Quintessential Careers:
It's Green at the Top and at the Bottom: A Brief Comparison of
Green-Related Skills Needs From the Senior-Executive Level to the Entry Level
by E. Chandlee Bryan
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Very few articles on bright spots in the economy fail to include the word "green." As much as I love the Muppets, it's time for Kermit to stop complaining that "It's Not Easy Being Green."
If you want to go "green" in your career, assess the demand for candidates at both the entry-level and in the boardroom. Knowing where the demand lies for recent grads and C-level leaders can help you determine the skill sets that are in highest demand.
Take a look at the side-by-side comparison, below, of hiring needs for entry-level job-seekers and those at the executive level. The need for individuals who "get" science is readily apparent. And while this comparison chart does not scream "green jobs," it highlights technical and scientific skills that many job-seekers can adapt to green and clean-energy jobs.
Consider also that you don't have to be a scientist to work for an environmental organization or have a green job: you can work in one of multiple job functions -- from fundraising and public relations to economic analysis, grant writing, and project management. But you do need to know what skills are in demand. Knowing where hot sectors -- and the highest-paid salaries can help you get a jumpstart on your planning!
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Top Industry Growth by Search Firm Source: ExecuNet Job Market Intelligence Report, 2008, 2009 |
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Five Highest Starting Salaries by Major Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers Annual Salary Surveys, 2008, 2009 |
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2008 |
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Just knowing which job functions are in greatest demand and pay the most isn't enough since these fields may not suit your personal characteristics. Before you start a job search, talk to at least three people who work in your intended field or job function of interest. Find out:
- What skills do you need?
- What does projected hiring look like?
- How can you strengthen your skills to meet the needs of your intended field and job function?
See our related article, Green Jobs and Green Careers Embrace Many Possibilities.
Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career, and job-search terms by going to our Job-Seeker's Glossary of Job-Hunting Terms.
This article is part of Job Action Day.
E. Chandlee Bryan is a career coach and certified resume writer at
Best Fit Forward.
Chandlee has more than 10 years of experience in career advisement, offer
clients "Ivy League experience combined with New England resourcefulness and
Southern warmth." Prior to starting her private practice, Chandlee served as director
of career services for Dartmouth College's Thayer School of Engineering and a
career counselor at the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University. She
earned her master's degree in counseling at the University of Virginia. For more
information, you can e-mail Chandlee.
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