GreenBiz has an informative article on how to obtain a green job/green collar job in your own firm. They advise you to take advantage when your own company has not yet started any green initiative or yet staffed one. This gives you, as an insider an opportunity to position yourself as an authority on the subject before they start hiring people from the outside. While entry-level positions are easier to get because little experience is required, these internal opportunities are likely more readily available then you might think.

According to the report, Climate Change and The Implications for Policy and Corporate Strategy, almost three-quarters (73%) of firms polled will make energy efficiency a high or moderate priority over the next two years in a bid to cut costs. This will likely translate into increased opportunities internally.

Additionally, there are numerous advantages to hiring a sustainability experts from within. Hiring someone who already has credibility with the stakeholders inside the organization can often have a tremendous positive impact on the success of a newly launched sustainability program.

The key to getting on the green track within your own company is to repositioning your skill set and experience by demonstrating how your sustainability skills or experiences contribute to bottom line results. The following are a three steps GreenBiz suggests that you take to obtain a green job within your own company.

1. Position yourself as a green expert by launching internal efforts within your own departments or across the company to reduce energy usage, increase recycling, or to purchase environmentally friendly office products within your own department. When coordinating these initiatives, always analyze the cost savings.

2. Build your network of people working in green fields by joining local chapters of active green professional associations where there are opportunities to meet people from the industry and there are opportunities to get involved. I would add that building your networks within online green sustainability networks can complement and enhance your networkng efforts.

3. Identify opportunities to showcase your commitment, knowledge and skills by seeking out volunteer work with nonprofits and aligning your unique skills with the needs of the group. This will also help build your credibility.

4. There is one more step that I would like to add that I believe will help your personal brand as a sustainability professional within your own organization. I think your should write blog posts and articles on workplace sustainability for your organization’s intranet, employee blogs and other internal communication vehicles. This is one of the most effective ways to become known for your expertise in sustainability in your own company. Consider guest blogging on sustainability blog and sustainability social networks to accomplish similar goals outside of your firm.

Remember, these efforts will showcase your green skill set whether you are seeking an internal position, or a job with a new employer.

To find out additonal ways in which you can get on the green track within your own company read the How to Climb (or Get On) the Green Corporate Ladder article over at Green Biz.

Recommended Green Career Resource: UNCOVERING YOUR GREEN NICHE – One of the most important skills you can have as a green career seeker is being able to articulate your green career niche. This free ebook by Carol McClelland PhD shares the secrets of finding your green niche at GreenCareerCentral.com.

Line Break

Author: Tracey de Morsella (323 Articles)

Tracey de Morsella started her career working as an editor for US Technology Magazine. She used that experience to launch Delaware Valley Network, a publication for professionals in the Greater Philadelphia area. Years later, she used the contacts and resources she acquired to work in executive search specializing in technical and diversity recruitment. She has conducted recruitment training seminars for Wachovia Bank, the Department of Interior and the US Postal Service. During this time, she also created a diversity portal called The Multicultural Advantage and published the Diversity Recruitment Advertising Toolkit, a directory of recruiting resources for human resources professionals. Her career and recruitment articles have appeared in numerous publications and web portals including Woman Engineer Magazine, Monster.com, About.com Job Search Channel, Workplace Diversity Magazine, Society for Human Resource Management web site, NSBE Engineering Magazine, HR.com, and Human Resource Consultants Association Newsletter. Her work with technology professionals drew her to pursuing training and work in web development, which led to a stint at Merrill Lynch as an Intranet Manager. In March, she decided to combine her technical and career management expertise with her passion for the environment, and with her husband, launched The Green Economy Post, a blog providing green career information and covering the impact of the environment, sustainable building, cleantech and renewable energy on the US economy. Her sustainability articles have appeared on Industrial Maintenance & Plant Operation, Chem.Info,FastCompany and CleanTechies.