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What are your top 1-2 Career Questions?
I want to collect your top career questions and then present them to my “team” of career advisors. In this way I hope do give you a variety of viewpoints on the most pressing issues of the day.
This post is an “Open Thread” to both collect your questions and also allow you comment on the questions of others.
Got a question that is really concerning you? Add it as a comment to this post. Then, come back and chime in on the questions of others.
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- Special: Douglas talks careers and New Media with BiggSuccess.com (welchwrite.com)
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What are some ways to get into the white collar, green job market? I’m finding lots of trade jobs, but not too many others to transition my project management skills. Thank You.
Barb, one thing I would recommend is setting up some Google Alerts and other news searches on green companies and non-profits. You want to look for those projects launching new, green projects and see if your project management skills might be a match.
For your particular goal, you will need to keep a close watch on the pulse of the green community and then immediately send them something whenever you see someone who could use your skills.
You might also think about taking on a small, local green project that you can use to highlight your project management skills in the particular area you are trying to target.
Barb,
I come at this from a bit of a different angle…as I help people become solopreneurs. I’ve had a couple of clients who have faced the same issue as you – most of the jobs being offered in the green sector are technical or scientific…so my idea would be to consider developing a green service for individuals and families. One example might be to do “green audits” of homes and make recommendations for “greening” up complete with ideas for appliances with comparisons, estimates of how much they might save both in money and energy and what programs they might qualify for to help offset the costs of upgrading. This is just one example, there are many that could be created.
See http://greenirene.com for inspiration.
If starting a biz is not your thing…you might find some help through these resources:
http://treehugger.com
http://sustainablebusiness.com
http://idealist.org
or check out these books for more inspiration:
http://www.amazon.com/Green-Businesses-Start-Money-Difference/dp/1599181800
If you’re in the LA area – there is a great networking group called Green Drinks – they meet regularly to discuss all things green…I imagine there may be a “jobs avail” component.
Good luck – this is important work and I applaud you for pursuing it!
Hello Barb.
Start with detailing what kind of white collar, green jobs you are finding, then research what others are out there. Then, after digging a bit deeper and seeking out guidance from your network and folks in the field, and do a skill scan break down of the skills you have and those “they” want to see if there is a match. These matched skills are what we call transferable skills. If it is your project management skills that are a match, be certain by breaking those down skill by skill describing and defining each skill, differentiating one from the next. Sometimes it is a matter of linguistics and the language used on one field that may differ from another field that challenges us from finding the new job or career field we are aiming to break into. Be sure you’ve got the correct title, name and language. Otherwise, the research starts there. All else fails, seek a career counselor or coach. In the meantime, join linkedin.com
Good Luck!
Here’s to finding happiness at work through career satisfaction!
Hello, Barb!
We share a name (smile)! Danielle, Douglas and Susan all gave you wonderful information. Another recommendation I might add is to research the particular trade jobs and green companies you are discovering, and start assessing where someone of your skills could insert yourself to make the company more marketable and profitable! Perhaps draw up a three-point proposal or a marketing plan that would custom-fit the particular companies you would like to work for.
Sometimes the best job you can find is the one you create for yourself. Often companies are not aware of their need until you do something that makes you stand out.
Best to you!