Responsible Business Summit USA From the conference Website : “How to make corporate responsibility a core aspect of organizational culture, collaborate with key stakeholders and use CSR to enhance reputation and gain competitive edge.” resources they provide. Use these initial bits of information as clues to deepen your knowledge of the field.

I’ve always searched for a way to show people how having a clear picture of their green career direction helps them find their green job. Recently while facilitating a workshop for green job seekers, I had the opportunity to talk with two participants, one after the other. The difference between the two scenarios definitely made an impression on me.

In the five years I’ve been helping people discover their green career direction, I’ve observed that most people look outside themselves to find answers. Generally they take one (or more) of the five actions listed. But are your skills and experience relevant in these hot industries?  How much do you really know about the industry you are targeting?

Everywhere we turn there’s more evidence that the Earth’s natural resources and ecosystems are being taxed by the way many of the world’s cultures live, work, play and travel. In addition, companies are finding their brands are benefiting and their employees are more engaged than ever before. You have a string of ideas and you can’t make a decision.

Earth Day is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the green movement in your area. Use the strategies in this article to jumpstart your green career exploration. Find Local Green Events Earth Day itself is Sunday, April 22nd. Events may be scheduled throughout the weeks surrounding Earth Day. Are you hearing about any Earth Day events?

Overwhelm. It's a feeling nearly everyone experiences as they transition from one career to another. There's so much information to take in, choices to make, new experiences to make sense of, and things to understand. think the feeling of overwhelm often expands when people are trying to find their place within the green, clean, sustainable economy.

You are excited about your goal to transition into a greener, more sustainable career. You’ve completed a degree (or you are working toward a degree) or you’ve invested in a green certification program. You know you’ve put in a lot of effort. You’ve learned so much. You are ready to contribute what you know to the emerging economy. What’s the Deal?

Last week my husband and I had the opportunity to visit the exhibit hall at PV America for about 30 minutes before meeting a colleague for dinner. First Impressions Walking in I expected to see wall to wall solar arrays…it was a PV (photovoltaic) industry event after all. Reading the talk topics will highlight current trends. Green Career Tip

Resource:   The Spring of Sustainability: Solutions for a Thriving New World. virtual summit to explore all we can do to leave a healthy, vibrant planet for future generations. Produced by The Shift Network in partnership with the Sustainable World Coalition, the Spring of Sustainability is the world’s largest-ever sustainability events program.

This week there are two conference offered by two well-respected green economy organizations. They are sponsoring a conference in Washington, D.C. Here’s their description of the event: “VERGE DC brings together corporate leaders focusing on a new wave of technological change revolutionizing sustainability. You must register to attend.

The Beginning… Within three weeks of completing my PhD, I started my first full-time corporate job. My first four months on the job were a bit rocky as my Dad’s health deteriorated. did the job I was given to the best of my ability during those chaotic months. Before she left my cubicle I was in charge of my first major project. enjoyed the work.

Green Career Central is proud to be a co-convener of the Good Jobs, Green Jobs West conference on Thursday, March 15th and Friday, March 16. I've participated in two of these conferences on the East Coast.and am excited to be able to attend on the West Coast this month! If you plan to attend, please let me know. Would be great to connect.

Resource : The Green Economy Map. After I finished writing Green Careers For Dummies, I had details about over 50 different green industries swirling around in my mind.  Although there were lists of green industries on the web, no one had pulled the industries together that could be grasped at a glance. Check out the Green Economy Map itself. 

When it comes to finding your green career focus… -Are you feeling lost in the wilderness? Are you wandering around in the forest trying to find your direction? Are you feeling like you can’t see the forest for the trees? Here are a few questions to help you discover the best way to find your way out of the wilderness. Each idea has merit.

This simple visual says so much about how much time we all spend worrying about and thinking about things we want to do! Watching how the figure’s pose changes as he moves up the staircase says so much about the energy at each stage. Over the years I’ve accompanied many people through this journey from “I can’t” to “I did.” I’d add “I AM doing it!”

Resource: The Sustainability Greenprint: A Handbook of Principles, Policies, and Players Why This Resource Caught My Eye. Last September I attended the International Society of Sustainability Professionals conference, an inspiring, energizing, informative event. Throughout the tour, David asked some very interesting questions of the presenters.

You’ve decided that you want to work in a way that has a positive impact on the planet. You want your work to have meaning. You want what you do to make a difference to the environment. You want to contribute to a sustainable future. Where Do You Start? Do you begin by reworking your resume to be green? Sustainable? These are questions to sit with.

Resource: State of Green Business Report 2012. Why This Resource Caught My Eye. This report has caught my eye for five years running. It’s one of the most important reports I read each year to grasp what’s really happening in the green economy.  Ways You’ll Benefit from Reading This Report. Read about each index that sparks your interests.

When I was in my 20’s I experienced two wake up calls that continue to influence the way I see careers – mine own career and the careers of those I support. ll share one of these wake up calls today…and will share the other in the months to come. Scenario #1: My Father’s Career Story. This role seemed like a perfect fit for him. He felt stifled.

Resource: Where to Get a Green Job Infographic. Why This Resource Caught My Eye When I first saw this resource I loved the visual nature of this infographic and its ability to share a great deal of information in a very concise manner. Some graphics are based on data over a ten year period ending in 2007. Green Career Tip

I could feel there was something deeper that I was meant to do. Something that would have a bigger impact on the issues that I care so deeply about - the planet, the natural world, sustainability, helping people use their professional lives to make an impact on their world. I'd get glimmers of "The Subject." kept changing. My ideas kept evolving.

President Obama announced $4 billion in public and private funds will be used to upgrade the energy efficiency of public and commercial buildings over the next two years.  Two billion of the four billion will come from the private sector to improve energy efficiency 20% by 2020 in 1.6 billion square feet of office and other building spaces.

GreenBiz.com just published their second annual “GreenBiz Salary Survey 2011.” thought I’d share a few of the highlights that I found for those considering (or working in) sustainability. 1) Sustainability is not a one-size-fits-all approach to business. 2) The term “Sustainability” seems to be the winner…for now! See page 15 for the specific data.)

As one of my Facebook friends noted this evening, Steve Jobs “is amazingly quotable.” I’m sure you’ve noticed it too. Social media networks are awash with quotes and clips sharing Steve Jobs’ philosophy of life and contribution. These thoughts are just as powerful today as they were then. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.

Attending conferences is a powerful way to engage in your chosen industry. When professionals come together to discuss key issues, share emerging trends, and best practices, every attendee has an opportunity to stretch, grow, and deepen their own professional standing. This is true whether you are new to the industry or been engaged for years.

One of the best ways to “get a job” has always been to demonstrate your expertise. These days it’s not enough anymore to have deep knowledge of just your own industry. You must be able to see, discuss, and extrapolate how various issues impact your industry and vice versa. You are asked a specific question that requires a specific answer….

The Department of Energy has finalized a loan guarantee of $90.6 million to Cogentrix of Alamosa, CO.  Cogentrix will build a 30 megawatt high concentration photo voltaic plant near the southern Colorado town.  When finished the plant will produce enough electricity to power 6,500 homes.  Regen Energy , an innovative software company has raised $5.5

Solar Roadways Inc. recently announced that the company will be upgrading their parking lot in Sandpoint, Idaho. Not newsworthy? According to company founder Scott Brusaw, this ain’t no ordinary upgrade. Your parking lot could power your building,” Brusaw said. Solar Roadways Inc. The panels are divided into three layers. Green Trends

All hiring managers are looking for the best candidate to fill their open positions. Best” means. Having relevant work experience that’s current and demonstrates that you create results. Having the right knowledge and skills to perform the work without requiring a lot of ramp up time. So the question is: How do you close this gap? Green Career Tip

The Department of Energy has made a conditional loan guarantee of $133.9 million to Abengoa Bioenergy to begin the construction of a commercial size cellulosic biofuel manufacturing plant. The plant is to be built in Hugoton, KS; the US corporate headquarters of Abengoa is St. Louis, MO.  million of gasoline annually. 

According to a new study from the Natural Resources Defense Council, the National Wildlife Federation and the United Auto Workers, there are 151,000 green jobs in the auto industry.  Michigan is the leader among the states with 38,067 green jobs at 97 facilities.  That number is expected to grow as more hybrid and plug-in vehicles are built.

The Departments of Energy and Agriculture has made awards totaling $12.2 million to 10 projects to research ways to lower the cost of growing biofuel crops.  Here is a pdf list of the projects that received an award.  Genomics will be used by researchers to improve crops such as switchgrass, Miscanthus, poplar and other plants.

Which city leads the nation in number of green jobs and that number will more than double by 2030?  According to a new study released by the Californians for Clean Energy and Jobs Network , Los Angeles is the leader. Over the last decade the rate of green job creation has been three times as much as the rest of the Los Angeles basin economy. 

The Department of Energy has announced a $50 million investment in PV solar manufacturing in the U.S.  The program, titled SUNPATH , will assist smaller companies with funding assistance to overcome gaps as they grow their technology. The SUNPATH program will support the SunShot Initiative. Follow the Green Money DOE eCullet Leyden Energy

Have you said this before? I want to work in Industry Y, but there aren’t any jobs in that industry…or in my region.” Before you abandon your goal of having a green career, take a few minutes to determine how you’ve come to this conclusion. Did You Do the Research? When you research your target green career there are several layers to sort through.

National and local labs conducting energy and climate science research are good places to look for green/clean jobs.  Here are a few. In Tennessee, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory employs 4,800 people, making Knoxville first among all cities in the nation in growth in green jobs.  Also in Northern California is the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. 

A maker of garage stalls topped with light weight amorphous solar panels, Sunlogics , has received a $7.5 million investment from General Motors. Twelve Green Zone garage stalls will generate 32,000 kWh per year, enough to fully charge 12 GM Chevy Volts everyday.  The Sunnyvale, CA based company is working toward reducing the cost of solar panels.

Are you holding back on your green career because you don’t think you are ready to act? You don’t have enough clarity? You don’t know what steps to take? You don’t think it’s the right time? You don’t have all the pieces in place? You and Me Both! ve been sitting with an idea for an entire year now. My idea has certainly developed in that time.

Using wireless environmental monitoring to give data centers information about energy efficiency, SynapSense has raised $16 million from venture capitalists.  Among the many companies investing in the Folsom, CA based company is GE.  There are some career openings for engineers and project mangers.

When I started working with people who wanted to transition to a green career, I made the assumption that they'd all follow a similar path and think of their green career in the same way. Now after coaching green career clients for the last year, I've come to the realization that there are several groups of green career seekers. Green Career Tip

According to a study done by the Brookings Institute and Battele, there are about 2.7 million green jobs is the U.S.  The study was conducted between 2003 and 2010. Using this 2.7 million figure translates into more employment in green sectors than in fossil fuel. To download the entire report from the Brookings Institute go here.

The Department of Energy has made a conditional loan guarantee for $105 million to Project Liberty, sponsored by POET, LLC, for the development of a commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant to be built in Iowa.  The cellulose will be supplied by local formers. OPX is based in Boulder, CO. Three wheel electric car maker Aptera has raised $2.5

Each and every career transition has several distinct phases. These phases unfold reliably whether you are looking for a new job or making a dramatic shift in your career. Their length and depth of these stages may vary, but you still have to move through each phase to make a successful transition. Unfortunately most people don’t know this.

In last week's newsletter I mentioned the importance of "creating a tight, compelling story that demonstrates your value to the employer." As I wrote that I realized you might not have a good sense of what that means. Imagine you are talking to a hiring manager in an interview. Why are you interested in this position?" What do you say?

In addition to the hundreds of jobs created in construction and design when a new solar or wind power plant is being built, there are also green jobs being created before ground is broken.  It's likely that this data may play a key role in whether the solar or wind plant is built at that location.

The Department of Energy has been busy assisting the clean energy industry with loan guarantees.  The DOE has provided partial loan guarantee for a $1.4 billion project to install solar panels on 750 roof tops called Project Amp.  In addition to this and other solar projects, the DOE has also provided a loan guarantee of $135.76 million.

As you no doubt know, the current job market is very competitive. Employers are literally swamped with resumes. So how do you catch their attention? Last week a former client contacted me to let me know he’d landed a green job. Last fall, while completing his Sustainable MBA program, he completed our one-month Find Your Green Focus course.

According to the 2010 Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 93,500 people are employed directly and indirectly in the US solar industry. . By way of comparison to another industry, there are 9,200 more solar industry jobs than US steel production jobs. Let's look at another comparison to add even more perspective. Green Jobs Growing

The Department of Energy has offered a conditional loan guarantee of $150 million to 1366 Technologies to develop more efficient solar cell production that will lower the cost of manufacturing.  The North Lexington, MA based company is accepting resumes.   Manufacturer of solar microinverters, SolarBridge Technologies , has raised $19 million.

The other day this quote stopped me in my tracks!   “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”  Will Rogers It got me thinking: How many of us are actually on the right track, but we aren’t willing to claim it? Or, are you waiting until your new green career vision is crystal clear before you take any action?

In an effort to visualize the job growth in industry sectors, Wired Magazine, in collaboration with LinkedIn, graphed the percentage of LinkedIn users who moved from one industry into another in the last five years. Leading all sectors by a nearly two to one advantage was renewables and the environment. Green Jobs Growing LinkedIn Wired

A manufacturer of electrical energy storage systems and drive components for electric and hybrid buses, Proterra has received $30 million from investors.  Proterra will use the funding to improve the efficiency of its factory and to test its buses. There are several openings for engineers in Greenville, South Carolina.