
The career progression market exists in a strange contradiction. Job postings abound, I often hear from businesses that they can’t find qualified resume talent. But at the same time, job seekers interested in continuing express a frustration that they cannot enter the field, and students from continuing degree programs often struggle to find positions upon graduation. Similarly, more experienced professionals in other fields hoping to transition into sustainability careers will feel rudderless as they attempt to venture into seemingly unfamiliar territory.
What is the disconnect? After years of navigating my own resume career and many conversations with others who are finding their own path in the field, I’ve come to realize that it’s often not enough for career resume hopefuls to articulate the their area of interest as “continuity.” Additionally, it is difficult for potential employers to justify hiring someone with a continuing education but no exposure to other industries or disciplines. Instead, it is very valuable to define a discipline or niche that can be linked to persistence, or as I call it, your “persistence and.”
If you are in the position of trying to navigate the beginning of a continuing career, saying your “and” will help you find a wider and more varied interest – continuing – in something you can do. work.
You may have “and”s that would make sense to combine in the resume. If you’ve always gravitated toward business-oriented, quantitative fields, you may want to pursue a “sustainability and finance” career. If you can’t get enough of Legos as a kid and find yourself interested in buildings and architecture later in life, you might love a career in “sustainability and the built environment” that helps improving the efficiency of buildings.
There are many fields you can combine to pursue: finance; Engineering; policy; marketing; economy; computer science; clothing and fashion; economic development; and many more. There are even other “ands” that you don’t know that can turn into careers in the future.
For example, maybe you love graphic design – why not pursue a graphic design position at a company focused on creating more environmentally friendly products so you can put your skills at the service of sustainability? It also shows how many seasoned professionals can take their non-sustainability experience and combine it with sustainability.
The continuity ‘and’ liberates, not restricts.
As you continue your search or your experience, your “and” will likely decrease. A college student who knows he’s interested in sustainability and public policy may eventually find he wants to specifically address water pollution policy issues in North Carolina. A marketing professional with 10 years of experience pivoting to sustainability may realize that he or she is particularly interested in influencing consumer behavior to promote more zero-waste lifestyles. These are specific problems and specific solutions all under the umbrella of sustainability.
When I first went to business school and started to realize that I needed to be better at “keeping up,” I worried that I would put myself out there by focusing on other areas that I wanted to focus on. When I started networking and telling potential employers that I was interested in all things resume and mostly function-agnostic, I thought I was keeping my options open and giving myself a chance to fit any role a potential employer needs.
However, I find that the people I talk to need more specificity. What skills can I bring to make an impact going forward? I realized that I was ultimately interested in combining my interest in waste reduction and circular economy with my developing business acumen and design thinking. Focusing on this specific topic made my job search easier, not harder. The people I network with get a better sense of what excites me and what I can bring to the table.
The continuation of “and” releases, not restricts. I was surrounded by many others looking for sustainability-oriented careers while I was getting my MBA, and it was interesting to see what my peers chose as their “and.”
Some choose venture capital; they want to help find and fund companies that are taking steps toward sustainability. Others are involved in project finance, using their spreadsheet and modeling skills to help renewable energy developers plan how to finance projects. Some have a marketing lens; they want to know how to use the power of behavioral economics and advertising to influence more sustainable consumer behavior. Watching us all find our “ands” seems like we didn’t force ourselves into a field; rather, I watch as we take our natural abilities and interests outside of endurance and think about how to use them in the service of endurance itself.
Depending on your career level, here are tips for finding your “and.”
For undergraduate students looking for a first job
The first step is to determine your “and.” You can think back to classes you enjoyed or childhood interests. Next, implement it by gaining education or experience in your “and,” if you don’t already have it. If you can, combine two academic concentrations to create a double major, or perhaps a major and a minor. One of them may be related to the environment, and the other may be your “and.” Additionally, it can be helpful to look for internships or extracurricular experiences that will help you deepen your “and,” your resume skills or both.
For example, a student who thinks he or she is interested in public policy and sustainability can apply for an internship in a local legislator’s office and ask to help with district sustainability issues. It might help him see that he really cares about local water issues. It also provides an important signal on his resume that he has gained experience in policy and sustainability. If you’ve graduated and are still focusing on your “and,” reflect on some of the possibilities already on your resume. Consider gaining additional experience in another area of interest, even if it is unrelated to the resume, to help you navigate toward the intersection of the two.
For experienced professionals trying to pivot careers to sustainability
The easiest way to move into a sustainability job is to use your previous experience as your “and,” then acquire sustainability knowledge to supplement it. Someone with many years of food purchasing experience may find it interesting to work on responsibly purchasing food grown using sustainable agriculture. Someone who has managed a warehouse or office may enjoy being a zero-waste manager in their facility.
There are endless ways to integrate sustainability into your current discipline area. If you’re concerned that you don’t have enough exposure or education in sustainability, consider taking free online classes in areas of interest in sustainability, subscribing to industry newsletters or perhaps enrolling in a class at executive education.
Navigating the landscape of sustainability careers continues to be challenging, but I am excited about how many “ands” can be combined with sustainability to create fulfilling jobs and lifelong careers. Some reflection on your “and” can pay big dividends as you find the position that’s best for you.