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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
We have some exciting changes coming to Green Career Central. If you'd like a sneak peak, become one of our beta testers!
Do you want to connect with me and take action on your green career journey? Check out our Upcoming Events for information on webinars and talks coming soon.
Last week I outlined the steps for transitioning to a green career if you are currently employed. This week I describe how to make this transition if you are currently unemployed.
I'm excited to announce that my latest book, Green Careers for Dummies, was the Business book winner in the Green Book Festival!
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All the best,
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Would you like a sneak peek into Green Career Central 2.0?
 Thanks to your responses to our recent survey and conversations we’ve had with both members and subscribers, we are moving into a new phase with our transition to Green Career Central 2.0.
Although I can’t reveal the details quite yet about all that will be available in Green Career Central 2.0, I will say I’m excited! Thanks to some new enhancements to the site we’ll be able to offer much more personal guidance to our members in a way that’s affordable and effective. I can’t wait!
Right now, we are looking for people to beta test a few new features on our site. We’ll set you up to have access to the new area… and then all we ask is that you give us your opinions and share your experience with us?
Thanks in advance for your assistance. The process shouldn’t take much time… and you’ll gain new insights and information for yourself in the process.
Want to Participate? Just reply to this email and let us know you are interested in being a beta tester.
Tip of the Week: Transitioning to a Green Career --- When You Are Currently Unemployed
The steps you’ll take to reach your green career goal depend on your current situation. Last week’s article was focused on the transition from a traditional job to a green job. This week the focus is on how to make the jump to a green job when you are currently unemployed or underemployed.
Your Challenges
Given your current state of employment, or lack thereof… your biggest challenge is likely to be money.
- Where can you get the training you need at a price you can afford?
- What networking events can you participate in given your current budget?
- How do you get the guidance you need to focus your green career search?
Your Opportunities
The fact that you have a flexible schedule gives you several distinct benefits.
- You have the time to engage in your community.
- You have the opportunity to delve into your green industry of choice.
- You have the bandwidth to volunteer at events you want to attend.
- You have time to earn a certificate or take online courses to prepare you for your future career.
Your Goal: To Get Results… and FAST!
To get the best results, you need to refine your goal.
- Do you need a job now? (Most likely driven by the need for an income.)
- Are you committed to your next job being green? (Most likely driven by your values and your desire to contribute to the state of the environment.)
Depending on your geographic region, your previous experience, and your passions, these two goals may be aligned or you may be experiencing a bit of a disconnect. Much depends on the realities of your chosen green industry and who you are.
The Logic of the Green Economy
If you are already trained in a set of skills that are in demand in the green industry of your choice…
Then it’s likely you can find a job reasonably quickly as long as you live in a region where that industry is thriving.
If you aren’t sure what your industry of choice is…
If you don’t have the skills and knowledge you need to work in your eventual industry of choice…
If you don’t live in a region that’s got thriving green industries…
Then your path to your green career isn’t likely to be direct and short. Don’t get me wrong, you can target a green career and begin your journey toward that goal. The reality is that your journey may have several steps and may require an investment of time/money to research, learn, and position yourself for your new career.
Therefore… if you need a job now, your best options are to:
Find a job in the traditional economy that leverages the skills, knowledge, and experiences you already have.
If you have a little financial cushion to work with, take some time to familiarize yourself with the overall green economy and to identify your ideal green niche/industry. With an ultimate goal in mind, you may be able to find an interim job that’s a great stepping stone job to position you to enter the green economy in the future.
After you land a job, return to your quest for your green career. The green/clean/sustainable economy is going to continue to unfold for years, if not decades. Even if you can’t make your next job a green job, there will be plenty of opportunities to plug into the green economy in the future. The key is to take the time to prepare yourself by identifying your green niche (Step 3), researching your target green industry (Step 4), building your network (Step 5), and getting the training and experience (Step 6) you need to make the transition into the green economy.
Bottomline: Be as pragmatic as possible. Assess your skills and find the most marketable way to position yourself to get a job as soon as possible.
If you are committed to doing everything it takes to make your next job a green job, and you have the security of a financial cushion, your best options are to:
Invest your time up front in getting as clear as possible about your green niche. Although you may be able to find your way there yourself eventually, it may be more cost/time effective to invest in a program to help you identify your green niche sooner rather than later. The sooner you have a clear green career direction, the sooner you can take focused actions toward your green career.
When you have a clear picture of your target green industry, your next task is to invest yourself in learning all you can about your eventual industry. The more you know about how the industry works, the more you’ll know about how to position yourself, and the more you’ll spot opportunities for your skills.
Use your time to engage in your profession, industry, and local community. In addition to getting valuable insight and experience, you’ll have the opportunity to build a thriving network. It’s the people you meet and build relationships with that will connect you with your job when that time comes.
Start early to learn what you need to know to excel in your chosen industry. While you are still fine tuning your niche, read books, attend lectures, and take courses. When you are clear of your direction, invest in the certifications, degrees, and licensing that you need.
When possible find part time/contract positions to bring in some income while also allowing you to stay focused on your green career goal.
Bottomline: Your best results are going to come when you balance your available time and your available money. The best way to shorten your path to your green career is to invest in guidance, training, conferences, and relevant experiences.
Reaching Your Goal
Regardless of which path you take, your path to your green career is likely to be inspiring and challenging, motivating and frustrating. The early stage of this green/clean/sustainable economy means that the path for everyone is full of unexpected, and expected, twists and turns.
The key is to focus on both the long term (your ideal green niche) and the short term (your next action whether it’s researching, networking, learning, experimenting, or...) Each step you take brings you closer to your goal of making a contribution and being part of the solution during this time of transition.
Enjoy the journey!
Copyright © 2010 Transition Dynamics Enterprises, Inc.
Upcoming Events
Webinars and Teleclasses
Steps to Find Your Green Career – Join Carol McClelland and Dr. Kevin Danaher, of Green Festivals and Global Exchange, for a discussion about green careers, green industries, how to find your green career focus, and strategies you can use to enter the green economy. In addition to the webinar presentation, there will be time for Q & A.
Upcoming Talks in the San Francisco Bay Area
Green to Gold: Get On Board the Cleantech/Green Business Revolution
Santa Clara
May 12, 2010
For more information and to RSVP, click here.
Connectivity Week - May 24-27, 2010 - Carol will give a talk entitled "How to Make the Most of Connections You Make During Connectivity Week" during the career development track.
May 26, 2010
Santa Clara
Register
Green Career Central Blog:
Follow the Green Money: Money is following to a biodiesel test plant and a number of projects. First Solar purchases NextLight Renewable Power which gives them utility contracts and transmission lines.
Green Career Trends: The shaping of the green economy has many components from China’s growing presence, the recent approval of a large coastal wind farm, and the Senate’s actions around the Climate/Energy.
Membership Has Its Advantages!
If you are searching for your place in the green economy, check out how Green Career Central can help you shorten the path to your green career.
- You'll find green economy resources you can use to explore green industries and the green economy.
- You'll gain access to the 7 Steps to Your Green Career, a step-by-step sequence of actionable tasks you can take to reach your green career goal.
- You'll discover sources of support to help you stay focused and make progress faster.
"It's a hard to find an investment these days that pays for itself many times over but the annual fee for joining Green Career Central is certainly worth every penny. The process laid out is structured and easy to follow. It takes you through the steps to get a truer understanding what your interests and skills are and makes you excited about researching your career options, while giving you a sense of progress and accomplishment. Thanks Carol."
~WG Becoming an Energy Systems Consultant
Read what other members are saying about Green Career Central.
What's New at GreenCareerCentral.com
Introducing… our new Resume Writing Expert!
Are you working on your resume? We have a new expert on Green Career Central who can help you create a strong resume that attracts employers in this market. Stephen Hinton has a strong background in Climate Change, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering markets through his executive search firm. Check out his services!
Our Latest Cool Green Career Interview – Sustainable Supply Chain Program Manager at HP
Are you interested in learning more about what it takes to make a supply chain more sustainable? Then listen to our latest interview with a Sustainable Supply Chain Program Manager to learn what’s happening within HP to make their extensive worldwide supply chain sustainable.
Explore the Green Economy Map
Are you still trying to figure out what kinds of industries are considered green? This green economy map will give you a one page overview that will help you put it all in perspective.
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 an online resource center to help mid-career professionals, students, new grads, and career counselors make sense of the green economy and the green job market.
Carol McClelland, PhD, author of Green Careers for Dummies, is one of the nation’s leading green career experts. Throughout her career, Carol has helped thousands of people find work that matches their values and interests.
In addition to writing Green Careers for Dummies, Carol is the Founder and Executive Director of Green Career Central. This online resource center provides career guidance, coaching, and resources to clarify the ever-evolving world of green career possibilities for students, professionals, and career counselors.
Carol is driven by three passions: guiding people to discover fulfilling careers aligned with their values, learning about innovations that enable people to live, work, and play more sustainably, and marveling at the inspiring wisdom of nature.
Join Us Now!
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Copyright (c) 2007-2010. Transition Dynamics Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Green Career CentralTM is a trademark of Transition Dynamics Enterprises, Inc
PO Box 354, Menlo Park, CA 94026
650 322 8661 | Contact
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