If you read articles on this website you are most likely interested in green technology and sustainability and would probably be interested in working in a green job. There is lots of talk about the new green economy and the job growth that all the new green technology will create. But how do you get a job in green tech? Hopefully this article can offer a bit of advice on how to land a green job.
One good place to start is thegreenjobbank.com. The site lets you search by state and/or industry or by specific company name. In addition, there is a section for educational programs as well as an employer database that provides an overview of green companies. Also there is news and a reader forum section that is interesting as well. Based on my perusing the web, thegreenjobbank.com appears to be the best green job site on the web.
Another productive job search method is to become familiar with the green companies in your area. Trade associations can be a good source of information. As I have been writing articles for this website I have come to realize that there are several green tech companies within walking distance of where I live that I did not know existed until I happened upon them or when they were mentioned in passing in news articles. While the green job bank mentioned above is a great resource it is by no means complete. Knowing the local green business scene is a key step in landing a green job. Another tactic is to get your foot in the door and then work your way up to the green job you really want. Green companies, like companies everywhere need accountants, office staff etc. Taking one of these positions gives you the opportunity to learn about the company and industry and be able to move up into different jobs than your initial skill set may have qualified you for.
My last piece of advice is valid for any job search – network. Knowing someone working in an industry or a company you are interested in is probably the best way to land a job. Numerous books have been written on how to network so if you need a brush-up on your networking skills I suggest you check them out.
Hopefully this article gave you some new ideas about how to land a green job. If there are any websites, forums or blogs that you are aware of that are also good please send me an email to John@2ndgreenrevolution and I will mention them in a future posting.
