December 1, 2009
Barnard Career Development Elliott Hall, 2nd Floor www.barnard.edu/cd
LIBRARY RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT:
TEN TIPS FOR WORKING AT GREEN JOBS 1. Be prepared to be interdisciplinary – often organizations are small; you may have to do many different tasks in your job. 2. Be flexible – you may be working with the public and many outreach and advocacy jobs have odd work hours – nights and weekends. 3. Know the mission – know what problem the organization is trying to solve so you can tell them what you will bring to the organization. 4. Dressy is not always better – It seems silly, but if you are applying for a job that has major fieldwork components, coming to an interview in a skirt and heels may not be the best choice. If you are applying to work with an environmental law firm, by all means look as professional as possible. If you are unsure, you can always ask what the dress code is on the phone interview. But still – overdressed is better than under. 5. If you can’t find a full time job right away - look for internships. Often employers will try to keep interns they liked and invite them to apply for full time openings. 6. It’s not just science – Green organizations are supported by lawyers, public relations, HR, marketing, economics, web and computer support, and writers. There are many types of green jobs – many non-profit organizations always need volunteers. You can get a feel for the organization, and types of jobs, and you can find out what you don’t like.
THE ECO GUIDE TO CAREERS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY: THE ENVIRONMENTAL CAREERS ORGANIZATION
This new volume immerses you in the strategies and tactics that leading professionals are using to tackle pressing problems and create innovative solutions. Explore: Global climate change; Biodiversity; Green Business; Ecotourism; Environmental Justice; Green Architecture; and many other critical issues. Learn about environmental career opportunities in the 21st century. Available in the Career Development Library!
7. Networking works – most green organizations are small – and there is a lot of “cross-pollination”. You may end up working with someone you met at a conference. 8. Green jobs can be where you make them – every field can be more sustainable, and you might be surprised what organizations or fields have positions, or need people to make them more sustainable. (Fashion and beauty – textiles and products; medicine – energy use and water conservation; education – waste reduction, food, and eco-literacy) 9. Some large corporations have a bad “green rep” (think Wal-Mart) - but surprisingly they also have sustainability departments – working is a legitimate way to get them to change the inside. Don’t count them out. 10. Think big or small – Multinational corporations can have huge amounts of waste – making them sustainable is a big job. Or, work with your local, small, family owned business improving the health of small businesses – being green can equal real dollars for small businesses. Source: Michelle LaRocco BC‘04, Stewardship Coordinator at The Nature Conservancy (http://www.nature.org/). Interested in learning more about the ins and outs of living and working green? Contact Alexandra Nestoras in Career Development at anestoras@barnard.edu for Michelle’s information.
2