A Presentation for Instructors/Career Counselors on Green Careers

 

ntroduction: A lot of the federal job money is going toward clean energy sources and training programs to make things “green”. Green jobs are popping up everywhere in a variety of fields and industries. Green jobs require skilled workers and pay 10 to 20 percent more than other jobs. There is great energy and enthusiasm around the green movement. To get a better sense of what green means, let’s watch this three-minute video clip, Green Jobs: Finding Eco Friendly Careers to see what went on at a recent Green Jobs Conference in Washington DC.

 

 

iscussion: Ask some question about the video clip to find out more about what students know and want to learn about green careers.

 

• What were some of the green benefits they focused on in the video clip? (running truck on vegetable oil, green dorms, cloud computing)
• Why do you think people are so excited about green? (new, helpful, saving the environment, new job opportunities, gives us more disposable income)
• What about “green” interests you? (answers will vary)

 

xercise: Jobs in energy and the environment could triple over the next decade. Yet when people talk about green jobs and green industries, most of us are pretty clueless about what and where to find these jobs. MSNBC has identified “10 Hot Green Job Industries” to watch. This is a good place to begin. I am going to pass out an activity for you to complete, Green Careers: Jobs with a Future. Work together in groups of 3 or 4 and see if you can match the 10 industries listed at the top of the page to the descriptions below. When you are finished, we will discuss your responses. (Answers: 1.Advanced Biofuels, 2. Geothermal Energy, 3. Green Chemistry, 4. Green Manufacturing, 5. Smart Grid, 6. Solar Energy, 7. Sustainable Agriculture, 8. Sustainable Retailing, 9. Wind Power, 10. Building Retrofitting)

 

 

dditional Actions: Today we introduced and discussed some of the possibilities and opportunities in green industries. If this career path interests you, here are some things you can DO to learn more. Visit the career center on campus and talk to a career counselor about green education/training opportunities. Review and print the free Green Jobs Guidebook. Subscribe to green blogs such as the Green Career Central Blog, or Green Economy Post. Participate in green events and networking groups and attend Green Job Fairs. (Identify 2 or 3 green activities in your community, like this one, and let students know about these.)

 

 

Quick Career Counseling Tip: Green Career Central is a comprehensive site loaded with information and ideas to help students find their green niche. While it costs money to join, there are many free resources available. On the left hand column, under Career Changers, it walks students through the career steps to finding a green career. This is a great place for students interested in learning more about green to begin.