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Welcome to the Green Career Tip of the Week
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Online Version of this Issue Green Career Tips Archive
In this week’s tip you’ll learn what green business CEOs look for in hiring employees, and how to translate your experience into a green career.
Did you get a f.r.e.e month on the Green Career Central site this week? Scroll down to see if the beginning of your email is next to the treasure chest. We do this every week!
Tip of the Week: Leverage Your Work Experience to Enter the Green Economy
How do you find smart people to hire when you are in a brand new industry?
The moderator of a recent VLAB panel asked this critical question to several clean energy CEOs. (For more information about VLAB refer to my recent blog post.) The CEOs’ perspectives offer green career seekers important insights into how to leverage their past work experience to enter the green economy.
In traditional industries, of course, hiring managers look for the best and brightest in their industry.
In emerging green industries, hiring managers don't have that luxury. They must find the best candidates for jobs that are evolving within an industry that's just taking shape. Here are four tactics these CEOs discussed.
1) One CEO looks to industries that have similar manufacturing processes.
For Example: Solfocus' solar manufacturing process involves dropping mirrors into metal frames. This process is analogous to dropping windshields into cars frames. A person who has experience with windshields is likely to know the technical skills to do the job Solfocus requires.
How Can You Apply This Idea? Do you have an expertise in a process, procedure, or technology that's similar to what's now being utilized in emerging industries?
2) Another CEO hires people who have experience in a work culture that's similar to their company.
For Example: Serious Materials, a building supply company, might be tempted to look for expertise in the traditional building supply industry. Although prospective employees with this background have knowledge of the building industry, they aren't accustomed to the pace and intensity of this company, which is run more like a hi-tech start-up. The CEO has found that he's better off hiring top employees with a hi-tech background because they know how to thrive in the culture. He’s found he can train them on the specifics of the building supply side of the company with great success.
How Can You Apply This Idea? Did you thrive in a company with a particular culture? What companies in the green economy have a similar culture?
3) A third strategy is to look for employees who have prior experience with their target distribution channels.
For Example: eMeter Corporation must “sell” their products and concept in a regulated industry. Key hires are those who know their way around the industry as it has traditionally functioned. Hiring employees who know the players and the lingo is a definite plus for this start up company.
How Can You Apply This Idea? Do you have experience with a particular distribution channel or supply chain? Are there any industries or companies in the green economy that are trying to break into that system with innovative ideas? Could you be an asset to them as they grow their business?
4) The fourth strategy is to recruit people who have the personality that's best suited for the stage of the company.
For Example: Solazyme, a clean energy company, has found that they must hire people who have the technical knowledge and the appropriate personality. They look for “company builders,” those who are ready, willing, and able to contribute what's needed in each situation to build the company. (We'll delve into this topic in more detail in the next Green Career Tip.)
How Can You Apply This Idea? Do you enjoy doing what it takes to make a company grow? If so, find a way to demonstrate these personal traits in your interview process.
How Can You Apply This to Your Job Search?
As you prepare your own job search strategy, consider your own work history. What part of your work history can you highlight to get the attention of the hiring manager?
Just because you are entering a new green industry doesn't mean you are starting with a blank slate. Leverage your experience, network, and personality to break into the new industry you are targeting.
If you don't have answers to the questions above, take some time to think about your options. Create opportunities to talk with people in your target industries to understand how your unique background can be an asset as you enter the green economy.
Copyright © 2008 Transition Dynamics Enterprises, Inc.
"GCC's process was incredibly helpful in getting me started in a new career direction. The worksheets and brainstorming exercises in the What's Your Green Niche ebook helped me realize I already had the skills to launch a new green career. Today, less that four months later, I have a terrific salary doing business development for energy and environmental projects. Thanks to Green Career Central, my dream of merging my personal conviction with professional life came true."
-- Kelly Fergusson
Menlo Park Councilmember (Mayor, 2007) turned Business Development Manager of Energy & Environmental Solutions
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Are You Searching for Your Green Niche?
You know you want a green career, but do you know what you want to do in the green economy?
The key to discovering your green niche is pinpointing how to leverage your skills, passions, talents and experience to plug into the green economy.
When you know what part of the economy you want to target, you’ll have an entirely new level of clarity. With that new clarity, your current level of overwhelm and confusion will decrease.
The What’s Your Green Niche eBook eBook takes you through a step-by-step process to determine your green niche. Here's a list of some of the things you'll gain as you work through this eBook. You'll:
- Create your personal definition of success.
- Discover how you know what you are drawn to.
- Develop a list of your 40 favorite skills and interests with the help of checklists.
- Brainstorm over 40 career ideas based on your favorite skills and interests in an hour or so.
- Narrow your career ideas to your top two ideas.
- Develop a plan to achieve your green career goals whether you want to return to school, launch your job search, or start your business.
Members - Download (part of membership)
Non-Members - $55.00
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Green Career Central Blog:
Green Career Trends: Each week we highlight news stories and developments that influence the green economy and green careers. This week we touch on three themes: enhanced geothermal energy, using solar energy to help coal companies, and smart meters. Read the post and add your comments.
Mark Your Calendar – If you live on the West Coast or are able to travel there, check out the collection of green conferences that are scheduled for the next few months--West Coast Green, Bioneers, Green Business Conference, Green Festival and Solar Living Institute’s Green Career Conference. Read the post and add your comments.
Membership Has Its Advantages!
The discussion forum topic, audios, ebook, and articles listed below are available to members of GreenCareerCentral.com as a part of their membership. If you're not a member and would like to have immediate access, we'd love to have you join us now!
Green Career Central is a membership site with a comprehensive set of easy-to-use programs, resources, and events to help people achieve their green career dreams whether they want to find a green job, start a green business, or get a green education.
  
"Carol, thanks for your first Tip of the Week. Connecting with what I'm drawn to brought tears to my eyes and made me feel happy and excited. I now know what I'm looking for in my green career. I will continue to look to you and yours for support as I make my way forward. Thank you." -- Cheryl, Chicago, IL
Read what other members are saying about Green Career Central here....
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This Week's Drawing for a
30-Day Trial Membership: acabral78705
If this is the beginning of your email address, contact us with a subject line of "Trial Membership" and we'll tell you how to get signed up for your 30-day trial membership to GreenCareerCentral.com. You must reply within 2 weeks of the date of this newsletter.
Current Members...you didn't think we'd leave you out, did you? If you see the beginning of your email address, we'll add one more month to your membership.
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What's New at GreenCareerCentral.com
Interview with Green Building Industry Expert
You can now listen to our interview with Danny Beesley, our new green building industry expert, or read the transcript. Either way, you’ll discover green industry trends that could give you ideas for your career.
Danny offers mentoring services to help you identify your place within green building and discover the best ways to plug into this growing industry.
Regional Job Boards
One of the biggest challenges people have is how to find jobs in their local area. To help our members combat this challenge, we write reviews of regional job boards. This week we’ve added reviews for several more regional job boards. Take a look.
Articles
Thinking of owning your own green business or greening a business you already own?
Check out the articles to help you Go Green!
Did You Know...
...if you missed a Tip of the Week, you can read the archived publications?
Green Career Tips Archive
About Us
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Green Career CentralTM is a virtual career center for motivated professionals who are ready to find a green career that fully expresses their passions, skills, values, and talents.
Carol McClelland, PhD, founder and Executive Director of Green Career Central, has helped thousands of people discover their dream career through her book Your Dream Career For Dummies and her work with individuals, groups, and students. Together with her team of experts, researchers and writers, Carol has pulled together sixteen years of experience into a broad collection of how-to articles, resources, support, and teleclasses to help you find your way to make a difference and prosper.
Why not have the green career you've been dreaming of? You can struggle on your own or gain support throughout your journey. The decision is obvious ... Join Us Now!
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Copyright (c) 2007-2008. Transition Dynamics Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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