Green Jobs for Graduates

by Alison Lueders, Great Green Editing

As the month of May wraps up, our hats are off to new college graduates. Congratulations and welcome to the “real world”!

green mortarboard

If finding a job is your next step, why not explore the possibility of a “green” job? You don’t have to be a scientist or environmental engineer to find a green job. In a world that needs to reinvent everything – from the way we grow our food to the way we handle waste – in a more a more sustainable fashion, potential green jobs are everywhere.

Lots of Opportunity

The good news is that the overall unemployment rate in the US is dropping. The even better news is that some green sectors of the economy are growing faster than the average. For example, in  2012, solar jobs grew 8 times faster than the economy as a whole.

The group Environmental Entrepreneurs reports that, as of the end of 2012, Florida ranked third out of the 50 states in creating green jobs. The strongest green sectors in the Southeast region were solar, advanced vehicles, and wind.

And a Tampa Bay Times article reports that hiring for new college grads in 2013 – while not exactly “hot” – is fairly broad-based, running the gamut from financial services to nursing.

Where to Look for Green Jobs

Looking for a job is a challenge, and finding a green job is no different. There are many resources out there, including:

  • General online resources like LinkedIn
  • More specialized online resources like Green Dream Jobs or Green Job Search.org
  • Hankering to work for a corporation? Check out the Newsweek Green Rankings to see which companies are taking sustainable business seriously. Then do your research to identify potential contacts.
  • Your college career office, which usually overflows with information on potential employers as well as tips on how best to market yourself.

Helping all businesses evolve from “traditional” to “greener” is an endless opportunity. Whether you join the office “green team” or start your own green business from scratch, you’re limited only by your imagination.

Good Luck!

As Thoreau said, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.” It will take a LOT of imagination to re-think our world. We’re so glad you’re here!