The world is on a strong transition path to renewable energies and people are increasingly looking for meaningful work in green careers that contribute to improved sustainability and livability of our planet for everyone. According to LinkedIn’s Global Green Skills Report 2024, the global demand for green talent grew twice as quickly as supply between 2023-2024 and job seekers with green skills or titles are seeing an 80 percent higher hiring rate than the workforce overall. Use these tips if you’re considering a career in the sustainability industry.
Green Careers During a Turbulent Time
Federal funding and job cuts, along with changes to sustainability regulations, have significantly altered the green jobs landscape at the federal level with trickle-down effects to other sectors. Despite this backdrop there are still many promising signs:
- There is still a considerable level of climate and sustainability work being done at the state and local levels of government.
- Private foundations are beginning to replace funding for some federally funded climate work.
- According to National Public Radio, despite the current attacks on renewable energies, government analysts say “the clean-energy industry is on pace for record growth this year.”
Find Your Green Career Niche
Combine your existing skills and experience with your sustainability interests to identify your green career niche.
- Identify your top skills and environmental topics that you are most passionate about (and ideally have some knowledge and experience in or willing to gain some on these topics).
- Search for the people and organizations behind the causes you care about to find job titles that value your educational background and allow you to apply your top skills.
Hone Your Career Transition Story
One of the biggest obstacles to transitioning to a green career is explaining your “why.” Use the first paragraph of your cover letter to convince employers that you are truly passionate about working for them and how you see yourself as a strong fit for a specific role. Here are some questions to contemplate:
- What inspired you to consider a green career? Do you have a personal story to tell?
- What have you been doing to upskill your knowledge, experience, and skills in this field? How do your skills align with a particular role you are targeting?
- What do you know about this employer that makes you so excited to work there?
Upskill to Transition to a Green Career
There is a fair amount of competition for green careers, so it is important to gain relevant knowledge and experience in the sustainability arena to be competitive.
- Consider obtaining an advanced degree at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability or enroll in their 10-Week Online Bootcamp in Sustainability — the next cohort launches this fall.
- Check out my robust Climate Career Upskilling Resource List for ideas on ways to upskill for this field.
Resources to Find and Secure a Green Career
- Check out these free green job search resources (resume and cover letter templates, etc.) and a list of Top 50+ Green Job Posting websites.
- Hire a green career coach. I am a partner coach with the Alumni Association and U-M alums get a discount! Fill out my form to set up a free 20-minute chat to learn how I can help. You can find other green career coaches under “Column N” of my Climate Upskilling Resource List.
- Mid-career professionals can find specialty Recruiters on LinkedIn by typing in “Topic + Recruiter” (ex: “Sustainability Recruiter”) under the LinkedIn search bar. This will show you the profiles of specialty recruiters that can help connect you with employers and job openings in your desired field.
- Explore my Green Career Bookshop for books on green careers and the job search.
- Check out my Green Career Direction Worksheet
Lisa Yee-Litzenberg, ’92, is the president and CEO of Green Career Advisor and previously led career services at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability.
