You’ve got your mind made up: you’re going to follow your passion and look for one of the green-collar jobs everyone’s talking about. Unfortunately, that means you’ve got another job to do first: write a green resume. Resumes are the lifeblood of the job search process, giving future employees an instant glance at who you are, what you’ve done, and what you can do for them—all in a page or two. Make sure your resume makes an immediate, job-snagging impression. Follow the typical guidelines for good resume writing. Take a look at some samples, to make sure you're on the right track.
Then green your resume using these tips:
Learn green buzzwords. Savvy use of the lingo in your field shows employers that you’re authentic. Don’t stack your resume with over-the-top terms, but if words like ecoflation, sustainable consumerism, green audit, precycling, or carbon trading are commonly used in the industry, throw one in to show you’re up-to-date. If you land an interview, familiarize yourself with more relevant terms from BlogCatalog, like ecohacking (using science to change the environment); global weirding (strange weather patterns or climate-change shifts); or rewilding (restoring a wilderness).
Don't assume certain work experience isn't valid. From Portland Energy Conservation Inc. and Solar Muni Finance on the west coast to Balmori Associates in New York, green businesses need all sorts of staffers, including secretaries, accountants, marketing specialists, business developers, techies, and more. Think about what transferable skills you do have, and highlight these.
Prove you genuinely care about the planet. The college recycling program, the Green Drinks group, and the neighborhood knapweed abatement project are all worth mentioning. So is the fact that you volunteered to coordinate the recycling effort at your last non-green job. Green employers want to know you’re not just pursuing a paycheck—you’re pursuing positive change. If enviro action is in your past, include it.
Get email wise. Most employers these days—and particularly green ones—ask only for email copies of your resume. To make sure yours doesn't get garbled when you send it electronically, consult some online resources. As with scanning versions, emailed resumes typically need to be in plain fonts without fancy layouts or other flourishes. If you email an unsolicited resume directly into someone’s email box, don’t send it as an attachment. No one (who’s virus-wise) opens attachments from strangers.
Practice what you preach. If employers do ask for a printed resume, show your commitment to the environment by using recycled, chlorine-free (or hemp!) paper and envelopes. If your employer needs to scan your resume into a database, send two copies: one with an ultra-plain design for scanning, the other for human eyes. Attach a recycled sticky note to identify the plain one.
Borrow some eyes. Ask someone already in the green industry to look at your resume, offer advice on wording, and give pointers on what should be boosted or deleted. Then spell and grammar check it, and read it again for good measure. Nothing will get a resume tossed out faster than a mispelled (we couldn’t resist) word.
Jay G. says:
I'd also toss in two critical words: Transferable skills. A green job is often nothing more than an old-school business with a new-school product or service. More likely than not, your work in the trenches is incredibly valuable...it's just how you position your commitment.
Also, hate to tell you but I'd say that if someone came in throwing around green buzzwords like that I'd question their legitimacy. If you use any of those words above you'd better be ready to dive into their definitions and relevance, otherwise I'd have some concerns.
Jordana G. says:
Point taken on the buzzwords -- the examples above might be a little dramatic. But it is a good idea to learn the terms that people in the greenspace are using. Just the word "greenspace" is very buzzy and not used a lot outside of... "the space." I'd never heard it before my green job. There are a lot of words, phrases, and even news items that get tossed around among greenies. And if you haven't previously been a part of this world, it's helpful to brush up on "fashionable" terms and ideas before sending in your applications.
Cris Bisch says:
Prove you genuinely care about the planet. I will say, amen to this point! Every opportunity that has been open to me in the environmental movement has evolved from an altruistic commitment to community building and service to others. So, don't downplay or leave out your volunteerism, especially when submitting your resume to a non-profit organization. Most for-profit companies in the green sector encourage their employees to volunteer in their community. In doing so, you are also demonstrating the company's commitment to environmental responsibility; employees are seen as ambassadors of good will for their employer. Thing of your volunteer experience as a desired asset. The hours you have freely given to help environmental causes and projects will naturally work as a benefit to you in your green job search.
Carissa W. says:
Having your own website, with your resume posted on it and links to examples, is really helpful too. Someone who doesn't know the organization you volunteered for could click through from your website if you had the url linked there.
Ayo M. says:
I would say for the individuals who have disabilities and want green collar jobs, mention that you can be an asset in quality control and testing of green products that are adaptive equipment or durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs, laptops, exercise equipment, air ionizers, oxygen water ionizers, household appliances that reduce dependence on non-renewable energy sources, and unless you have environmental illness or chronic fatigue syndrome, try to offer your services testing green cleaning products, cosmetics, cookware, bedding, etc. If you are innovative and have creative skills, offer services working with engineering or research and development. Check out the Green Think Tank for the Disability Community. By May 2009, we will begin to schedule private teleconferences again with those who have signed up, including the subdivision known as Green Paratransit Think Tank. The 5-year plan will be written by several teams. We are still building. We are including green entrepreneurship, but primary benefactors will be individuals who are disabled.
Ceylan O. says:
You might also want to work with a professional resume writer who knows which keywords recruiters are looking for in a green resume. Companies like CleanTechies offer resume and cover letter services specifically targeting green careers. Expert writers make sure that recruiters understand how your skills are relevant to the new career you want to pursue. I agree with Jay - it's all about transferable skills. A lot of people are looking to enter the green space, but they don't necessarily have experiences in this field. Expert green resume writers know how to make the most out of your previous experience and position you best for a green job.
Here's another article on this topic that you could find useful:
http://cleantechies.com/professional-resume-writing-services/first-impression/
Don M. says:
A good location to get some of those skills on your resume is the O*net, it might take a little surfing. Additionally, a great way to introduce yourself to the green world is Green Career Central by Carol McClelland. Also watch out for the Green Phantom Jobs. All this talk about new jobs but none appearing.
Don Mineo
Career Counselor &
Career Technician at Saddleback College
Jason R. says:
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