This coming week at our 5th Annual Green Jobs Forum, Spencer Schecht, co-owner of Green Drinks DC, will be running a workshop entitled “Fear is Your Copilot: Networking in Washington DC”.
We wanted to take the time to catch up with Spencer and hear about his experience as an early-career climate and energy professional in the DC area, and his tips and suggestions for clean energy jobseekers.
Leaders in Energy will be holding its 5th annual Green Jobs Forum on the topic of “Growing a Regional Clean Economy” at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) on August 16th, from 5-9 pm. Pizza and beverages will be served.
As the demand for renewable energy continues to increase, the industry is looking to recruit high-caliber candidates to drive green energy business forward. For example, according to the “2017 U.S. Energy and Employment Report” published by the U.S. Department of Energy,the solar workforce increased by 25% in 2016, while wind employment increased by 32%. “Now Hiring: The Growth of America’s Clean Energy & Sustainability Jobs”, by the Environmental Defense Fund provides examples of jobs spanning energy efficiency and renewable energy, waste reduction, natural resources conservation and environmental education.
Individuals looking to enter these professions in the clean energy and sustainability sectors need to demonstrate competency in communication, an active interest in green energy, and a natural aptitude for all things technical. For those hoping to pursue leadership roles, an energy leader should be able to manage geographically diverse teams, coordinate complex technical projects and possess the ability to identify and run with new ideas.
On Friday, June 8th, Leaders in Energy held its inaugural Green Leaders for Local Impact Retreat at the Potomac Overlook Regional Park in Arlington, Virginia. The event was co-hosted by the Nature Leadership Center. The purpose of this retreat was to celebrate the World Environment Day (June 5th) and examine how the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) can be translated into local actions.
Leaders in Energy conducted a 5-session Green Career Momentum (GCM), from May 17-June 21, 2018, to help those seeking to land or create their dream green job. At each session, speakers in different sectors, e.g., clean energy, circular economy, natural resources, etc. provided their expertise for participants to learn about opportunities in the green economy. The sessions included interactive exercises to practice skills and opportunities for networking. Dr. Beth Offenbacker, Principle, Waterford Inc, and Director for Training and Development, Leaders in Energy, was the instructor.
This article provides highlights from the Green Career Momentum session titled “Getting in the Door: Executive Communications, Resumes, and Cover Letter.” Skills were practiced during the session on techniques to develop rapport for successful interviewing. The session took place virtually on May 31, 2018.
On May 10th, the topic was “The Green Economy: Job and Career Trends You Need to Know About.” The speaker was Norman Christopher, Executive Director, Office of Sustainability Practices, Grand Valley State University and the author of the book Sustainability Demystified! was the speaker. The skill was “Identifying Energy Sustainability Jobs in the new Economy.” The Green Economy focus area was clean energy, energy efficiency, and the electric grid.
On Thursday, June 14th, Leaders in Energy held the fourth Green Career Momentum (GCM) event at Green America. The GRM series has been held to assist Leaders in Energy members in find or create a dream green job. Each session has a specialized topic, speakers, skill, and green economy focus area.