Strategies for entering climate-driven industries

Want to break into climate? I’ve had over 200 career calls with climate job seekers within the past year. Here are the 4 most commonly asked questions and my best answers: ⭐ How can I get a head start in college?  • Focus your coursework and internships on an expertise/industry pair, like marketing and sustainable fashion, business and regenerative agriculture, or data science and energy. • If you can’t decide on a niche, build versatile skills like finance, engineering, design, and sales. These skills are needed across climate-focused organizations. • Most recommended internship board: EDICT Internship Program by Elemental Excelerator 💫 How can I switch to climate from another industry? • Opportunities can be found in solution-focused organizations (e.g., Pachama, Kevala), sustainability/CSR teams (e.g., Carhartt, Adobe), and governmental offices (e.g., NYC Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP), US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)). • Many people try to overhaul their entire career. Instead, try changing only one variable at a time: seek a similar role in a new industry or a new role in a familiar industry (eg; marketing in fashion → marketing at a SaaS company like Recurate). • Mentorship, freelancing, and certificates can bridge the gap in industry experience. • Most recommended mentorship opportunities: Third Derivative and GrowthMentor ✨ How do I choose a niche?  • Standing out in climate requires being a near-perfect fit. Find the intersection of what you're good at, what you love, what you can be paid for, and what's needed across climate efforts. • Hop on career calls with folks across domains and industries to learn more about the day-to-day of their roles. • Most recommended starting points for market research: Climatebase, Work on Climate, CareerOneStop, and Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) 🌎 Do I need to join a program like Terra.do, Work on Climate, or OnePointFive (opf.degree)?  • These programs are helpful but not necessary. Free resources like coaching calls, videos, and podcasts can be valuable too. • Remember that “climate” isn’t really a standalone job! Consider how you can provide value to a climate-focused team and focus on building credibility in your desired solution sector (energy, agriculture, etc.). • Most recommended programs: Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Reforge, and Stanford University's certificates. -- Interested in a free careers session? • Check out the Work on Climate Expert Office Hours list and the #OpenDoorClimate list, launched by Daniel Hill. Interested in breaking into climate as a marketer? • Here's a comprehensive guide I put together: https://lnkd.in/gUqyFh_b I did my best to keep this post short. If anybody has more they’d like to add for climate job seekers, please add it to the comments. Thank you! Illustration by @tatooine_girl

I've heard from thousands of green jobseekers that feel “stuck” in their journey to work on climate, with the four most common barriers being:  🤝 Lack of personal connections in the industry 🛠 Uncertainty on transferring skills 👷♀️ Lacking direct experience in the field 🔍 Challenges finding organizations or roles that align with interests   Last year, I hosted a mini-series of the Degrees Podcast called ‘The Year of the Climate Job.’ Each episode dissects these barriers and shares ways to overcome them. Here is the full series, along with key takeaways: 🤝 Lack of personal connections in the industry Episode: How to network for a green job with purpose-driven LinkedIn expert Nick Martin - https://lnkd.in/eNP6FJ9e Takeaways: - Browse the #OpenDoorClimate Directory to find climate professionals willing to connect and chat https://lnkd.in/gSf727gi - Use LinkedIn to build relationships with people you admire and contribute content yourself 🛠 Uncertainty on transferring skills Episode: Transfer your skills to a green job with Work on Climate’s Eugene Kirpichov - https://lnkd.in/ecjggq_V Takeaways: - Try to connect with people in jobs that you want to understand what skills they use day-to-day - Take stock of your own skills and remember that climate-focused companies need traditional skills 👷♀️ Lacking direct experience in the field Episode: Learn how to build your climate experience with Terra.do founder Anshuman Bapna - https://lnkd.in/e2tKYnTQ Takeaways: - Consider courses or certification programs that incorporate case studies or capstone projects - Try pitching yourself for freelance or project-based work or volunteerism 🔍 Challenges finding organizations or roles that align with interests Episode: Taking the mystery out of finding a green job with Green Jobs Board’s Kristy Drutman - https://lnkd.in/eZbJVPwJ Takeaways: - Pair skills with what you’re passionate about when searching general or climate job boards - Follow industry news and analysis hubs to learn about companies and potential roles 🤷♂️ Unsure how to use current job for climate action Episode: How to green any job with Project Drawdown’s Jamie Beck Alexander - https://lnkd.in/eMKVEFPN Takeaways: - Understand the leverage points of existing job functions have to take climate action - Organize with other interested coworkers to brainstorm and come together on issues and action I also recommend checking out the latest season of Degrees from Yesh Pavlik Slenk featuring some incredible guests, including Katharine Hayhoe, Solitaire Townsend, Drew Wilkinson and Shannon Houde,. https://lnkd.in/eba8GBdF

Networking is crucial for job hunting, but many have fear, get stuck, and don’t know where to begin. Here’s a proven technique that works for our climate-motivated job seekers to break into the space and create real opportunities for themselves through active job listings and accessing the "hidden job market". ➡️Step 1: Narrow Your Focus Target Specific Roles: Pick 1-2 job titles. (If you’re not looking to leave your non-climate job, Drew Wilkinson has tons of resources for you) Target Specific Climate Verticals: Use resources like Work on Climate, MCJ Collective, ClimateTechList, Climate Tech Action Network, Terra.do, OnePointFive (opf.degree), Voiz Academy, Project Drawdown and Climatescape to identify the climate solutions you're most passionate about. ➡️Step 2: Identify Companies Leverage LinkedIn: Follow relevant companies and executives. Explore Accelerators: Find innovative companies through climate-focused accelerators. Use Market Maps: Identify key players in specific climate sectors (Sightline Climate (CTVC) has lots). Climate Specific Job Boards (hey ClimateTechList, Climatebase, The Green Jobs Board - greenjobsearch.org) ➡️Step 3: Connect with the Right People Search Smart: Use job titles and keywords to find contacts. Ask for Referrals: Get introduced to relevant people. Use #OpenDoorClimate: Find professionals open to networking (s/o Daniel Hill). ➡️Step 4: Build Genuine Relationships Be Prepared: Have specific questions ready. Show Authenticity: Treat networking like building friendships. Express Gratitude: Always thank and follow up with your contacts. ➡️Step 5: Enjoy Networking Engage in Fun Activities: Network in environments you enjoy. Be Yourself: Authenticity builds stronger connections (Laurie McGinley teaches this exceptionally well). ➡️Step 6: Test and Track Outreach Experiment: Try different message templates and track their success. Stay Organized: Keep records of your outreach and analyze what works (here’s a template that can help: https://lnkd.in/eSf7TiEV) ➡️Step 7: Handle Rejections Be Proactive: Keep reaching out and participating actively. Normalize Rejections: Understand that rejections and lack of responses are part of the process. ➡️Step 8: Showcase Your Value Highlight Unique Skills: Clearly articulate what sets you apart (This is Mona Johnson, MS’s specialty). Address Challenges: Understand and solve the company's pain points. ➡️Step 9: Join Climate People's Climate Career Bootcamp! Get Practical: Our 4-hour session provides templates, resources, and confidence to enhance your job search. It’s jam-packed with actionable steps and will give you access to our network. This session is geared towards highly-motivated job seekers ready to put in the work! Learn more about the Bootcamp here! https://lnkd.in/epFH3xxx Read more of this networking advice in our most recent blog:  https://lnkd.in/eG4S3sQY 

In October, Leone Baron and I ran a webinar for MCJ Collective and Climate People focused on helping job seekers think more expansively about how to get that coveted climate job. We polled the audience "What strategies have you tried to get a climate job? Start your own company, apply for a new job and quit your old one, examine the intersection of your current job with sustainability and redefine it for others in your field, or influence your current employer to put more resources into sustainability and create more job opportunities?” Just 2% of respondents said they had tried to influence their current employer! While this survey is far from scientific, I think it reflects a bottleneck that’s keeping thousands of frustrated job seekers on the sidelines as they apply for jobs over and over again to no avail. Staying in your current company and advocating for more resources for sustainability is not only a more practical and accessible path to getting a climate job - it can also be more impactful for the planet. We need people pushing every company in every industry to be more sustainable from the inside. Here are some key takeaways from the call: 🌍 We need a broader, more expansive view of climate jobs (this includes traditionally blue-collar jobs - it's not just about climate tech) 🙎🏾♀️ We need to change the paradigm of who gets to work on sustainability inside companies (it can no longer only be people with the title) 🏭 You may not have to leave your current employer to get a climate job ✊🏾 Employee organizing can create pressure and push your employer to be more sustainable, which often leads to more climate jobs and opportunities for the entire workforce 🚶🏾♂️ Working on climate is a journey, not a destination. You are turning a dial, not flipping a switch. Check out the recording and let us know what you think!