How to Build a Career in Sustainability (2024)

Illustration by Kenzo Hamazaki

Summary.

There is no unique path when it comes to sustainability. If you are curious about how to shift to a career in this area, there are a few ways to get started.

First, know that this field is not going anywhere. Businesses are reacting to consumer demands by creating new roles focused on developing ESG-friendly practices in every sector. Because these roles are new to everyone, the playing field is even. Both junior and senior employees can land them.
Identify your area of expertise.Sustainability include three pillars: environmental, social, and economic.If you’re curious about what positions are currently available in your industry, search “Sustainability,” or “ESG,” under the “jobs” tab on LinkedIn. You may be surprised by the variety of roles presented.
Upskill. As with all jobs of the future, soft skills such as creativity, adaptability and design thinking are critical. When it comes to sustainability, however, a new category has also emerged: green skills.The Green General Skill index identifies four main types of skills that are sought after in green occupations and many of these can be learned through online courses.
Apply to the right companies. Some companies may include their sustainability strategy directly on their websites. For others, this may be less obvious. During the interview process, be sure to ask about their ESG-related goals to make sure their values align with your own.

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Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here.

What jobs contribute most to the health of our planet? A few obvious answers may come to mind: ecologist, biochemist, meteorologist, geologist — any role in the environmental sector. While these careers are highly admirable, not every person who cares about creating a more sustainable world wants to become a scientist, and for many of us, this field is far away from what we have already studied or prepared to pursue.