacturers are capitalizing on the energy efficiency side of the market. In addition to saving energy, these companies will save businesses and homeowners considerable money.9
- Offshore wind energy production is already in full effect in Europe and around the world with almost 2GW in global capacity. The Cape wind installation was the first U.S. project with now a second project in New Jersey taking formation. 10
- U.S. Electrical Vehicle (EV) market should take off. The Obama administration has announced plans to build 28 new EV battery factories to accompany the existing two. Furthermore, close to $1 billion has been invested in electric vehicle research efforts this past year by Tesla and Fisker, two electrical vehicle makers.11
Getting the Job:
After you have identified your dream job, the next step is actually getting the job. Most people find themselves in one of two situations: 1) they don’t have the qualifications for the job they want, or 2) they have the qualifications and just need to land it
Let’s look at both scenarios to determine a plan of action!
- I don’t have the qualifications for the job I want. What can I do? For those of you who find yourself in this position I would recommend one of three things you can do to put yourself in position to obtain the job you want.
- Build transferable skills. While taking jobs in other industries may not be ideal, core skills such as communication, teamwork, and writing skills are essential to almost any position.
- Build your resume through volunteer work, internships, and apprenticeships. Companies are always looking for help and low risk involvement with people. The best way to get your foot in the door is through internships or volunteering. Once there, you can try and land the job you really want. Additionally, apprenticeships offer great hands on learning opportunities. Check out some government sponsored opportunities.
- Build your educational credentials. Training certification programs and graduate programs are a great way to have specialized skills that are an asset to a company. Training certification programs allow people to take courses to be specialized in anything from education to installing solar panels. Check out this resource for available programs. Looking to head back to school? Here is a list of different types of degree options based on your interests and availability.
- I have the experience and background for the job, how can I market myself? Landing the job is very much like selling yourself as a product: Do you fulfill the requirements of the job and are you a good deal? To itemize the five steps to a successful encounter, here is a checklist to make sure each step is executed flawlessly.
- Identify what the job details. Job descriptions normally give you a description of the qualifications and responsibilities. Try to quantify these into skills and qualities that the employer is looking for.12
- Build a resume that speaks to the job. Your resume should be completely geared towards the job. EVERY line should have some relevancy or meaning that you would like to convey to the employer.13 Make sure to have someone else review your resume to catch any spelling or grammatical errors which are a major no-no!
- Write a winning cover letter. A cover letter is usually the first thing the employer reads. A cover letter both showcases your writing skills and entices the reader to look at your resume.
- Own the interview. As everyone always says, practice makes perfect. Do your homework on the company and do mock interviews to prepare.14
- Reliable and strong references. Always have people that you have worked with professionally to vouch for your abilities. If you don’t have any from a prior job, you can always ask a teacher/professor, as it is normal for employers to ask for references and the worst thing would be not having any to provide.15
The job market is tough right now for people of all backgrounds and qualifications. Good things will happen to those who are persistent and persevere through the challenges. There are many ways to get your foot in the door, which is really half the battle. This can be through family, friends, informational interviews, or career fairs. Don’t underestimate the power of the human connection. With that said, many prefer to blast apply to job opportunities—below is a list of job boards that are updated daily. Good luck in your search!
http://jobs.cleanedge.com/
http://cleantechjobs.cleantechies.com/a/jobs/find-jobs
http://www.cleantechrecruits.com/
http://www.goinggreenjobs.com/
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/
%20%20%20%20%20greendreamjobs.main
http://greenjobsearch.org/
http://jobs.grist.org/
http://www.greenjobspider.com/
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/careers
http://www.startuphire.com/
http://www.lowcarbon.com/
http://jobs.greenbiz.com/
http://careercenter.usgbc.org/home/index.cfm?site_id=2643
http://www.renewableenergyjobs.com/
EHSCareers.com
U.S. Green Building Council – Career Center
