How can you effectively answer interview questions about sustainability? (2024)

It is an endurance sport, not a quick win. Sustainability means setting up an organization for lasting performance, high levels of engagement and long standing relationships that matter.You build trust and resilience by appreciating and honoring the small steps that lead to the big goal. You don’t jump from one hype to another, instead you define what a long game means for you and your people and you build the right framework to enable them to be their best - for a long time to come. I’d you genuinely mean it, sustainability is woven into your people strategy, your customer strategy, your every strategy. You define a vision for long lasting success and memories and then you start moving. Just stay on the path long enough.

1.Understand the company's sustainability initiatives such as their environmental policies, carbon footprint reduction strategies, and community involvement. 2.Highlight relevant experience, projects or initiatives you have been involved in that demonstrate your commitment to sustainability. This could include implementing recycling programs, reducing waste, or improving energy efficiency.3.Provide specific examples when answering questions, use specific examples from your experience to illustrate your points. This could include quantifiable results, such as cost savings or environmental impact reductions.4.Discuss how you stay up to date with the latest trends and incorporate new practices into your work.

Highlight the importance of sustainability in culture change by emphasizing its alignment with a long-term vision. A sustainable culture ensures that organizational values transcend short-term trends, creating a foundation for enduring success. This long-term perspective fosters resilience, adaptability, and a shared commitment to values that withstand the test of time.

As a leader you maintain sustainability by continuously investing in your greatest commodities, employees, customers, collaboration with partners and people centered.In my experience technology, systems, processes & procedures are constantly evolving, this is the STEM era. Unfortunately, we aren't equipped because we haven't prepared, trained, invested enough in the people to sustain an evolving culture.

Sustainability is a broad and evolving topic, seek to understand the intersection between your skills, the organisationals goals / challenges and the role your interviewing for. This can ensure your answers are crisp and relevant. To do this spend time understand the full landscape. In addition to using information the company has shared, look at sources that might also give you indication of the organisation's current state. Here you will often uncover insights that reflects maturity and challenges rather than a carefully curated public image. Some questions - are they rated low in some indices?- are the missing entirely from some forums or maturity metrics?- who can you find on LinkedIn and what are they talking about?

“Thrilled to see the growing emphasis on sustainability in healthcare! 🌱♻️ From reducing carbon footprints to implementing eco-friendly practices, the healthcare sector is taking significant strides towards a greener future. By adopting sustainable practices, we’re not just improving environmental health but also enhancing patient care and cost-effectiveness. Let’s continue to innovate and collaborate towards a healthier, more sustainable tomorrow! #Sustainability #Healthcare #GreenHealthcare #Innovation #EcoFriendly”

Sustainability is not just about green and environment. Building a tool that is well designed so others can maintain is sustainable. Mentoring others so talent pool is growing for the future is sustainable. Deciding not to proceed with a business proposal because it is likely to cause problem for future generation is also sustainable.

Be careful to begin with inquiring how the interviewees perceive sustainability first. There are so many different views and everyone is at a different stage of maturity in this sphere. So, consider a ‘slow reveal’ of your views to test the waters first - or you may find yourself leap years in front of others and be discarded.

Sustainability is about being intentional in creating long lasting effects of change in the present. If we are not INTENTIONAL in ensuring that current processes and systems in place can continue to improve and grow, then how can we create a sustainable future? Ultimately, it is leaders who intentionally invest into the present with a Vision of the future who can create Sustainability that lasts for generations.Sustainability doesn't just focus on the NOW, but the FUTURE. Sustainability should force you to think about SOLUTIONS that doesn't just solve present issues but considers FUTURE problems.

At interview, you're trying to convey that you will fit in and be a good match. You aren't trying to show that you are cleverer or more informed than anyone else in the room. So when following up, if you said something incorrect then apologize in the follow-up email. If you made a good point then reinforce it. If you promised something (like a copy of a paper) then deliver on your promise. And use the opportunity to highlight your personal contribution, either with copies of reports (as long as they aren't confidential), or links to blogs and articles that are already public

Candidates should remain mindful, if the key focus of the interview was NOT sustainability, check how far up (or down) the interviewing company's strategy it currently sits, and amend the follow-up email accordingly. Whilst sustainable practices should be on everyone's agenda, in certain industries its lower than you would expect, namely impacted by safety. Even when following up, take a cautiously considered approach to both email content, tone, and structure.

Take time to research and understand the organization you are interviewing with. What are their sustainability practices, goals, and history (this includes understanding challenging past)? Give some thought to how the role you are applying for, or even your basic interest in the sector/industry, match and meet your personal values around sustainability.

Sustainability is still a growing subject. On one hand, I always refer back to the UN SDGs and how they can be applied locally - tried and tested, universally applicable. On the other hand, you want more specific knowledge - perhaps follow through on one part of one UN SDG like communities and transport (there are UN articles right down to very specific areas). Join a local group like PMI's Sustainability movement which has members in every country, or APM's Sustainability Interest Network (mainly UK)

Learn learn learn! Live it, live it, live it! You can use simple or complex examples, connect them with business strategies, theories, trends, researches data, cases, use AI to combine it all, but your own experience will always talk louder during interviews! Connect it all with how you have experienced and helped creatina value through it in your personal and professional life. This needs to be real!

How deep do your values go? Are you interested in sustainability because it might help with your career, but you don't see anything wrong with white supremacist movements and oil and gas companies? Do you drive a diesel car and won't go electric until (whatever excuse)? Will the company you're interviewing for want someone who talks but doesn't walk that way (and yes, some employers are hypocritical and want hypocritical employees, so there's a place for everyone)

Knowing the theory of sustainability without showing its application means nothing. A balanced and minimalist lifestyle must be proven - minimalist consumer behaviour, healthy living with balanced exercise, eating, sleeping, working and socialising as well as sustainable disposal of waste should be demonstrated.