For most industries, having job experience is a crucial part of qualifying for an open position, right alongside formal education. Jobseekers looking to pursue careers in the green economy can consider themselves lucky in this regard, however.
Your chances of being hired for a green job without any experience are higher than ever.
If you were waiting for the right opportunity, here are three simple ways you can land your dream job even if you’re a newbie:
1. Don’t Be Afraid to Apply — Your Chances Are Higher Than You Think
The number of green job opportunities around the world has dramatically increased over the last few years. It’s to the point where experts suspect there will be a severe labor shortage by 2030 if the pace of hiring doesn’t pick up. This means companies are more willing to bend their hiring requirements by accepting those without experience.
Let’s talk numbers. According to LinkedIn’s Global Green Skills Report 2023, countries are hiring upwards of 50% more workers without experience for green jobs year-over-year. For instance, 57.3% of the waste management specialists hired in the UK last year were workers without experience. As were 50.5% of the solar consultants hired in the USA.
If you were hesitant to apply because you don’t have experience — don’t be.
2. Consider International or Work-Abroad Opportunities
It’s not just the UK and US reporting high percentages of hires without experience. So, you may want to consider whether you’d be open to green job opportunities abroad.
In Australia, 52.2% of the energy specialists hired last year lacked relevant work experience. Meanwhile, Germany and Ireland hired 62% and 50.4% more sustainability managers without green experience last year.
If your home country doesn’t have the job you’re looking for, maybe try somewhere else.
3. Upskill
Importantly, making sure you have some formal education, certification, or other training can help increase your chances of getting hired without green experience.
LinkedIn found that job postings requiring at least one green skill are up 15.2% year-over-year. But just one in eight workers meets that criterion, meaning “we are far from the green skills penetration that we need.”
While working on landing your dream sustainability job, it couldn’t hurt to take a few courses or brush up on your knowledge. This can help make sure your resume stands out in education where work experience may be lacking.