Presentation at 8th Massachusetts Green Careers Conference on September 29, 2016 by Sharon Hanna

1. Land a Job….
-What is your goal?
-What do you need to do, learn?
-How do you gain experience?
SHARON E. HANNA, DIRECTOR, CAREER DEVELOPMENT
CLARK UNIVERSITY -
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY AND
ENVIRONMENT

2. Improve lives in our city, the region, the nation and the world.
Master's Degree Programs
International Development
and Social Change
Environmental Science
and Policy
Community Development
and Planning
Geographic Information Science for
Development
and Environment
Dual Master's Degree Programs
Environmental Science and Policy /
Master of Business Administration
Community Development and
Planning / Master of Business
Administration
Certificate Programs
Global and Community Health
Monitoring and Evaluation
Refugee, Displacement and Forced
Migration Studies
Youth Work Practice
The IDCE community is comprised of scholars and practitioners dedicated to environmental sustainability, social
justice, and economic well-being. We focus on major forces of social change: grass roots initiatives, social
movements, government policy, market approaches, entrepreneurship, technological innovation, individual action,
and education.

3. Where are the jobs?
MA: Just over 7,000, 64% entry-level
§ Bureau of Labor Sta-s-cs defines “green jobs” as: those that
produce goods or provide services that benefit the environment or
use fewer natural resources.
§ renewable energy, energy efficiency sectors, pollu-on reduc-on and
removal; greenhouse gas reduc-on; recycling and reuse; organic
agriculture; sustainable forestry; soil, water and wildlife conserva-on;
government and regulatory administra-on; educa-on, training and
advocacy related to green technologies and prac-ces
§ www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-jobs-in-renewable-energy-and-energy-efficiency?/fact-sheet-jobs-renewable-energy-and-energy-efficiency-11-
jun-2013

4. The possibilities:
u Greenhouse Gas Analyst/Broker
u Brownfields Real Estate Developer
u Environmental Economist
u Socially Responsible Investment Advisor
u Sustainability Related Social Media Specialist
u Sustainable Neighborhoods Community Organizer
u Permaculture Designer/Contractor or Sustainable Landscape
Architect
u Climate Change Risk Assessor and Mitigation Expert
u Sustainable Transportation Planner
u Federal, state and Local Energy and Other Sustainability Related
Staff (e.g. economic development, workforce development)
u Corporate Social Responsibility Staff
u Corporate Sustainability Staff
u Energy Manager
u Facilities Director/Maintenance Staff
u Biomass Plant Designer, Manager, Technician…
u Heating and Air Conditioning/ Building Automation Technician
Controls Specialist
u Refuse & Recycling Worker
u Sustainable Agriculture: farmer, distributor, marketer…
u Risk Property Assessor
u Building Codes Inspector
u City/Community/Operations Manager
u Energy Storage Specialists (e.g. Smart grid, hydrogen,
batteries, and compressed air)
u Water Reservoir and Watershed Engineer/Technician
u Green Building Designers, Distributor, Installer …
u Energy Statistician
u Recycling Director
u Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Products
u Energy/Sustainability Policy Analysts and Advocacy Specialists
u Non-Profit Sustainability Related Educator/Program Manager

5. Preparation
§ Establish a plan, take ownership
§ Be Flexible and think broadly
§ If you are gradua-ng in the spring: ….. not too early to start
§ Apply research skills to the job search
§ Tap into hidden job market; get comfortable, being uncomfortable
§ Speak with alumni, professionals in your field
◦ Be interested, take notes, show gra-tude
◦ Help people…… help you

6. When Passion meets Purpose: Career Confidence
Passion:
internal energy that ignites our intellect, emo-ons, sense of purpose
Purpose:
Response to: “Why is this important to me?”
Career Confidence is sum of: passion + purpose + skills + plan

7. Career Development prepares students to:
§ Prepare response to: “Why do you want to work in this field?”
“Why this organiza-on?”
§ Ar-culate impact of professional and academic background, interests and abili-es.
§ Establish a vision of career trajectory, and communicate strengths effec-vely.
§ Assess transferable skills and communicate them effec-vely to poten-al employers.

8. How would you respond to:
80% chance you’ll be asked:
“Tell me about yourself.”
“Why do you want this internship/job?”
“Why should we hire you?”
“What specific skills set you apart?”
“What are your strengths/weaknesses?”
“What is your 5-year plan?”

9. Practice the pitch
§ Iden-fy skills pertaining to posi-ons
§ Ar-culate outcomes/achievements
§ Become comfortable speaking about what you want to do and why
§ PAR’s Model (S.Hanna, 2010)
◦ PROJECT: specific tasks, responsibili-es, expecta-ons
◦ ACTION: approach, methodology, applica-on, analysis, problem solving
◦ RESULTS: outcome, impact, value added, recommenda-ons

10. Think about it differently.
It’s not about you…..
§ It’s about the organiza-on: their goals/needs and what you can do for them
§ Reframe approach: Consider yourself a problem-solver, not a job seeker
§ An-cipate need and provide solu-ons
§ Present professional, accomplished image

11. Reality of job search…
§ It will take longer than you think
§ Requires priority considera-on
§ Rejec-on happens
§ “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”, W. Gretzky
§ It’s what/who you know and…
….what they know about you

12. NetWORKing leads to WORK
§ Networking is sharing insight, wisdom, ideas
§ It is reciprocal
§ Establish and maintain professional rela-onships
§ Not disingenuous if prac-ced with sincerity, curiosity and
collabora-vely

13. Employers seek…
Entrepreneurial Spirit – ability to forecast new opportuni-es and methods
RelaBonship Driven – cul-vate and maintain business rela-onships
Detail Oriented - Meet deadlines, recep-ve to clients and colleagues
Systems-Thinking – Effec-ve project repor-ng
Self-Directed and Self-MoBvated - work autonomously while suppor-ng team.
Mission Driven – Connected to business, systems and stakeholders
Enthusiasm and willingness to learn

14. What should you do now?
§ Aiend conferences, beier yet: deliver presenta-ons
§ Join professional organiza-ons: Net Impact, Sustainability Management Associa-on, Interna-onal Society
of Sustainability Professionals
§ Update your resume that clearly states your successes and clearly conveyed to employers, use
KEYWORDS (which is why you’ll need more than 1 version)
§ Prac-ce speaking about what you want to do and why you want to do it
§ Talk to people employed in the job you want
§ Own your search; believe it takes -me and commitment
§ Uploading hundreds of resumes to job boards is NOT effec-ve, use your -me more produc-vely (see
above)
§ Develop exper-se

15. Resource: Solving Problems That Matter (And
Getting Paid For It): STEM Careers in Social
Innovation and Global Sustainable Development.
Mehta, K. (Ed.). (2015).
Part 1 STEM for Social InnovaBon: The Time Is NOW!
(Current trends and the role of STEM in societal improvements)
Part 2 OrganizaBons in the Social InnovaBon and Sustainable InnovaBon Arena
(A review of the types of organiza-ons, what they do, and how they do it)
Part 3 Innovator Profiles
(100 two-page profiles of innovators, with job descrip-ons and career trajectories)
Part 4 Professional PreparaBon
(Review of undergraduate and graduate majors and degrees, plus selec-ve programs such as theFulbright, Peace Corps and Teach for
America)
Part 5 Professional Competencies
(The usefulness of a personal brand, an entrepreneurial mindset, fieldwork, storytelling, communica-ng across cultures, learning
languages, and wri-ng well)
Part 6 Finding Your Niche
(Developing new career opportuni-es and leaving other ones behind)
Part 7 Personal ConsideraBons
(Salaries, benefits, work culture, considera-ons for LGBTQ issues; seiling into and gemng out of other countries; exit and emergency
plans)
Epilogue: Marching Orders for Professors and UniversiBes
(Select advice for educators offered by the innovators profiled).
Book Review by Patrick Lennahan; h^p://www.ncda.org

16. Recommended resources
www.ecojobs.com
www.greendreamjobs.com
www.greenjobs.net
www.renewableenergyjobs.com
www.jobs.treehugger.com
www.idealist.org
hip://www.onetcenter.org/green.html
Indeed.com or Simplyhired.com
LinkedIn Groups to consider:
Green Jobs and Career Network
Jobs 2.0: Green Renewable Energy, Clean
Tech, CSR Environment, Climate Change, RD
Green Energy & Sustainability Careers and
Jobs
College and University Alumni groups