Green careers have gained popularity over time. A job outlook for a career path in this field is promising; this is because the notion of a clean economy is emphasized in all the states.
Definition of Green Careers
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics categorizes the definition of Green careers/jobs into
Goods and service production jobs that promote conservation of natural resources
These green goods and services include:
- Products and services, which use renewable resources to generate energy e.g. hydropower.
- Production of goods and services that are energy efficient.
- Products and services that promote natural resources conservation.
- Good and services that reduce pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and creation of waste materials (by reusing or recycling).
- Products and services which promote; public awareness of environmental conservation, education and training, and enforce compliance of environmental regulations.
Careers, which involve use of less natural resources or environment friendly production processes.
The jobs in this category entail use of technologies and practices that reduce environmental exploitation. They include:
Use of renewable sources to generate energy.
Use of practices and technologies that are energy efficient.
Application of technology and practices, which reduce pollution, greenhouse gas emission and waste material accumulation.
Application of technology and practices in the production process, which conserve natural resources.
Green Jobs Websites
There are many websites, which offer information on job alerts related to green careers. Some websites list jobs that are only related to a particular category of the green jobs while others provide general updates.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides job opportunities in natural resources and environmental sciences sectors. The employment opportunities are listed in terms of permanent openings, limited term employment openings and internships (http://dnr.wi.gov/employment/).
MN Environmental Websites
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources lists green jobs that are available in this department throughout the state (http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/index.html).
The Conservation Corps of Minnesota website lists AmeriCorps jobs available in Minnesota and Iowa. Volunteer opportunities and youth positions are listed too (http://www.conservationcorps.org/).
- Association for Environmental Education
The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) has an ‘EE Jobs Database’ that contains almost 777 items; a site search button allows one to refine their search. (https://naaee.org/eepro/jobs).
CareerECO
CareerECO is a career ecosystem that serves to connect graduates with employers through virtual events (https://www.careereco.com/). Subscription services are available for prompt job/career updates.
Earth First Journal
The Earth First Journal is a media forum that represents the radical environmental movement group (http://earthfirstjournal.org/). The journal accepts submissions such as articles and photos to their newswire.
Earth Share
Earth Share is a forum of member organizations, which promotes environmental conservation. Environmental job opportunities from member groups and partners of Earth Share are listed here (http://www.earthsharega.org/get-involved/green-jobs/).
EnvironmentalCareer.com
Environmentalcareer.com provides a forum for job seekers and employers to find or post a green job respectively. Featured/ latest jobs are listed in the homepage and a job seeker can conduct a refined search for a job too (http://www.environmentalcareer.com/).
ECOJobs.com
The Environmental Career Opportunities (ECO) website contains featured general green jobs. Employers advertise jobs here and job seekers can search or get subscription job alerts (http://www.ecojobs.com/).
ECO also contains links of various categorized green jobs where one can access jobs related to:
- Natural Resources & Conservation Jobs
- Environmental Science & Engineering Jobs
- Renewable Energy & Green Jobs
- Environmental Law, Policy & Regulation jobs
- Outdoor & environmental Education Jobs
- Environmental Advocacy & Communications jobs
- Environmental jobs in Higher Education
Environmental Expert
The Environmental XPRT is a media and market site that provides information on environmental technology solutions, products and news. Companies advertise for products or candidates here
Geography Jobs.com
Geography.com provides jobs postings to geographers and also offers recruitment-consulting services to employers and job seekers (http://www.geographyjobs.com/).
Green Industry Jobs
Greenindustryjobs.com contains numerous job listings for green job titles. Employers are offered unlimited postings for 8 weeks at an affordable price (http://www.greenindustryjobs.com/).
- Green Jobs International
The Green Business Jobs website lists international green jobs under the category of science, engineering, green management and internships (http://www.kaufda.de/Umwelt-Jobs/jobs/Green-Jobs-international/).
- Greenpeace
Greenpeace is an international movement that advocates for peace and a green environment. The Greenpeace job opportunities segment lists open job positions (https://careers-greenpeace.icims.com/).
- IhireEnvironmental
IHireEnvironmental enables job seekers to view environmental jobs based on the job title, state and city or register and get job alerts. Employers can view uploaded resumes and search for a favorable candidate (https://www.ihireenvironmental.com/).
- MonsterTRAK Green Careers
The Monster.com is career center, which allows job seekers to search for openings in any field or major (http://www.monster.com/career-advice/).
- Sierra Club
The Sierra Club contains job listings, which can be viewed in their website (http://www.sierraclub.org/careers).
- Student Conservation Association
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is a forum of conservation corps. Current jobs opening for SCA positions countrywide are listed here (http://thesca.atsondemand.com/).
- Acre
Acre is a job board that lists open opportunities under the categories of environment health and safety, general environment, energy and carbon, and CSR & sustainability (http://acre.com/jobs).
- AgCareers
AgCareers.com is a job board that provides updates that are specific to agriculture, food and biotechnology (http://www.agcareers.com/).
- Environmentjobs.com
Environmentjobs.com provides updates on jobs in green careers that are presently available. There is also a search button for job seekers to refine their search (http://www.environmentjobs.com/). - Eco.ORG
Eco.ORG provides information on the available green jobs. Featured jobs are listed on the home page (http://www.eco.org/). - SustainableBussiness.com
SustainableBusiness.com provides green jobs services in terms of listed featured jobs and a search criteria that allows green job seekers to refine their search based on their skill level, job category and city or state.(http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/greendreamjobs.main)
Green Scholarships
The best sites for getting opportunities for green scholarships include:
Scholarships.com contains a database of more than 2.7 million awards; and out of the many awards, they list the most popular green scholarships. The site also enables a person to search, view and apply for other green scholarships opportunities.
Fastweb has a scholarship tab that contains very useful information on scholarship tips, videos, deadlines and scholarship matches. Featured green scholarships opportunities are detailed in the homepage too.
Annie’s Homegrown has a Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship program that is awarded each year to students pursuing degrees in sustainable and organic agriculture.
- American Geophysical Union
The American Geophysical Union is a non-profit organization concerned with the Earth Sciences. AGU offers various scholarships to students pursuing geophysical / environmental sciences.
NEHA in partnership with the American Public University and the American Academy of Sanitarians provides a scholarship fund for students pursuing studies in environmental health sciences.
- Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
AASHE is an association that inspires higher education to lead a sustainability movement. It offers annual Sustainability Awards to persons/institutions that lead higher education to a sustainable future (http://www.aashe.org/about/aashe-awards).
- Brower Youth Awards
Brower Youth Awards for Environmental Leadership offers awards to youths who make an effort to address environmental issues through creation of sustainable projects or innovative ideas (http://www.broweryouthawards.org/apply/).
- Society of Exploration Geophysicists
The Society of Exploration Geophysicists provides scholarships to students intending to major in the field of geological environmental science (http://seg.org/Scholarships).
- Brown and Caldwell
Brown and Caldwell is a firm that deals with engineering with a specification of environmental consulting. The firm offers scholarships to students in the field of water and environment (http://www.brownandcaldwell.com/scholarships.asp).
- U.S. Department of Energy
The Department of Energy provides funding to students to promote scientific education (http://energy.gov/scholarships-and-fellowships).
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
USEPA is tasked with ensuring the health and natural aspects of environment are maintained. Scholarship and fellowship opportunities are listed in their website (https://www.epa.gov/careers/fellowships-scholarships-and-post-doctoral-opportunities).
- National Garden Clubs
The National Gardens Clubs offers scholarships to junior and senior students, and to students pursuing master’s degree in horticulture (http://www.gardenclub.org/scholarships/).
ORISE is managed by the Department of Health and provides scholarship opportunities for students in the fields of science and engineering.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA offers scholarship opportunities to students seeking or already pursuing disciplines related to oceanic and atmospheric sciences (http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/scholarships/).
The National Science Foundation promotes advancement of science in the country. NSF provides various opportunities for students to receive funding in the NSF website.
Scholars4dev provides lists numerous green scholarships for international students. The categorized green scholarships include:
- Environmental Management Scholarships (http://www.scholars4dev.com/category/field-of-study/environment-scholarships/).
- Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Scholarships (http://www.scholars4dev.com/category/field-of-study/agriculture-forestry-and-fisheries-scholarships/).
- Natural Resources Management (http://www.scholars4dev.com/category/field-of-study/environment-scholarships/natural-resources-management/).
- Natural Sciences Scholarships (http://www.scholars4dev.com/category/field-of-study/natural-science-scholarships/).
- Scholarships for Urban Environmental Management (http://www.scholars4dev.com/category/field-of-study/environment-scholarships/urban-environmental-management/).
- Water Management Scholarships (http://www.scholars4dev.com/category/field-of-study/environment-scholarships/water-management-scholarships/).
- Ford Motor Company
The Ford Motor Company provides various scholarship opportunities. Some of the awards are specific to student projects that promote sustainability (https://www.fordblueovalnetwork.org/).
- Natural Science Scholarship – Friends of Volo Bog
Friends of Volo Bog award scholarships to students pursuing environmental studies or natural science programs each year (http://www.friendsofvolobog.org/#!scholarships/camt).
- Environmental Defense Fund
The Environmental Defense Fund offers fellowship opportunities to students in the environmental field (https://www.edf.org/jobs/internships-fellowships).
- United States Geological Services
The United States Geological Services’ website has numerous resources that help in finding opportunities such as scholarships and internships for undergraduate and graduate students of environmental science (http://www.science.gov/).
Internships for Green Careers
Internships are important opportunities for gaining experience in one’s career and in earning credits. Internship opportunities for green careers are accessed through government agencies, Not-for-Profit organizations, and private companies. The best sites for accessing information on internship are:
- The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration
NOAA deals with protection of marine resources and understanding the ocean and earth. NOAA’s Student Opportunities website provides students with information on available opportunities such as internships .
- National Park Service
The Mosaic in Science Internship Program is provided through a partnership of National Park Service and several other youth and environment foundations. It provides youths in natural resource careers a chance to experience National Park service (http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/mosaics/index.cfm).
- United States Department of Energy (DOE)
Energy.gov list internship opportunities available within the Energy Department (http://www.energy.gov/student-programs-and-internships).
- United States Geological Services
The United States Geological Services (USGS) conducts studies on the ecosystem and reduces damage to natural resources. USGS provides various internship programs for students to participate in their activities (http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/114/).
- Environmental Defense Fund
The Environmental Defense Fund’s aim and activities involve preservation of the natural system. Internship opportunities offer students/graduates a chance to work in various departments within EDF (https://www.edf.org/jobs/internships-fellowships).
- The Sierra Club
The Sierra Club Environmental Law Program offers internship for law students interested in environmental litigation (http://content.sierraclub.org/environmentallaw/internships).
- World Wildlife Fund
World Wide Fund’s mission is to preserve the earth’s natural environment. WWF provides global internship opportunities, which are posted on WWF’s website (http://wwf.panda.org/how_you_can_help/volunteer/volunteer/current_volunteer_internship_openings/).
- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
USGBC is a green non-profit organization that promotes sustainability through building activities. USGBC offers various internship opportunities for their green building movement (http://www.usgbc.org/jobs/internships).
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is part of the Department of Energy. It deals with efficiency technology and renewable energy and provides internship opportunities for students to work on these areas (http://www.nrel.gov/careers/internships.html).
- Environmental Career Opportunities (ECO)
ECO lists various internships and volunteer opportunities in green careers. Subscription services allow a person to get updates on vacancies as soon as they are available (http://www.ecojobs.com/environmental-internships.htm).
Other Resources
- For Dummies website– How to Start a Green Career or Green your Current Job (http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/green-careers-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html)It is possible to find a niche and advance from another career to a green title. The For Dummies website contains information and resources that help a newbie in green job hunting. Information on green job boards, industries, blogs, strategizing a resume and volunteering opportunities are detailed here.
- LearnHowToBecome– A guide to green careers (http://www.learnhowtobecome.org/green-careers/)The LearnHowToBecome site offers valuable information that act as guidance to choosing a green career. This information includes an introduction to green careers, trends that fuel green careers, median annual salaries, best employers, green internships, scholarships and various job titles.
- CareerWise Education (https://www.careerwise.mnscu.edu/industry/green/careers/all-green-careers.html)The CareerWise Education website contains information on all possible types of green careers. However, careers listed here are those that showed a hiring demand between 2009 and 2011 in Minnesota.
