Top Seven Green Economy Myths - Debunked!
We regularly meet people at networking meetings and in our
group calls who are making false assumptions about the
Green Economy. These assumptions may have been true at
some point, but times have changed. Are you letting some of
these false assumptions hold you back from entering the
Green Economy?
Myth #1: I won't make any real money.
This all depends on your interests and the choices you
make. If you want to work in a non-profit or directly with
wildlife and the environment, your income potential may be
somewhat limited.
But if living close to the land or on a tight budget isn't
your thing, you won't make choices that will put you in
those situations. You'll choose to enter an industry that
has good income potential and growth potential.
Supply and demand control the level of wages much the same
way they control the price of goods. If you have a skill
that is in high demand and there are not a lot of others
with the same skill, your value will go up. If you are
developing your green skills now, you'll be in high demand
as this green economy takes off. It's likely you'll have
more opportunities to name your price.
Myth #2: Green careers are only for scientists.
It's true that many environmental jobs, renewable energy
jobs, and clean tech jobs require a scientific / technical
background.
However, there are many other green careers that are
outside the scientific realm. These jobs fall into areas
such as advocacy, policy, finance, marketing, sales,
education, manufacturing, distribution, green building, and
green services such as ecotravel, event planning, real
estate, and publishing.
Myth #3: There aren't any green jobs.
In the last year, the number of green jobs in several
industries has started taking off. Hiring trends depend a
great deal on where the industry / company is in the
maturation process. For instance, a company in an R&D phase
will hire more researchers than a company that is moving
into production and distribution.
There are green jobs and there will be even more as time
progresses; the real question is whether there are green
jobs that fit your skills and abilities. Given that the
green economy is just beginning, some industries are
growing faster than others.
A recent article by American Progress outlines the number
of green jobs that have been created and will be created in
the renewable energies, clean tech, and environmental
industries. Venture capital to these areas is skyrocketing.
Switching over to new energy sources will create jobs in
all areas of the country.
There are other industries that will be affected that
aren't mentioned in that post. For instance, green,
sustainable building for new construction and energy
efficiency retrofitting is already experiencing rapid
growth industry.
Furthermore, all of these changes will lead to ripple
effect changes in other areas such as manufacturing, IT,
services, and education.
Myth #4: I'll have to start over in an entry level position.
Under certain circumstances, if you want to make a dramatic
career change, you may need to step back to build your
experience, knowledge, and credibility.
In most situations, however, you have a number of other
options.
-> Green your current job - explore ways to add a green
component to your current job. Depending on the culture of
the company, you may be able to have quite an impact by
taking the initiative to give more focus to green issues
within your workplace.
-> Use your expertise as a way to transition into a
sustainable company. In this situation your expertise is
the ticket that opens the door to a new company, field, or
industry.
-> Build your green resume by becoming active in your
community, volunteering, interning, or leading a green
initiative.
-> Go back to school to get a green / sustainable
certificate to help give you an edge in getting a green job.
Myth #5: I need a college diploma.
Not necessarily. Remember that many traditional companies
are moving in a green direction. It's possible you can
remain in your current organization, in your current job,
and participate in the greening of your company.
Another option is to explore the green collar jobs that may
soon be available in your area. As we make the shift from a
fossil fuel economy to a renewable energy economy, a number
of green collar trade jobs will become available. The great
news about these jobs is that they will pay well, they
won't be able to be outsourced, and there will be easily
accessible training programs to earn the certificates that
you need to get hired. For information about training
programs, look at the community colleges in your area.
These programs are just beginning to take form. Stay tuned.
Myth #6: I can't think about this now, I need to wait until
I'm ready to make the leap.
Actually, the best time to begin to explore your green
options is well before you are ready to make your move.
Finding the right green career won't happen over night.
You'll need time to explore your interests, your options,
and create a plan for your transition.
By knowing where you want to go, you can begin to take
advantage of opportunities to network, learn, and gain
experience while you are in your current position. The more
actions you can take before you start interviewing, the
stronger your position will be.
Myth #7: Finding my green career is going to take too long.
There's nothing I can do to speed up the process.
Actually, with a little forethought, you can be very
strategic about finding a green career that suits you both
personally and professionally. At Green Career Central we
help people take the necessary steps to identify and
achieve the green career goals that match their needs.
It all begins with identifying your green niche. With your
focus in mind, you can make better use of your networking,
training, and reading time. The more you immerse yourself
in your target industry, the more opportunities you will
see.
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Green Career Expert, Carol McClelland, PhD, is the author
of Your Dream Career For Dummies and founder and managing
editor of Green Career Central. A comprehensive set of
easy-to-use resources, programs, and events helps you
identify your green niche, find a green job, start a green
business or get a green education. Visit
http://www.GreenCareerCentral.com to request our free
report--Six Strategies to Find Your Green Career.