Three Green Careers to Consider for the Graduate Concerned About Sustainability
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From “solar-powered” this to “grass-fed” that, it's
evident that the green revolution is finally gaining some much-needed
ground. Progressing and expanding
rapidly, the green movement brings with it the promise of continued growth and
job creation—and college students and recent graduates should take notice.
While other industries and markets are battling
budget cuts and lay-offs, the green job market is booming. The New York
Times recently reported that an estimated 3.1 million people in the U.S.
are employed "in the production of goods and services that benefit the
environment." To complement the growing supply, numerous job boards and
staffing services are popping up, exclusively listing companies'
"green" job openings.
Unfortunately, with all of the hype surrounding this
new frontier, it can be hard to discern what’s what—especially when the
specific definition of a “green job” can be far-reaching and vague. Overwhelmed
by the wealth of information—job seekers might need some help navigating the
market. Below is a list of three stable, lucrative “green” jobs to give those
looking to join the green cause a better idea of what their options are.
Urban
Planner
Making decisions, such as, where a city’s park
should go, or how a vacant lot might best be utilized, urban planners are
dynamic individuals that are definitely in high demand. By making careful zoning and land decisions,
urban planners help ensure that a city is making the most of what it has to
work with—in an efficient way, at that. A role ruled by working with
politicians and local policymakers, urban planners also help determine
emergency-action plans, and building layout—all the while keeping the big
picture in mind.
Environmental
Engineer
Another growing profession worth considering is that
of an environmental engineer. Their main focus is ensuring that their client—be
it a corporation, private contractor, or the government—impacts the earth as
little as possible when pursuing a particular project. They oversee production
of things to ensure that they are done in the most efficient manner possible.
They seek to work with, rather than, against the natural surroundings and the
bulk of their work may be focused on water and air quality regulation, among
other things.
Meteorologist
As our climate and weather patterns continue to
morph right before our eyes, possessing a general knowledge and understanding
of atmospheric and environmental principles is invaluable. Spending their days
recording data such as, rainfall, wind speed and temperature, meteorologists
compare and contrast the values of the past and present. Hypothesizing causes
for significant variations and fluctuations, people in this profession try to
gain a better understanding of why certain things are happening now, so that we
may hopefully, be better prepared for the future.
Investment
in the Future
These are just three of the numerous “green” jobs
that are growing in demand each day. It’s no wonder then that so many recent
college graduates are deciding to use their degrees to “go green.” Pursuing a
green career is not only an investment in our planet; it’s an investment in
your personal employment and financial future—and a smart one at that!
About the Author
Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer
and blogger who specializes in all topics educational. She welcomes your
feedback at mariana.ashley031@gmail.com.
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Elena White is the founder and editor of Life The Green Way, corporate sustainability coordinator at her day job, and a "rurban" wife and mother. Learn more about her here and follow her on Twitter at @Lifethegreenway.Photo credit: By User:Fred the Oyster [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/), GPL (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html) or CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
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