Green Collar Job Guide for College Students

A couple weeks ago I wrote a post about the best places in Boston to find green professionals. This is a great resource to come into contact with people in the industry and to learn what's going on. I did this because I love these events and always refer people to them whenever they ask. The next question that comes after where do I find people is this ..... "What is the best way to network?"

Here is the secret (shhhh, don't tell anyone) DO NOT DO ANY NETWORKING. I'll tell you why, networking focuses on the utilitarian benefit of having a relationship and does not take into account that relationships between humans are valuable in themselves. A subtle difference, but here's what it comes down to. When you are 'networking' here is what is going through your mind when I meet someone, 'what is this person working on, who do they know that can help me, can they give me a job'. Mainly it is focused on what you can get out of them. Let me know tell you, I can spot someone who is 'networking' from a mile away and I want nothing to do with them.

Here's the difference when you're making friends. You actually want to get to know them, know their story, who they are, what they're working on and what they need help with. This leads you to ask a lot of good questions, get to know them, offer to help introduce them to people that may help them. This not only gives you a good friendship but it also makes the person trust and respect you more. When you help someone, they are much more likely to help you in the future.

The main difference here is the industry. From what I've noticed, in finance and general marketing, accounting and other standard industries this is what generally happens. In the green industry, everyone (or most people that I know) LOVES there jobs because they're part of a movement, helping other people yadda yadda. The result is, they are more sensitive to speed networking and are much more interested in making good connections with people to help the movement forward.

Next time you're looking to talk with some one in person or via email, think about learning about them and helping them instead of asking something from them and see how it goes.

Long story short, ifstart thinking about 'networking' as making friends, if yo

Last month, I went to the D2E Conference in Boston and asked most of the attendees for some advice for college students that are looking for renewable energy internships, sustainable internships, and a green collar job. The results, were great we got more then 20 videos from various companies. To each company we asked three questions.

1. Who are you and what do you do?
2. How did you get your job?
3. What are 3 pieces of specific advice you would give to a college student looking to work in your industry. 

Here are a couple young guys from Sunlight Solar.

Enjoy!

I wrote about the 7 things I learned from losing my dream job in renewable energy, and the 7 values that were driving my job search. I guess I like the number 7.

Losing the job wasn’t really that bad, it was a great experience and showed me how to manage a transition so it will be easier in the future. I started a blog to explore what was happening in the industry in Boston. I've been installing solar for the past couple months and it's been awesome.  So, I wanted to walk through the 6 steps that I took to get the job:



1) Reading

I read a ton. Here are the main things that you need to get out of reading. One, understanding all the acronyms of the industry. Two, knowing what is happening with current companies and industry developments. These two pieces of information will help you to search for companies and also talk with current professionals. If you need to do some reading check out the Clean Tech Guide 101 – Renewable Energy Part 1:Technology Overview and the Clean Tech Guide 101 – Renewable Energy Part 2: Top Reading Material

2) Training

I was lucky to work at company that provided renewable energy training so I received it as part of my training. If you’re not this lucky, training will help to set you apart from the crowd. Here are the major things you need to be looking for in each industry. Green Building is all about LEED certification for professionals. For Solar, you’ll need to take a IREC ISPQ approved training courses. For energy efficiency, you need to look for Building Performance Institute (BPI) training. For Geothermal, you want to get an IGSHPA accreditation.

3) Hands-on Experience

Getting hand on experience is a huge bonus and will help to set you apart from the crowd because it shows your serious, and means the company will have to training you less. If you have no current contacts to do this, read these two posts. The Secret Weapon to Finding a Job Installing Solar Systems and 9 Places to Find a Job in Renewable Energy

4) Started a Blog

I started a blog called The Green Light Distrikt to use as a platform to explore what was happening the clean tech industry in Boston. At first, it started as a personal blog, but its evolved into much more. Starting a blog gives you a press pass, or student pass, and allows you to talk with anyone and reach out to them with a good excuse. It’s for your blog after all. More importantly, starting a blog on a certain subject will make you more credible, it shows your a self-starter and it will set you apart in the crowd.

5) Got My Foot In The Door

I used the blog to research and get in contact with numerous companies I was interested in working for by sending them an email saying that I was interested in interviewing them for my blog. Here is the interview I did with Job Abe from Nexamp.

6) I stated What I Wanted

After I talked with Jon, I followed up with him a month later and said I’d be interested in connecting again because I’m looking for a position in the renewable energy industry and wanted to know if you had any advice or resource for me. When we talked, we set up an interview. This is the key, during the interveiw I stated exactly what I wanted to do with the company. I said that I wanted to get more hands on experience installing systems before moving onto business development to help grow the company. The logic was simple, I would be better at selling if I really understood the systems. They offered me the job that day.

Bar none of the most important things when looking to learn about the industry is to make friends who are in the industry. Don't 'network' with people and I'll describe why later. If you're in Boston, this is a list of my favorite events, in no particular order. If you’re going to go, connect with me via twitter @topherwilliams and we can connect there. I look forward to it!

• RaaB Restructuring Round table: The restructuring round table is a quarterly event that was started in the 1990s to explore what would be happening in the energy industry after deregulation. The best way to keep up to date is to go to the site and sign up for their newsletter. It takes place on Friday mornings from 9am to 2pm and is always worth it. They always get amazing speakers and you’re sure to learn something new.

• Clean Tech Kingpins: Clean tech kingpins is hosted by yours truly. The first event was on April 20th. We capture the video from all the speakers, including, the CEOs of Harvest Power, Wakonda Technologies, New Generation Energy and VP of Business Development at Nexamp speak about their companies, their successes, challenges, and future insights into the industry. Our next event will be in July.

• Ignite Clean Energy Competition: Otherwise known as ICE is hosted through the MIT Enterprise Forum. ICE holds a yearly business plan competition for early stage clean tech companies. The cool part is they also have a series of great events and make it really easy for others to get involved. Looking for some inspiration or a company to get involve with? ICE is the place for you.

• Boston Sustainability Group: One of the best, but least known about groups in Boston. Boston Sustainability Group could be considered underground. We meet at The House of Blues for a couple hours, every couple of months. There’s always great speakers and the attendants are normally the whose who of the Boston CSR industry. You need to RSVP and there’s only a small capacity. If you’re interested, connect via twitter @greenldistrikt and I’ll forward you to email so you can RSVP. I don’t feel comfortable giving out people’s email via the blog.

• MIT Energy Club: The MIT Energy Club hosts some great event themselves and also have a great calender with other events going on. I noticed the events tend to have more of a technical perspective. If you’re technical, this will be perfect for you. If you’re not, it will be good for you to learn some of the mum-bo-jumbo.

• Young Professionals in Energy: Known as YPE, this is a national organization with local chapters. The Boston chapter is great, tons of events, they’ve done plant tours in the past. One of the best parts is that there is some formal organization, so things get done really well. I’ve found YPE to be great to connect with people already in the industry.

• NEXUS Green Building Resource Center: NEXUS is hands down THE BEST place to learn about green building in Boston. They have samples, a resource library, experts on staff. They have green building events running constantly, so if you’re interested in the industry check out their calendar.

• Green Drinks: Green Drinks is very informal, yet very fun event of those interest in the ‘green’ industry and those working in it. The events are held bi monthly are a great time.Keep up to date by following @greendrinkBOS and watching the Green Drinks eventbrite page, you can also join the mailing list here.

• Net Impact: Net impact’s tag line is “a global network of leaders who are changing the world through business’ and the Boston chapter is no different. Keep in mind there are many student chapters across Boston, but only one professional chapter. You must join the organization to be able to come to the events but they’re well worth it. Net impact tends to attract more of a CSR crowd, but I’ve also met some great people that work in consulting, marketing and many other places. If you want to get tapped into the leaders of the Boston CSR industry, this is the place.
• Clean Economy Network (formerly Renewable Energy Business Network) has free events in Boston and 16 other locations across the nation, with over 30,000 members in linkedin.

Today is a great day, it marks the start of our very first Super Intern Search, where we find awesome green internships for college students. Watch the above video for all the details!

For the very first super intern search, we're looking for a summer intern for a company called Wattzy.

If you'd like to apply: Here is the important information

Company: Wattzy. A Boston based company that is creating an online platform where households will compete to save energy

Position: Summer intern. $1k Stipend over 10 weeks

1. Create online content about energy efficiency with short article and blog posts
2. Manage online community, facebook, twitter, face to face events.

Qualifications

1. PASSIONATE about energy efficiency
2. Go-getters, producers, will take the bull by the horns type of people.
3. Amazing writing skills
4. A plus is HTML/CSS, Blogging, Social Media skills, experience

Application Process

1. Create a 30 second video with you name, college, and why you're awesome and will be a super intern
2. 'Like' The Green Collar Job Guide on Facebook so that we can follow up with you
3. With you video attached post the following to your Facebook status: "@Greencollarjobguide this is my video application for the Wattzy Super Intern Search" This will be how you submit your application, we will not accept applications in any other form.
4. The last day for submissions is on Monday May 31st, and we will only be accepting the first 100 applications.
5. We will follow up with best applications on May 31.

Why Are we using Facebook and Video instead of resumes?

1. Resume are too susceptible to good writing skills that cover up actual passion and ability to get things done, video is not.
2. With the video, you still have to prove your qualifications
   
3. Growing companies really value interns but don't have to time so sort through stacks of resumes
4. Everyone is already on Facebook
5. Video is harder to make, so naturally only those who are the most passionate will apply.

I look forward to seeing all the applications.

As always, I'm always looking for feedback and input and if you have any questions please ask them.

Chris

If you're interested in getting into the solar industry, the most critical first step is simply to understand the technology, its lingo, and how it works. This way, when you're reading about the industry, making friends with people in the industry and speaking with companies, you'll understand the different between a kW and kWh hour, or the difference between VoC and VMP. I've compiled a list of resources that you can use to start your research of understand the technology.

• Solar Photovoltaic Power (PV) is almost always referred to as “PV”. It uses the sun to excite electrons, excited electrons then create electricity. It’s a little more complicated but thats the general jist.
• How Solar Cells Work: A great article by ‘How Stuff Works’. A must read description of how solar cells work written in plain english.
• Solar Consumer’s Guide: A free guide published by the Department of Energy, a great document that discusses all of solar’s basics.
• Solar Basics: Free information solar basics published from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
• Solar Electricity Basics Free Webinar: Great 45 minute free webinar on basics of solar photovoltaic energy. Very organized, spoken in common language.

Are these resources useful? What other sorts of information about how solar PV works would be useful for you?

Chris

We've just started the blog and will be making weekly posts, we have tons of great ideas and information to share with you.

What do you want to know about finding a job or internship in the green industry?

Let me know and I'll do my best to help you out.

We've just launched our Facebook community 'Green Collar Job Guide for College Students' and it will be another great way for you to join our community and keep in touch

Chris