By Maria Hanson, LiveCareer
Hankering to have a career that helps the planet, but don't know how open the door
to the rewarding world of green jobs? You're not alone. Although the number of green
jobs is on the rise, green jobs are still few and far between. It can be hard to
navigate a path to a green career, but these expert tips can help.
"There are not yet a lot of
green jobs out there, and the ones that are open usually require previous
experience in corporate sustainability," says recruiter, writer, and eco-entrepreneur
Dan Smolen, author of Tailoring the Green Suit. "And therein lies the rub."
The good news is that you don't have to be a wind-power wizard or solar guru to
be part of the green industry. Green companies need workers of every stripe, from
support staff to accountants to sales. And there are other ways to break into the
green jobs that don't require gobs of green experience or green degrees.
"You just need to think outside the box. Green careers are out there!" says Kathryn
Minshew, editor in chief of PYP Media.
Here are some expert tips that will help you get on a verdant path to a green career.
Turn your current job green. "No one is going to hand you a great
green job," says Neil Chambers, who runs a green design and consulting studio. "You
have to create the one you want." If you have a job that's not green, make it green,
advises Smolen. "This could mean approaching senior management with a plan to reduce
the company's carbon-footprint," Smolen says. "This is very green experience that
will go a long way toward establishing a green career."
"Green up" your transferrable skills. Many non-green jobs are easily
transferred to greener pastures. If you're a writer, start trying to write more
about green topics. In sales? Focus on green sales opportunities. A building contractor?
Get knowledgeable about
sustainability and show off your green side. Before you know it, you'll
be known for your green roots, and green jobs will come to you more easily.
Don't sell yourself short. A green background isn't always necessary
for creating a green career. If you're good at what you do, you could be a boon
for many green companies. "While it's always helpful to find people who understand
the industry, we find that we are much better off hiring people with the skills
we need…and then helping them learn the industry," says Ed Weisberg, a vice president
of GXT Green. George Jordan, general manager of the Hotel Felix, a LEED-certified
green hotel in Chicago, says that even employees who start out with no eco-consciousness
quickly become proud to work "in the green."
Be a green volunteer or intern. A great way to break into a green
career is to volunteer or intern at a green organization, says Kim Matsoukas, sustainability
manager at Bentley Prince Street, Inc. Classes in green topics are helpful, but
"it's one thing to take a class and understand a concept, but quite another to be
able to offer a concrete value to a potential employer," she says. Volunteering
for a green cause or interning with a green company can give you valuable real-life
skills. Increase your chances of getting the job and apply with a
green resume.
Speak up. Smolen advises that "becoming a public face" for green
business can go a long way toward opening eco-friendly career doors. "Speak at business
gatherings, write op-ed columns, encourage skill-based volunteerism at work, and
walk the walk," he says.
Become an eco entrepreneur. Sometimes the easiest way to enter
the green field is to start your own green company. "A lot of green jobs will be
created this way," says Smolen. If you've always wanted to
start your own business, green is a great color to aim for in the future,
say eco-business experts.
Save some paper and go green with your job search. Activate your
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