Green Jobs

According to a 2007 Forbes.com article entitled "For Job Market, Green Means Growth" (See: http://www.forbes.com/2007/07/02/environment-economy-jobs-biz_cx_bw_0703...), the growth of green jobs was comparable to the 5% annual increase experienced in 2005-2007. Due to the current economy, however, new green jobs aren’t being created at the same rate. But as companies and corporations become aware of the importance of environmental issues and the market these issues are creating, these jobs will soon be available. The following are a few recommendations for potential opportunities.

Mechanical, Engineering, Electrical– Solar panels, wind turbines, energy efficient light fixtures, etc. need to be assembled, installed, maintained and repaired. However, the companies that manufacture these products are not always the ones who install them. Some colleges and universities, such as Redstone College and Iowa Lakes Community College, are sponsoring specific training programs (See:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25886533/) to prepare graduates to fill these jobs. In 2008, General Electric committed to hiring every graduate from the wind program at Mesalands Community College in Tucumcari, NM.

Business, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources- Green Collar Jobs (See: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1809506,00.html) are more than simply blue-collar positions that have been converted. They may have similar responsibilities, but they also include the benefit of working for a company committed to sustainability.

Writing, Marketing, Training & Development –These jobs hire people to communicate how their company is meeting sustainability goals. For example, I recently helped at a career fair where several employers distributed business cards printed on seed paper to convey their focus on the environment. Positions might include:
* Writing press releases about a company’s contributions to the green movement or reporting on public policy affecting the green industry
* Green Lobbyists: (See: http://www.greencareersguide.com/Green-Lobbyist.html) working toward environmental or sustainable legislation
* Training community members and school children about the benefits of recycling or clean air. Check out Asheville, NC’s Clean Air Community Trust (See: http://www.airtrust.org/news.php)
* Writing grants or proposals to fund an organization’s sustainability initiatives

Health & Safety – These are programs and jobs that focus on negative environmental effects and even the results of biological warfare. Jobs include:
* Corporate positions related to developing policy and procedures in the event of disaster
* Positions related to compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA See: http://www.osha.gov/) or the Office of Health, Safety, and Security (See: http://www.hss.energy.gov/)
* • The University of Findlay has several Environmental Programs (See: http://www.findlay.edu/academics/colleges/cosc/academicprograms/environm...

So there you have it. Now it’s time to find a job. Think about how your skills, experience, and knowledge could fit a green job and come up with some specific ideas of green jobs to pursue. The following are a few resources for locating vacancies. Also included is general information necessary to any job search.

General Job Search Resources

* Networking –Job guru Don Asher estimates that 50-75% of jobs are filled through the Hidden Job Market (See: http://mediabeast.ites.utk.edu/mediasite4/Viewer/?peid=8043aaceae6541899...)
* LinkedIn (See: http://www.linkedin.com/)-Professional networking website for connecting with other professionals working at green companies and identifying green jobs posted within groups focused on the green industry. Check out this LinkedIn Tip Sheet (See: http://www.k-state.edu/ces/students/documents/TopCareerSites-LinkedIn.pdf) to get started
* Twitter (See: http://www.twitter.com)-Micro-blog site that some companies use to see if job seekers can adapt to cutting edge technology. Think of people or companies you want to follow in order to receive up to the minute news and happenings about the green industry

Green Job Search Resources

* Kansas State University's Career and Employment Services (See: http://www.k-state.edu/ces/students/environmentsustainability.htm)-offers basic search strategies for the Environmental and Sustainability career field
* GreenBiz.com (See: http://jobs.greenbiz.com/) lists nationwide opportunities
* The Environmental Career Center (See: http://environmentalcareer.com/green-careers-journal/) is an online journal offering resources for a green job search
* GreenJobs.com (See: http://www.greenjobs.com/public/index.aspx) may prove helpful for locating specific opportunities

There are also numerous “green job” sites that a quick Google search will return. As a Career Advisor, I would recommend using these as a resource to learn which companies are hiring, which jobs are being advertised and what key words are used in the job descriptions. Spend about half your time applying to jobs online and the other half working the hidden job market and LinkedIn. Good luck with your search!

-Laura Needs for rgbgreen.org

Laura Needs has nearly 10 years of Human Resources experience in recruiting and hiring. She has assisted students and alumni in career preparation, resume development, and job searches while working at Kansas State and Ball State Universities. Currently, Laura is working as a Recruiter for Farmers Insurance Group at their new AgencyPoint Chicago location.