As the economy in Wisconsin continues its’ recovery one segment is growing more than others – green jobs. There are a number of resources available for those interested in pursuing a green career including:
greenjobsnetwork on facebook
The Green Collar Blog offers a three part series on finding a green job in Wisconsin: Part 1 – Job Boards; Part 2 – The Hidden Green Job Market; and, Part 3 – Future Green Jobs.
On-line job boards have become a popular and effective method to search for jobs including green jobs. There are two types of job boards the general and green jobs boards. The general job boards include: MadisonJobs, CarrerBuilder, Craiglist, Indeed, Monster, Simply Hired, and YahooHotJobs. The green job boards include: Ideallist.org, TreeHugger’s Job Board, and greenjobsearch.org. There are also job boards that are devoted to a particular industry such as Jobs in Wind. The Green Jobs Network publishes a comprehensive list of green job boards to help job seekers.
Another strategy is to research the hidden green job market. There are a variety of approaches to use in uncovering the hidden green job market.
First, go directly to a company you are interested in working for. Some companies publish jobs on the company website. You can check out the industry associations list on Green Collar Blog. Check out the list of companies at various conferences such as the Wisconsin Wind Energy Conference. Look at advertising in various publications on Sustainable Industries. Look through the Sustainable Times in Madison. Research national or local lists and directories of green businesses.
Second, networking can be a valuable tool in seeking a job. Look for industry trade conferences in the Madison area and attend them. Some organizations such as EcoTuesday and GreenDrinks have events that are open to attend.
Third, online social media is becoming very popular. One of the most well known is LinkedIn which includes a “Jobs” button where job opportunities are posted. There is a Green Jobs and Career Network group on LinkedIn also and often has more than 100 job postings.
Another on-line approach are e-mail lists. Some of the more popular lists are free and include: EnviJobs, Green Job List, and YNPN.
Fifth, talk to job recruiters. Both Commonground Careers and Bright Green Talent post green jobs that they are recruiting for. The Green Collar Blog contains a list of green recruiters.
Sixth, some membership organizations offer job postings for their member organizations. Net Impact is a national organization that works with businesses devoted to the social good and provides career services including a job board and resume tips.
Finally the UW-Madison, the UW Extension and Madison College offer a range of job resources. Visit their websites to research training and job search resources available for green jobs.
The third strategy is to identify potential green jobs in the future. The key is to follow the money. That means researching where investments are being made today. In Madison investments are being made in the construction industry and wind power. To learn more about where investments are being made some sources include: The Cleantech Group, Earth2Tech, GreenBeat, Greentech Media and GreenVC.
Be aware of changes in the law. For example, the Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 included $8 billion for weatherization. Resources for changes in laws include Apollo Alliance and Green for All.
Finally, look for new start-up companies that are advertising green services. Many new start up companies are those that are taking a new green approach to older services such as pest control and landscaping, and even snow removal.
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