Today’s employer advice is from Emily Grant Werthamer, Head of Talent Acquisition at Arcadia.
Q: Tell us about your organization.
We’re a climate-change-fighting tech company on a mission to reimagine the closed, complex way of powering our homes and businesses. Our technology is lighting a cleaner path forward for everyone, from everyday consumers and small businesses to the innovators building the next generation of energy products.
Q: What advice would you give to people in midlife who want to transition to a green job?
You don’t need to be an expert before you start applying for a “green job” but you should do your research and ask smart questions that will help you to find a position that’s right for you. There are many transferable professional skills from the private sector to non-profit or agency environmental work. Instead of focusing on having the “right degree”, prospective candidates who want to move into this space should consider ways their job experience can be applied to conservation work. For example, if you have experience in accounting, it’s safe to assume green companies have accounting needs, too.
Q: What are the skills that you believe will be required most in the short-medium term in your industry?
A mission driven mindset. We’re working towards a common goal and that is a prerequisite for being successful in our industry. We believe that to solve hard problems, we have to stick to our core values. They drive every decision we make as we work to build an energy system that benefits everyone. Build for all. Build for good. Build together. Build with urgency.