Remake a Living: Why can't I find a job?

I thought the green job market was hot!

Posted by Kevin Doyle (Guest Contributor) at 5:21 AM on 13 Feb 2007

Read more about: green jobs

"If the green job market's so hot, why can't I find a job?"

job applicant I've been talking up the rising eco-job market so much that I should have known there would be a backlash. It came most recently from an exasperated job seeker who's failed to land a decent job, let alone get an interview -- or even find appropriate positions to apply for. "Is this the 'hidden' job market I've heard about?" she asked. "It seems downright invisible!"

Hmm ... is it possible that I could be, well, you know, um ... wrong? (Heavens no!) Let's explore.

The environmental careers market is strong and steady right now, not only in traditional green fields like environmental protection and natural-resource management, but especially in the rapidly expanding world of organics, renewable energy, energy conservation/efficiency, environmental health, green building, and research areas related to global warming. Unlike the rising tide, however, a rising economy doesn't lift all boats. If your boat is stuck in the mud, here are seven possible explanations:

Your range of acceptable positions is too narrow. No one is a stronger advocate of seeking your dream job than I am. I wish that everyone could earn a high salary with wonderful benefits, doing progressive work they love, with fabulous colleagues, in a family-friendly environment, close to home. But if you're having difficulties finding your job, it may be time to expand the parameters of your search into other geographic areas and/or other sectors of the economy. I worked with someone recently who said that he was "wide open" to all jobs, as long as they weren't in business (too mercenary) or government (too bureaucratic), didn't require a commute of more than 30 minutes from his midsize city, understood his need for a 40-hour week, paid more than $100,000, and had an old-fashioned, defined benefit retirement plan. Uh huh. I'll get right back to you on that.

You're not "out there." When a person is gainfully employed, it's easy to be actively engaged in a wide collection of different networks. There are committees to serve on, conferences to go to, work partnerships to participate in -- and you get paid for it! It's so much harder to stay involved in these important networks when you don't have the official sanction -- and financial support -- that a job title provides. Yes, it's difficult, but you have to do it. One idea: find at least one paid gig as an independent contractor while you're out of work, and use it as a vehicle for staying involved in and expanding your networks.

You're not as competitive as you think you are. A shocking possibility, I know, but one that you have to consider. Remember that the employer gets to decide who is the best candidate. They have criteria of their own -- many of which are never disclosed, or are deeply buried, in the formal job announcement. It's up to you to ferret out the specific combination of knowledge, skills, attitudes, experience, and recommenders that defines the finalist pool for decision-makers. When you have that information, you can accurately assess your realistic chances to rise into the top three to four candidates.

You're not tailoring your resum� and cover letter. Here's a reminder for something you already know: You must alter your resum� for each position you apply for so that the connections between your qualifications and the priority-selection criteria for the job literally leap off of the page -- sometimes in bold italics, underlined. No one is going to do detective work on your resum� to see if you have the right stuff. You have to show them that you're the one that they want, clearly and unambiguously.

Your skill and knowledge level has fallen behind the times. We've all been told over and over that the speed of change makes our skills obsolete more quickly than ever. We nod our heads in agreement. But many of us fail to take action on the obvious conclusion to be drawn from the reality of a rapidly changing world. You must continue to upgrade your skills and knowledge -- both through formal degrees and certifications, and through informal learning on your own. This is especially true of technical skills.

Your profession is shrinking, disappearing, exported, or fundamentally changed. The overall environmental job market may be expanding, but that doesn't mean that every field and sector is vibrant. Just ask the diminishing numbers of corporate "environment, health, and safety" professionals. In every profession, there are subareas that are hot and others that aren't. Thankfully, there are people in your career area who track emerging trends and help you stay ahead of the curve. Find out who they are, and start paying attention.

You come across as process-focused instead of results-driven. Here's one way to check: Does your resum� describe the "tasks and responsibilities" of the jobs you've had? Or does it vividly highlight the results that you've achieved for your employers? Can you talk easily about the results that you've accomplished and the even-better results that you aim for in the future?

Of course, there are many other possible explanations for a stymied job search. For example, you may be one of the many victims of employment discrimination based on age, race, gender, culture -- even body size and personal appearance. It happens every day, and it may be happening to you. Still, the seven possibilities above are pretty common, and they give you a brief checklist to examine your situation and make some midcourse corrections.

As always, I'd love to hear from you. How is your environmental job search working out? Share your story with the rest of us.

Have a question for Remake a Living? Send an email to ,or post a comment below.

Kevin Doyle. Kevin Doyle is the national director of program development for the The Environmental Careers Organization in Boston. He is coauthor of The ECO Guide to Careers That Make a Difference: Environmental Work for a Sustainable World and The Complete Guide to Environmental Careers in the 21st Century.

For story: Remake a Living: Why can't I find a job?
31 Comments | Post a Comment

Good advice on the cover letter

When I was hiring people (something I'm not directly involved in anymore), we placed great emphasis on the cover letter. We looked for people who wrote well, who expressed themselves clearly, and who gave us a "guided tour" of the key points of their resume that jibed with the requirements of the job we were advertising.

In my own job-hunting, I've always avoided the "obituary style" resume that simply lists my jobs from most recent to oldest, but instead organize my resume according to skill or topic area (writing, editing, project management, etc.) and tailor that to each job I'm applying for. That has always worked well for me.

Another tip: if the job advertisement says "no phone calls, please," don't call. Some "experts" advise that you call anyway to show how eager and interested your are, but when I was hiring, anyone who called us had their resume taken out of the pile and thrown in the recycling bin, because they had just demonstrated that they couldn't follow instructions!

by bhurley at 6:49 AM on 13 Feb 2007

No phone calls, please

Hi, bhurley...I'm one of those so-called experts who tell job seekers to take "no phone calls, please" as a challenge, not an order. Or course you don't want to demonstrate that you can't follow instructions. And, you don't want to irritate people in exactly the way that they've indicated they dislike. Here's what we sometimes suggest. If you're interested in a job enough to apply for it, you're probably interested in that organization (and its people) at a broader level as well. Perhaps this is a good time to start getting to know them a little better, eh? Are they sponsoring an event soon? Is there a project, program or campaign going on that you'd like to know more about? There are always a dozen reasons for being in touch with creative people in your field that have nothing to do with applying for a posted job. If your contact just happens to occur around the same time that your dream job is being advertised...well, let's just say that would be a happy coincidence.

Kevin Doyle kevinldoyle@gmail.com

by Kevin Doyle at 7:24 AM on 13 Feb 2007
[ Parent ]

How to Market Entry-Level Environmentalists

Earning my B.S. in environmental science was the best thing I have ever done . . . or so I thought until I entered the job market. I found myself ready for NOTHING. My education was too broad for me to have specialized in anything. I spent too much time trying to get good grades, so I had no worthwhile experience and I didn't have the money to jump back into graduate school. Is it even worth recent graduates like myself trying to enter the environmental field? Or should we just do crappy non-advancing work until we save up enough money to go back to graduate school?

by apple at 9:59 AM on 13 Feb 2007

how to get a job with only a BS

Take it from someone with 30 years in environmental science (mostly in government). You need contacts and experience. Some options: get involved in local environmental groups, or start attending community planning public meetings. Volunteer to work in environmental organizations, or at a nearby national park or wildlife refuge. If you can, apply for summer jobs related to your field of interest. Depending on your type of environmental degree, consider becoming a volunteer firefighter, where you would get basic spill cleanup training and experience. I began my career as a coop-education student while in college, but still found that I got better job experiences as a volunteer (and made better connections with those that would hire me that way). Good luck!

by cpollio at 10:39 AM on 13 Feb 2007
[ Parent ]

There is a job for you

As an employer of many people who have BS degrees in environmental science, I can guarantee current students that there are job opportunities for you. I also agree with "apple" that lots of undergraduate environmental science grads have a hard time finding work after graduation. The difference usually lies in how directed, rigorous and career-focused your undergraduate experience was. There's not nearly enough room to go into it here, but four things tend to differentiate the strong environmental science grads from the weaker ones.

(1) Did you have a focus in your environmental science curriculum that relates strongly to a more specific discipline(e.g. earth science, forestry, conservation biology, botany, wildlife science, environmental engineering, etc.)? Or, was your curriculum so diffuse that it didn't allow you gain more than a thin overview of many different fields?

(2) Did you get significant amounts of field and/or lab work? Also, was there a significant quantitative component?

(3) Was your policy/education/communication classwork complementary to your scientific base, or did it dilute it too much?

(4) Did you complete one or more professional-level internships during your undergrad years?

I'm sorry if it's a bit late for you, Apple (although please don't give up hope if you're still passionate and looking for work), but perhaps current BS students in enviromental science can learn from your experience.

Kevin Doyle kevinldoyle@gmail.com

by Kevin Doyle at 11:33 AM on 13 Feb 2007
[ Parent ]

entry-level environmentalists

Apple, I feel your pain. I graduated with a B.S. in Natural Resource Management in 2003, and even though I had a ton of field and office experience, I couldn't find a job. I took several environmentally/ecologically related internships to gain more experience, and supplemented that with some retail work until I headed back to grad school last year. But -- you don't have to do that. I do know people who just hung in there while pursuing positions at non-profits they respected. It took a few months, and a lot of work (volunteering, making contacts, etc.) but it worked. A lot of them pursued low-level or admin positions just to get a foot in the door.

Some schools offer career services to their alumni well after graduation, and I really recommend starting there. Or just talking to your professors/peers from school, making contacts with other working alumni or colleagues through them.

Good luck!

by Jocelyn at 11:58 AM on 13 Feb 2007
[ Parent ]

More on entry-level

Summer jobs that you hold when you're a student can do a lot to help build your resume when you're first starting out. The summer after I graduated from high school I got a job working at one of the Audubon Ecology Workshops -- as a dishwasher. Not quite the position I'd hoped for, but I made a lot of good contacts there who helped me out later. Then in college I worked as a crew leader in summers for the Youth Conservation Corps, plus one summer after I graduated doing field research on salt marsh restoration. That experience plus my B.A. in Environmental Science helped get me my first job. It did take a couple of years to find a job in my field, though. I spent those years doing light industrial temp work in factories and warehouses for Manpower, which in itself was a good experience even if it didn't contribute to my career.

Personally I haven't found my lack of a more advanced degree to be an impediment to my career. Several times over the years I've been hired over other candidates who had Masters or even PhDs. But I've been involved mostly in the communications and policy end of things; if I had wanted to do research or field work I would have gone on to get a higher degree.

by bhurley at 12:46 PM on 13 Feb 2007

Be Entrepeneurial and Go get'em!

A different approach may be needed. Instead of sending a resume saying this is what I have done, send a proposal with what you can/will do. For example if there is an company, organization, school, etc. that you want to work for; try to find out as much as you can about them and where they could be greener. Write up a summary of your findings, how your expertize could "fix" their situation, how it could add value to the entity and then send it.
Signed,
One who also hopes to have a green job soon.

by JoeyDiana at 1:44 PM on 13 Feb 2007

older workers in "dirty" industries

Hello Mr. Doyle.

At first I was intrigued by your topic. I currently work in the biotechnology industry, but would prefer to work in a field focused on preserving the environment. I thought I would learn about how to change careers, how to use current skills in an environmentally-friendly way.

But after looking into the matter, I am very discouraged. The boom in green jobs is only for those already having appropriate experience, considering which career to pursue when they enter college, or prepared to absorb a severe salary cut (as in dropping from $40,000 per year to $25,000 per year).

What does someone who is in their 40s, has an advanced degree in molecular biology, and a mortgage payment do? I cannot imagine studying for a second degree, especially if at the end of several years all the green jobs may be filled or some other area may be all the rage.

Are resources available for helping someone figure out how to transfer current skills to an entirely new industry? I find the local organizations focused on business professionals rather than science professionals. They don't know what to do with someone who has spent years in a laboratory.

by willcloneforfood at 2:34 PM on 13 Feb 2007

Re: older workers in "dirty" industries

In your specific case, laboratory skills are in fact much sought-after in some environmental fields; you could probably find a job in a government agency or an environmental consulting firm, and you probably wouldn't have to take a pay cut. Furthermore, some industrial companies are actively engaged in pursuits such as "green chemistry" that could significantly reduce their impact on the environment and make them less "dirty." You seem to be equating "green job" with working for an environmental organization, but in fact there are many truly green jobs in industry and government.

by bhurley at 3:51 PM on 13 Feb 2007

How do I focus my interest?

I care deeply about the environment and want to devote myself to conservation as a full-time career, but it makes sense to me that just writing to a nonprofit and saying "I love your mission, how can I help you?" isn't enough. I got some advice that I also needed to pick a function, e.g. finance, marketing or such, and build that side of my resume as well. But it's the environmental stuff I'm most interested in! Do you agree with this advice? If so, how do I pick the function? Besides the obvious types of functions, what else might not have occurred to me? And once I know what I have to offer to an environmental organization, how do I find out what jobs are currently available?

by junting at 4:15 PM on 13 Feb 2007

Don't Wear Tevias to the Interview

Grist Greeners need to learn some basic etiquette:

Open toe doesn't work for interviews...especially on males.
Multicolor ties are de rigeur. Multicolored suit jackets with feathers on the buttons -- a no-no!
When asked whether one would like to sample some "hash" from the breakfast menu at the company cafeteria, don't drool and roll your eyes and say "yeaaaaah mannnnn".

by jabailo at 5:18 PM on 13 Feb 2007

I LOVE my "green job"

Just a quick note from my self-imposed exile before I drift back into Lurkland. I'm happy, KNOWING that I'm "saving our forests", regardless of what some of you believe about the Forest Service. If you open your minds and broaden your horizons, you may find there ARE good jobs out there that benefit the environment and enrich the soul. (I can already hear the cries of "industry shill")

That is all

8^X

Scenic pics at http://Lhfotoware.blogspot.com

by Backcut at 7:44 PM on 13 Feb 2007

Rub it in, Backcut

Open minds, who needs them? I have self-righteousness on my side.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

by biodiversivist at 8:28 PM on 13 Feb 2007

the school/job disconnect

blacksheep1:

I know others in Apple's position - even those who have master's degrees! I think part of the problem may be somewhat of a disconnect between school and the professional world. In school (or at least the ones I've been to), there is an abundance of knowledge seeking but not as much specific skill building or preparation for specific careers. So you end up with a very expensive brain but not a lot of immediately marketable skills (can I put, "give me a problem, and I'll solve it!" on my resume?)...maybe that makes you more promotable once you get in the door, but it works against landing that first job. An interdisciplinary understanding of environmental issues is important in a general educational sense, but not specializing is a mistake if your goal is to enter the job market.

I've known a lot of people entering environmental science and environmental policy programs without a specific idea of what they want to do with the degree - they just know they want to do some good, to help protect the environment, and they are generally interested in that discipline (science or policy, sometimes something slightly more specific, but still without a specific career in mind, like environmental justice or wetlands). It is easy (especially in a 2 year master's program) to "waste" a lot of classes figuring out what you are most interested in, leaving your specialty area (assuming you have one) rather thin.

I think environmental schools could do a lot more to package specific degrees tailored for specific types of jobs. In law school, all students spend the first year getting the same fundamentals, but then they need to choose an area and specialize...the next two years are spent in that specialty. The few electives you get are way at the end of the degree. It seems that other professional degrees share this (engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, medicine...), both at the undergrad and graduate levels.

Of course, many schools walk a fine line. They don't want to just give you a bunch of skills ("you can get that at community college"): they want to help you build well-educated and comprehensive views, to learn how to research and write and think, problem solve, etc. But, from my limited experience, schools could do a little more through the inherent structure of their programs to help students from the classroom to the job market...

blacksheep2 adds: that's all true.

Also, when people get master's degrees, they are unwilling/unable to get crappy jobs to build their careers.

Students don't spend enough time figuring out what they enjoy and how they can contribute before returning to school for a graduate degree. Most graduate programs function on the supposition that student's are capable, at this advanced level, of formulating their own academic program. Having the choice of many courses which satisfy some predetermined set of criteria does not necessarily also satisfy future job requirements. There is a fundamental tradeoff between acquiring narrow and focused skills or broad-based general skills. Most students are attracted to many different topics and have a difficult time, without proper guidance, selecting appropriate coursework to prepare for their future career(s). Without adequate training, they are ill-prepared for their future, regardless of how many environemtnal jobs are seemingly available.

by blacksheep at 10:48 PM on 13 Feb 2007

Looking for eco admin job in Dallas

I'm just looking for a regular admin job (not entry level) in Dallas and everything that I see is way too upper level (directors, engineers, scientists, etc.) for me. If I were in Austin, I'd have no trouble but Dallas isn't quite as advanced as Austin.

I've worked for both big corporations & small businesses so size doesn't matter but I prefer more laidback work environments. Any ideas on where to search?

lruby

by lruby at 6:47 AM on 14 Feb 2007

but where to find that job or internship?

I invite everyone struggling to find the right match to visit the Orion Grassroots Network's Internship and Career Service. Close to 300 great openings with non-profit watershed councils, community farms, advocacy projects, envi education programs, backcountry crews, and more, all over the place. Internships to executive positions. We're here: http://www.orionsociety.org/ics

The Orion Grassroots Network: supporting grassroots groups working for conservation, justice, & more

by Erik Hoffner at 6:53 AM on 14 Feb 2007

Hey, we aren't all scientists!

What about some advice for the non-scientist types? I didn't know environmentalism was only a career path for biologists and chemists! I guess it's supposed to be obvious--the only non-science career paths that have to do with environmentalism are nonprofit-management things, or else working for companies that produce green products in their marketing/PR/etc departments, but still.

As for specialization in school, it seems to me that there are no good answers. Don't specialize, in the interests of becoming a well-rounded, well-educated person, and you'll quickly discover that you can't, in fact, put "give me a problem, and I'll solve it!" on your resume. Specialize, and you'll invariably find that the field has either dried up and blown away or else moved ahead so fast your education is useless by the time you actually get a degree. Some people are successful of course--as evidenced by the people who've said here that they're happy with their jobs--but it seems more a stroke of luck than anything. Knowing the right people, and being the right person in the right place at the right time, and being interested in something in which there are some jobs...all these things help, but there is apparently no way to know how any of them will play out until afterwards. You can be brilliant and well-educated and have lots of friends in the field you think you want to go into, and still never be in the right place at the right time.

Not that I'm bitter.

by willa at 7:14 AM on 14 Feb 2007

Willa, you're hired.

If I had the money to hire some help for global warming mitigation, I would need those educated in the ability to question authority with backgrounds in history, engineering, construction, finance, communications,...

I need survivors and visionaries with diverse skills... "give me a problem, and I'll solve it!" Yes!

by sunflower at 8:01 AM on 14 Feb 2007

environmental applications of molecular biology

Will clone for food? Has it really come to this? I don't know the details of your specific situation, of course, but here are some general thoughts. First, I hope that we can all agree that human health issues connected to air, water, soil, building and food pollution are environmental concerns of the first order - and that molecular biologists are actively involved in this work. Second, I'm assuming that a person with molecular biology training in one subspecialty could shift focus to a different area without the need for a completely new degree.

Molecular biologists are widely employed at places involved with animal health and behavior, environmental and public health, and (to a lesser extent) ecological health and restoration. You can find employment at public health laboratories, control boards and inspection agencies; laboratories connected to state and federal agriculture, fish and wildlife, forestry, and environmental health agencies; and consulting firms that serve these areas.

They also work throughout the agricultural industry (and with its many watchdogs and critics) and at wildlife preserves, parks and zoos, botanical gardens, and arboretums.

Molecular biology is an excellent background from which to build a career as a junior high or high school science teacher (for which the need has never been greater).

It's true that the higher salaries for molecular biology have tended to go towards those working with and for big pharma - not only as researchers and lab techs, but also in management, sales and marketing. My own limited understanding of the market, however, makes me think that a good negotiator needn't assume a paycut anywhere near the 38% in "willcloneforfood"'s example.

In terms of opportunities for targeted assistance, "willclone" certainly has a point. Local career assistance centers are usually woefully inadequate when it comes to helping lab types and scientific trade associations are often focused exclusively on the academically employed PhDs that make up their membership.

I've found that college alumni associations from your alma mater are great sources of job leads, and that organizations like the ones below will help out with connections if you push a bit.

American Institute of Biological Sciences
http://www.aibs.org

American Society for Biochemis ...

Finally, I understand that a group of scientists has begun to work with the Springer publishing house on a book about careers in bioengineering and biotechnology which will examine a wide variety of alternative career paths. You are not alone in your search for more ways to serve and earn a living.

Kevin Doyle kevinldoyle@gmail.com

by Kevin Doyle at 8:59 AM on 14 Feb 2007
[ Parent ]

10 Strategies for Finding Your Dream Job

As the Career Counselor for 350+ graduate students at the University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources and Environment, my work revolves around helping students find their dream jobs.

Here are a few tips I've picked up along the way, including my 12 years on staff at the National Wildlife Federation prior to my career counseling days.

Find a Focus. Do you want to work for a national conservation organization in Washington, D.C. working on climate change policy issues? Do you want to be an aquatic biologist for a tribal natural resource agency?
Make a job search plan with specific tasks and timelines for each month. Identify how much time you have each week to spend on your job search.
Make a list of the organizations that you are interested in working for and bookmark their job posting pages. Add bookmarks for general environmental job search pages that have positions that interest you. Check them weekly.
Identify several mentors that can help you make important professional connections in your field and help you lookout for good job opportunities. This is how I found my first job!

Mentors can be anyone that has a good understanding of your career interests and that is willing to help you. Ideal mentors are those that have connections in your field of interest.

Believe in yourself, a positive attitude can go a very long way. Don't let little obstacles get in your way. For example, I found out late about a dream job that interested me. It was after the application deadline but I applied anyway and got the job!
Set up informational interviews with people that work for organizations that interest you and are doing work that interests you. What is an informational interview? It's a low-key meeting (by phone or in-person)--typically 20-30 minutes long that you schedule to learn more about the person's work, the organization, etc.

How to find people to interview? Alumni from your alma mater and web research of organizations that interest you (check out their staff pages) are two good places to start. Questions to ask? What is your role at this organization? What kinds of things do you do in typical month? What do you like most about your organization? What are some challenges? I am interested in x program of your organization, please tell me more about it. Be sure to tell them about your career interests and be sure they know how to reach you in the future. Keep in touch, send a thank you note for their time.

By all means, as others have suggested, use the career services of your alma mater (both for your specific program/department and through the university's alumni association). There may be free or discounted memberships for recent alumni. Many career services have alumni databases that you can access as an alumni. Also, be sure to find out about all of their job searching resources for alumni.
Attend some professional conferences. These are great places to network with people in your field of interest. Maybe even volunteer to help at the registration table where you will be seen and get to meet participants. Get the participant list beforehand if possible and contact those that you are interested in meeting beforehand to set up a time to meet at the conference. Let them know you'd like to arrange a time to chat informally to learn more about their work/ their organization and that you are trying to learn more about organizations and jobs in this field.

Bring copies of your resume and give them to people you meet. Ask them if they can pass it along to someone in Human Resources or to a specific person in a department/program that interests you. Get names and contact info of these people and follow up.

Strong resumes and cover letters that are customized for each application will make or break whether you get an interview. Make sure you know how to craft an effective resume and cover letter.
Develop a list of commonly asked interview questions and write down the answers. For each position that you may get interviewed for, add some specific questions for that position. Write down the answers. Practice saying them out loud to yourself. Have a friend do a mock interview by asking you the questions in a random order.

By the way, I found my dream job out of college and you can too! I was interested in biodiversity conservation and had volunteered as an editorial intern for an endangered species publication. The editor became my mentor. He was always on the lookout for job postings that might interest me and he was the one who alerted me to the Endangered Species Organizer job at the National Wildlife Federation that became my first job out of college.

I can't say enough about how a positive attitude and a focus area that many others (mentors and other key contacts) are aware of can help you find that dream job! Good luck!

Lisa Yee-Litzenberg Coordinator of Student Career Services University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment http://www.snre.umich.edu

by LisaY at 11:47 AM on 14 Feb 2007

Special tips for environmental jobs

Besides the information on how you write your resume and cover letter, what to wear to the interview and what questions to ask, I like to tell people some specific things about environmental jobs.

- Know the organization. I have heard so many job applicants get the name of our organization wrong, or what it is we do - read the website thoroughly before you go and read "between the lines" if you can. Are they US or international? Regional/local/state serving? Who were they founded by and when? What's their mission? Poke around their annual report if it's online. How do they get their funding? etc.

- Have some passion. One of the things that stands out for me with prospective candidates is having some personality. The last position I was hiring for needed a take-charge person and so many mumblers, yes-no-ers, and nodders didn't make the cut. Most environmental jobs will require you to have insight, initiative and problem-solving of your own. Show it!

- Don't let your major stop you. I'm an Ag major, and believe me, I'm not doing what I went to school for. Apply for something that you had one class in that you really loved. I happened to love ag policy - it was my only A - and got an internship, the rest is history.

- What functions do you perform well? Are you great with technology? Were you the first in your family to run mailing labels for your holiday cards? Do you host great parties/run great meetings? Do you love to write? Do you love to work with crowds of people? Do you love history/the law/making movies/etc.? Find opportunities to do that, either for pay or for free, and make the most of them. Put them up top on your resume and cite any recognition you got for them in BOLD.

Best of luck and as the famed comedian Will Rogers once said: "It ain't braggin' if you done it." Promote yourself!

Kay in Centreville, VA

by kaybug at 7:03 PM on 14 Feb 2007

College vs. Real World

An additional thought: There is definitely a disconnect between higher education and the working world in terms of what's provided educationally and what's needed to be employed. As the daughter of a professor, I can tell you that my entire working life has been based on finding that out!

The two systems are set up to reward completely different sets of things. Professors must acquire grants, do research, be published, gain tenure and foster the same idealism and braininess in their students. Businesses and non-profits must make money and fulfill their missions. (Businesses make profits; non-profits break even and the extra goes into endowments.) Feds must... well, let's say show efficiency. The skills that professors reward are often not the ones the job market rewards, and vice versa.

The good news is, though, that if you are resourceful, you can more than make up for a lack of practical experience by showing practicality, initiative and hard work in volunteering, temping, contracting and other non-full-time positions until you get the one you really want.

I urge all current college students, and those early in their careers, to volunteer, try to expand or deepen their job duties and otherwise find creative ways to do the things you love. Then, talk about those on a resume, and as your experience in those areas build, the education will appear lower and lower (literally and figuratively) on the document, while your actual skills will take the spotlight.

I've seen it work time and again - liberal arts majors making it big in technology project management, former airline pilots doing well in sales and marketing.

Go forth and conquer!

Kay in Centreville, VA

by kaybug at 5:56 AM on 15 Feb 2007

Jobs for Emerging Ideas

Hi everyone,

I am a recent MBA grad with a background in politics (Capitol Hill) and lobbying for conservation organizations. I am particularly interested in finding a job working with biodiversity and human health issues with a focus on zoonotic diseases - avian flu, SARS, monkey pox. Many are just realizing the connections between these issues and it seems as though it is an emerging idea. I was wondering if anyone has ideas about organizations that are working in this area? I know that the Wildlife Conservation Society does some wildlife trade work as does Traffic, and NIH works on the human health side. I am also familiar with organizations supportive of conservation medicine, but would like to further understand the opportunities. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Also, thanks to everyone who posted comments to this very helpful article.

by awolfrum at 8:56 AM on 16 Feb 2007

conservation medicine

Wildlife Trust is very big in conservation medicine and an excellent organization! Alonso Aguirre who works there is a particular expert.

by junting at 6:22 PM on 20 Feb 2007
[ Parent ]

Green jobs for number crunchers?

My situation is kind of like Willcloneforfood's. I am in my forties, I have advanced degrees (three of them, actually) and have worked most of my career in the biotech & pharmacuetical industries, but my heart is really in conservation and biodiversity. Instead of molecular biology, my PhD is in statistics. I have been trying to investigate green jobs for number crunchers, but have come up with few leads.

In addition to the fine general suggestions give above, does anyone have any suggestions particular to my situation?

by Desk Bound at 8:22 PM on 20 Feb 2007

Number crunchers

I work for an environmental consulting firm that gets much of its work through government contracts, and we have quite a few statisticians on our staff. What I would do is this: first find out which agencies (both in the US and internationally) are doing the work you're interested in, and then start calling them to find out who their contractors are. Much of the statistical analysis is likely to be done by contractors, and if you can get a job with one of them you'll be set. Also check out larger NGOs such as The Nature Conservancy and the IUCN; they probably have a need for statisticians to analyze the mountains of data they collect.

by bhurley at 4:41 AM on 21 Feb 2007

Greta, party of 1, your Catch 22 is waiting...

Like a couple of other posters, I am stuck in the ol' catch 22, as well. After 10+ years in film/video production, I decided to take a return tour-of-duty to college, to follow another passion. I graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. degree in Environmental Law & Policy. Not exactly an entry-level career. I thoughtfully designed my own comprehensive interdisciplinary curriculum -- chocked full of Honor's courses, Master's courses, Law school crashings, independant study with one of the enviro gurus, and whatever else I could beg the advisors/professors into letting me take...at UNC-CH, Duke, and NCSU. Graduated with a respectable GPA and love of ultimate frisbee.

Add this to a previous college degree in Journalism/Communications, plus a comprehensive career in multimedia, and a whole bunch of environmental activism, and it gets me exactly no where in the professional world of Earth saving...where I very much would like to focus my full attention.

Moreover, after I sold my house and had some cash reserves, I decided to give back by applying to the AmeriCorps enviro program. I was told by some intern screener, who had not even been alive as long as I have been an environmentalist, that I lacked commitment. Maybe she'd like to start paying off my $20,000 student loan.

As my sole provider with plenty of "grown-up" financial responsibilities, I really am not in a position to intern. But, for those of you who can, I think that is the best course for getting inside. Also, if your degree is in environmental science, you at least qualify for those water/soil testing entry-level jobs.

As for the Catch-22ers, perhaps we could form our own little carbon-neutral island.

NoPunProductions.com ~ AmericaTheGreen.org

by Greta at 3:13 PM on 21 Feb 2007

Looking for an Environmental Law Job

As a Communication major at Cornell University with a focus in the Life Sciences, the very few environmental jobs there were to apply to in the New York City area did not choose me. So I came to law school at Hofstra to study environmental law. Now, I'll be graduating in May, and am no closer to finding a job.

I interned at the NYS DEC last summer, but the office is so small (maybe 6-7 attorneys in the Region 2 office) that there's basically no turnover, and no hope of getting in any time soon, especially with the way the civil service exam works even if someone leaves. The NYC DEP does not have any openings either. The EPA finally has an attorney position open, but only for someone with at least 2 years experience, which I obviously don't have. They also have a brand new Public Affairs position open, which I learned about as soon as it became available through an Ivy League Environmental Career Fair last week, but are hoping to have it filled ASAP - within the next month or two - which does not work well for someone like me who will be graduating in May and then studying for the Bar for two months.

The nonprofits I've looked at don't seem to be hiring either. Everything needs experience (and how are we supposed to be able to get any?) or is in California. I'd really like to stay in or around the New York City area, and nothing is coming my way. So in case any of you happen to know of an environmental law position opening up in the NYC area for entry-level attorneys, please pass the info along. Good luck to all of you.

by halli620 at 1:39 PM on 24 Feb 2007

Finding an Environmental Job

Kevin,

I am glad you think that the number of jobs in the environmental field is on the rise, but after reading your responses to bloggers, I think you have a different impression of the job market reality than some of us who have been hitting the pavement for many years. I have a Ph.d. from an interdisciplinary program at U.C. Berkeley, with a focus on environmental policy, and ten years of experience with government environmental programs, as well as a little consulting and research experience. I have spent many hours over many years volunteering for environmental organizations and networking/doing informational interviews. I have applied to many jobs throughout the country, but mainly in the west, where I prefer to live, and have had many interviews. I have gone for literally years without finding a professional job. I have been told that my resume is impressive and that I interview well, but it is very difficult to find that right match. I have been told that there were many applicants (over 100 in some cases) for jobs I have applied for and felt fortunate to sometimes get an interview. While I do not want to work someplace like for a large oil company (they don't want me anyway,) I do not think that I am overly picky. I have done major relocations twice in the past ten years, and am getting older and really prefer not to have to do that again soon. Most people I know in the field have stayed at their jobs for many years, either because they are right for them or because they are not able to find anything else. I think that society has, at least since the early 80's, undervalued the need for environmental professionals and there just has not been the money or the jobs. Hopefully there will be some improvement with the changes in Congress and this interest in climate change. But, for now, I think your view of the environmental job market is overly optimistic and that you are too quick to place the blame/responsibility with the job seeker.

by span at 8:41 AM on 01 Mar 2007

Fair Enough, Point Taken

Thanks for your note, Span. You are not the only one who challenged my optimism, especially for those who have significant experience, are seeking a career change, or wish to stay close to their existing home.

I have no doubt that the frustrating story you shared is true in all of its particulars. And, you're correct that the good environmental job market I perceive in 2007 is not as clearly focused as the powerful growth in the market for traditional environmental protection professionals that we saw in earlier decades in response to federal regulatory drivers that fueled multi-billion dollar air, water, and hazardous waste initiatives.

Moreover, I certainly don't want to blame job seekers who are having a hard time finding work that matches their skills and experience. Building a satisfying career is hard work, with no guarantee of success, and I don't want to make it harder for anyone. I hope we can agree, however, that responsibility is very different from blame. The responsibility for our careers ultimately lies with us individually, and we inherit the opportunities and difficulties that come with that responsibility.

Having said all this, I really do see a powerfully vibrant "green" economy in 2007 - better than it's been in many years. The very definition of "environmental" work has begun to change, however, and the 2007 environmental marketplace is rewarding a mix of institutions, people and professionals that is different than the one we saw in 1997 or 1987; just as those were very different from 1977 and earlier.

I sincerely wish you luck, span, and I would be glad to keep the conversation going.

Kevin Doyle kevinldoyle@gmail.com

by Kevin Doyle at 1:18 PM on 06 Mar 2007
[ Parent ]

ADVERTISING POLICY

You are not logged in. Thus, you cannot post a comment. If you have an account, log in. If you don't have an account, well, by all means go make one! Meet you back here in five.