How to Find a Job in Sustainability

How to Find a Job in Sustainability

Defining a “sustainable” career is tricky. However, as the industry goes mainstream, the opportunities to integrate personal goals into a company’s environmental and social goals are plentiful.

Katie Kross, a sustainability educator at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, who has watched the market for nearly 20 years, said: “The sustainability job market is booming. Now is the time to pursue a career in sustainability. The best chance.”

But the disturbing fact remains that the path to sustainability as a profession is puzzling. There is no standard playbook for historic business transformation. As the industry evolves, so does the answer to the ideal job title, description or salary.

changes and challenges

Competition for sustainability jobs is fierce, with applicants both inside and outside the company crammed into the green transition. Sustainability management graduate student Lupe Cornejo found this out the hard way. She checked all the ESD boxes but was still struggling to find a job. “After more than a dozen applications, I started to question my approach and hiring process,” she said. “I don’t understand what I’m doing wrong – I have the right degree and references, but I can’t get interview calls.”

The problem, says Matthew Sekol, an industry executive and sustainability advocate at Microsoft, is that “everyone is touting the same boat. It’s inspiring to get into this space, but there’s a lot of noise out there that can get in the way of those who qualify.”

To stand out, Carol Stickler, head of the North American sustainability practice at branding agency Ogilvy Consulting, recommends considering the areas of sustainability you want to focus on, the transferable business skills you can incorporate, the type of organization and culture you might be most comfortable with, and where Where you think your driving has the greatest impact. “We’re not at this stage yet with people with extensive experience in branding and sustainability,” Stickler said.

Advice for job seekers

As sustainability enters a new era and it becomes fashionable to hire sustainability teams, businesses are capitalizing on the momentum.

Alison Taylor, research scientist At NYU, which helps businesses implement ethical practices, a warning to those looking to pursue sustainable careers. “Everyone who wants to work in sustainability should be wary of what is called ‘sustainable’,” she said. “It’s not clear which skills are sustainable. It can mean different things in different sectors, industries and regions. For example, it could mean working in marketing, project management, risk consulting, or being an environmental engineer, a human rights lawyer Or climate experts.” She advises aspirants to also look for opportunities outside of positions that have “sustainability” in their job title.

Understanding the company’s and industry’s core business issues and sustainability priorities is critical when evaluating suitable career paths. Traditionally, sustainability teams have been part of a company’s corporate responsibility, marketing or investor relations departments. Placing sustainability under these umbrellas has led to criticism of “greenwashing,” so looking for sustainability roles in a company’s operations can help identify high-impact roles.

Ask the following questions: Where is the sustainability sector? What are the qualifications of the Chief Sustainability Officer? How does the department work with the rest of the organization? “Criticism is important. Look for influence, budget and power,” Taylor said.

The good news is that expanded corporate budgets, net-zero climate commitments and government policies will add new jobs in the future. But these assumptions vary by country and sector. Countries such as the US, UK and Australia offer mature markets and many green jobs, with India and Brazil showing great potential, according to LinkedIn’s first Global Green Skills Report. The report identified agriculture, business services, design, energy and mining, manufacturing and public administration as industries with high potential to accelerate the transition to sustainable jobs.

Wages and Industry Standards

Aashna Aggarwal, an international student in Columbia University’s Sustainability Management Program, shares her job search experience, drawing an interesting contrast between the job market and dating apps. “I think it’s a matching issue with dating apps, you have people willing to hire and students who are looking for jobs, but there’s still a gap between demand and supply. We also have an economic issue of not targeting our majors, Standardised wage benchmarks for skills, education and enthusiasm.”

As the sustainability profession has matured, some trends have begun to converge. GreenBiz’s benchmark study, The State of Occupation 2022, analyzes trends in the U.S. sustainable job market. According to the report, the average total compensation for sustainability managers was $146,900; for directors, $227,158; and for vice presidents, it was an impressive $404,972.

These salaries reflect a historic economic transition the world is going through; in just a few short years, sustainability has morphed into “business as usual”. “Just as the Internet revolutionized business in the early 2000s, sustainability is about to change the way we do business in unprecedented ways, but we’re still in its infancy,” says Microsoft’s Sekol.

persistent difference

It’s important to note that GreenBiz’s average salary is “average” and only focuses on a specific geographic area – the United States. The data did not show gender pay parity or any significant change in the average pay of early- and mid-career professionals.

Like many jobs in corporate America, the industry has grown despite a growing focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. continue to dominate identified by the individual as white. Sustainability work does not avoid racial, ethical and social differences, which make it harder for historically disadvantaged parts of the community — including people of color, women and international students — to enter the field.

Overcoming these and other hurdles requires a concerted effort, Taylor said. She suggests that classmates and professionals can share job opportunities, compare notes and help each other. “To break down barriers, you need to protect yourself and those around you,” she concluded.

Prera​​na Tirodkar is a graduate student at Columbia University Master of Sustainability Management program.