This week I delve into a bit more detail about how you can launch a career in sustainability consulting (though much of this advice translates across other areas as well.) If you put a concerted effort into determining where it is that you and your skills best fit, you should be able to evaluate whether sustainability consulting is where you belong or perhaps whether there is a different space where you fit even better AND you can still have the impact you so desire.
As individuals from all kinds of backgrounds and industries push into the field of sustainability consulting, it can become murky as to what that work even entails. This is especially true when considering the different perspectives and methodologies that are employed and adding even more complexity is the variability among clients and their needs. Thus, this quote sums up for me what sustainability consultants are trying to do – they help businesses address and redress the way in which they operate so that they will be better positioned for the market of the future a la decreasing their negative impact on the natural environment. Some argue that like the trends of international business and e-commerce, sustainability will at some point cease to be its own discipline and assume its rightful place within all of business practices. (At which time sustainability consultants will become just “consultants” and we can never have enough of those!)
Bright Green Talent is an environmentally-focused recruiting firm based out of London and San Francisco. With a young, bright team, we’re working to reinvent the model of recruiting and channel thousands of people into meaningful, green careers. Because we believe in the power of talented people to shape the future sustainability of our world, we are just as demanding of our interns as we would be of any team member. To thrive in a Bright Green internship, you need to be hard-working, hugely committed and have a history of excellence in everything you do.
The following green career strategies and perspectives that I found around the web. If you have a green career strategy or perspective that you would like to share, do not hesitate to contact us. Amie Vaccaro, editor of the blog, Ecofrenzy, has created a list of 15 ways to find your green dream job using networking. Carolyn at Bright Green Talent has posted an informative three-part Resume Boot Camp for student and Grads seeking a green career. Carol McClelland explains that most of the jobs within the green economy have the same job titles they have in the traditional economy. She lists several ways you can see yourself fitting into in the green economy and provide a few strategies to use to map your way into the green economy. GreenBiz.com recently talked two career experts to get their advice on entering the green job market and asked if they had special tips for experienced workers who are looking for new opportunities following layoffs.
The following green career strategies and perspectives that I found around the web. The topics include: How to write a green resume; targeting your green job search; green career transition tips for the less experienced; who will be needed in the first wave of green jobs; 101 best Twitter feeds for job hunters; and why Van Jones took a job in the Obama Administration.
The following are links to green career advice and perspectives that I found around the web. The topics include: What are the the qualities you should look for in a green mentor. Find out 6 critical skills needed to be a successful environmental professional in the global “green” economy. Randy’s Career Tips provides a list of seven green jobs that are currently in demand. Green Gigs has compiled a list of what they see are the best industry specific green job boards. CleanTechies provides the most important things to consider when writing a resume. Carolyn, from Bright Green Talent puts forth, her Linkedin Manifesto.
Matt, an intern at Bright Green Talent has an informative post up on how to make the green career transition. His plate is full. He is also interning at a sustainability consulting firm, and occasionally working in his previous profession as a commercial photographer. Below is a summary of the strategies he is using to transition to a new green career.
