Green Jobs: Careers That Count

Green Jobs: Making a Difference Today and Tomorrow

Happily, environmentalism is no longer considered a fringe movement with abstract, far-fetched goals. In the United States alone, there are now millions of green jobs open to qualified applicants, with more being created every year. A diverse array of nonprofit organizations, poli-ticians, lobbyists and the writers and publicists on their staffs keep the green economy humming along with tireless support for eco-legislation and the continued “greening” of America.

Established Green Nonprofit Organizations

The environmental movement’s greatest allies have long been the nonprofit organizations that support grassroots activism on a variety of fronts. You’ve probably heard of older organizations like the Sierra Club, whose conservation efforts and support for animal welfare are well-known across the country. Every year, countless like-minded organizations hire thousands of interns and full-time staff to help coordinate and promote their projects.

If you have blogging, web design or canvassing experience, chances are good that there’s a green nonprofit job that might be right for you. In addition, building support for green legislative initiatives requires people with lobbying and networking backgrounds. Any legislative experience at all will make you an attractive prospect for established nonprofits searching for skilled political operatives.

Green Start-Ups

Just as important to the green movement’s success are newer start-ups that attack environ-mental issues from different angles. Nonprofits like Care2 employs dozens of lifestyle writers and promoters to publicize environmentally-friendly living and help audiences make smart choices to reduce their environmental impact. If you have accounting, marketing, or journalism experience, these organizations will probably want to talk to you.

For-profit businesses have a place in the new green economy, too. Many colleges and universities host regular “green” career fairs for students and graduates looking to put their skills to work for good. Since their business models depend on pro-green government policies, these companies require lobbyists, speechwriters and public relations specialists to stir up support for favorable legislation at the state and federal levels. If you’re looking to put your history, law, or English degree to work in support of the environment, this may be your answer.

Green Politics

The green economy’s growth has created thousands of jobs in the political world, which after all is responsible for much of its success. National politicians often have dozens of staff members actively working on green initiatives. These include:

• A campaign manager who directs staff efforts and chooses which green policy positions to emphasize.
• Policy experts who synthesize large volumes of facts to craft coherent policy platforms.
• Communications specialists who write speeches, multimedia content and press releases that highlight the green initiatives of their boss.
• Fundraisers who bring new initiatives to the attention of donors during the campaign sea-son.
• Legislative aides and lobbying liaisons who publicize green causes with the lobbyists who exert influence over state and federal legislation.

In this tough economy, the green job market continues to grow at a breakneck pace. Whether you’re a skilled blogger, publicist, marketing specialist or political campaign staffer, there are many opportunities to explore. And if you land a green job, you’ll be assured of job security as the green economy expands and sleep easier knowing that you’re making the world a better place!

Toni Goldsmith writes for several higher ed blogs. Click here to get more information on degrees in public relations.