Green Careers Hub Frequently Asked Questions

The Green Careers Hub has a dedicated page about volunteering, including links to relevant organisations. There’s also this great blog from Countryside Jobs Service which outlines how volunteering can help kickstart your career in sustainability.

We’d also recommend reaching out directly to organisations that you like the look of. It’s always worth showing your interest, and putting yourself on their radar, even if they don’t have an opportunity right now.on

There are lots of opportunities at entry-level, and many will give you the chance to then move into different areas within an organisation. You are unlikely to land your dream job straight away, and it can take time in a work environment to understand what you like, so take it one step at a time.

We have a number of useful blogs connected to this topic:

• Navigating the challenges of starting a sustainability career
• Graduate schemes; a pathway to a sustainable career
• Top tips for securing your first sustainability job
• On the job hunt

You could also consider taking a role in an organisation with an environment or sustainability focus, such as a specific not-for-profit or charity, or a tech firm developing green technologies. This enables you to harness that sense of purpose and continue your learning, while doing something different, such as project management or marketing.

Use a variety of different key words when searching job sites – we have a few suggestions on the Hub.

This is also a point you can clarify during the interview. Take the opportunity to ask questions and find out more about the proportion of a role’s work that might have a sustainability focus.

An organisation’s online presence is a good place to start. What are they saying on social media? Do they have an ESG / sustainability report and policies? You can use these to get a ‘feel’ for the culture, and also to reference in your application and when asking more detailed questions during the interview process.

Ask about any networks or internal groups that they have in place, and don’t be afraid to reach out to existing employees through LinkedIn as well, people are often happy to help.

If they have an office, but your interviews have been online, ask if you can go into the office to have a look around – you can pick up a lot about the culture in-person.

Sponsoring visas is certainly something that adds a level of complication and expense, which can put employers off.

Generally speaking, the larger, more internationally focussed businesses are relatively comfortable with sponsorship but where there is a particular shortage of skills smaller organisations will also sometimes consider it.

Don’t expect organisations to be completely on top of what is required. Do your own research and be prepared to support the potential employer through the process.

There’s no denying that it can be hard to enter the sector without a directly relevant background. It might take a bit more time to find your right role, but there are lots of options out there.

Many individuals choose to career change into a role in the environment/sustainability, often opting for extra training, such as the courses offered by IEMA.

Getting involved in sustainability initiatives in your current organisation is also a potential route in. Is there a Green Champions network you could join, to show your interest and increase your learning in a business-setting?

Do you have any time to volunteer? This can help improve your knowledge, skills and practical experience.

Hays have written two blogs for the Hub that might be of interest:

• Is now a good time to reskill into the sustainability sector?
• Applying for a job in sustainability: six steps to success

Work experience can include any part-time roles that you might have done during your studies. Whether you have worked in a shop or cafe, done childcare or helped take care of animals, you will have skills that you have learnt from each experience.

You can also use life experiences to talk about skills or challenges that you have navigated. For example, perhaps you have been part of a sports team, have volunteered or coordinated a large event. This blog talks about this in more detail.

It is worth recognising that while you may not be what the organisation is looking for in the role you have seen, the fact that they employ specialists means that there may be opportunities at entry level in the future. Make contact and keep in touch with them so you can be in their thoughts when they are recruiting again.

Both options can lead to interesting and rewarding careers so there is no right and wrong in this question. The most important thing is to be proactive and keep learning, whichever route you follow.

No matter if you stay with one organisation or move across industries / organisations, committing to your own personal development is crucial.

There is some advice around networking on our Careers Advice page on the Green Careers Hub. It can be a daunting experience, but often the thought of going to a networking event is harder than the reality.

There are a huge number of opportunities to network out there, both in-person and online. If it makes you feel more comfortable, you could begin by reaching out to one individual on LinkedIn and asking if they would mind having a conversation with you one-on-one.

The more you practice, the easier it becomes!

We have two consultant job profiles that will give you a good idea of the daily tasks, skills and entry routes associated with consultancy roles:

• Environmental / Sustainability Consultant
• Integrated Management Coordinator/Consultant

We have relevant career stories from individuals who have worked in the consultancy space:

• Rebecca McLean on the inspiration behind her rewarding career
• Nevin Rose explains how his degree apprenticeship gives him just the right blend of work and learning
• Kye Gbangbola on the personal and professional experiences that keep him motivated
• Founding a sustainable business: Emma Pye’s journey to independence

RSK Group provided a video for the Hub that includes information on how their Environmental Consultants are responsible for some large green projects.

No. Whilst there are an increasing number of master’s courses in this area, for the majority of entry-level roles in sustainability it isn’t necessary.

A master’s degree is potentially useful to help set you apart from other applicants (particularly for those with a non-technical undergraduate degree), and is sometimes required for very technical roles, but it is not usually a prerequisite.

Lots of people transition their career into sustainability from different sectors or roles with appropriate training or support.

It’s important to tailor your cover letter to each role.

The cover letter is your opportunity to bring your CV to life. Look to demonstrate your passion and commitment as well as to outline the reasons why you’ve applied for the role and believe you would be a good candidate.

Reinforce and reiterate what is in your CV, but avoid directly copying and pasting.

Your cover letter is your opportunity to demonstrate that you’ve done your research into the organisation you’re applying to by referencing what you have learned about them that really appeals and is relevant to you.

Don’t use AI to write the letter for you. This is your chance to stand out from the crowd so make sure your CV and cover letter reflect you rather than a chatbot’s version of you.

There is no right way to put together a CV but there are some key pointers you need to be aware of:

• The information in your CV should be tailored to the role/company you are applying to rather than a generic ‘one size fits all document.
• The more you write, the less will be read, so make sure the information you include is relevant and demonstrates why the organisation should employ you rather than just ‘filler’.
• Remember that you need to demonstrate the difference you’ve made and therefore the value you bring, as well as what you have done.
• Don’t be afraid to sell yourself and trumpet your achievements, but always be honest, and make sure you can corroborate anything you include.

It’s usually obvious when someone uses AI for their entire application. We’d recommend steering clear of this so that your personality can come through.

There are some additional CV tips on the Job Hunting page, as well as in this blog.