On finding the right green job

13 Jun 2005

Got questions about the environment? Ask Umbra.

Dear Umbra,

I am in the midst of getting my master's in environmental science and policy. I am so sick of reading and researching -- I just want to get out and do something. My thesis is on composting (of industrial and municipal wastes), but my true love is water. While I have a pretty good background in everything from chemistry to physics, I see myself as the "master of none." Essentially, what I want to ask you is: What should I do when I grow up? What is the best water job out there that helps the environment, or at the very least, where do I start looking? You only have one life, and I want mine to count!

Soon-to-be Graduate Stephanie
Green Bay, Wis.

Ask Umbra continues below

ADVERTISING POLICY

Dearest Stephanie,

Back in my college days, I had the pleasure of hearing African-American Studies icon Henry Louis Gates Jr. speak. During the Q & A session, a student asked him the same question: What is the best job for me to do? I think the answer Gates gave applies universally: Do what you love.

Do what you love.

Photo: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

I know it sounds cheesy, but it's true. If you are able to learn what you love to do day to day, and get paid for it, you will be a lucky, happy woman who is improving the world. If you take someone else's career path, no matter how eco-beneficial, you won't be doing anyone any favors. You'll be bad at your job, and cranky.

I'm sorry to give you such a frustrating answer. It's hard to know what we love to do, much less how it fits into the economy. Believe it or not, all the tips you've gotten (I hope) about using school career-counseling services, interning, volunteering at nonprofits, setting up informational interviews with people whose jobs you covet, and discussing the future with your professors is actually good advice.

Those self-help exercises and books like What Color Is Your Parachute can also be helpful, even just as a way to focus your thoughts. If your career center has few environmental resources, you might check out websites like The Environmental Careers Organization or Environmental Career Opportunities.

A further clue I can give you from my peripatetic employment journey is to remember that the character of daily work is as important as the subject matter. If you hate being wet, stream restoration is not for you; but perhaps you love numbers and fluorescent lights, in which case you might have a fine future in ocean-current computer modeling. You could spend months on ships looking at whales, or join a water utility as a resource-management expert. Perhaps you'll become a grassroots river-cleanup guru, or maybe you'll invent the world's most efficient faucet.

The most important thing to remember is that no choice you make will be irrevocable or wrong. So go on -- get excited for your wonderful, mysterious life.

Congratulatorily,
Umbra

Yours is to wonder why, hers is to answer (or try). Please send Umbra any nagging question pertaining to the environment -- but first check out her FAQs!

The claims made in this column may not reflect the views of this magazine. Neither the magazine nor the author guarantees that any advice contained in this column is wise or safe. Please use this column at your own risk.

Umbra Fisk is Grist Research Associate II, Hardcover and Periodicals Unit, floors 2B-4B.

Comments: (7 comments)

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Try these too

I'm in the process of looking for employment as well. Here are a few links I've compiled over the last few weeks. Good luck.

http://www.ecojobs.com/

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/jobs/index.cfm

http://www.environmentalcareer.info/index.asp

http://www.envirolink.org/categories.html?catid=9

http://www.ecoemploy.com/

http://www.envirocitizen.org/enet/jobs/index.asp

http://www.devnetjobs.org/

http://www.environmental-expert.com/jobs.asp

http://www.coolworks.com/

http://www.environmental-expert.com/jobs.asp

http://www.earthworks-jobs.com/

http://philanthropy.com/jobs/

http://www.aee2.org/customer/post/search.php

http://www.acre-resources.co.uk/jobsmain.php

http://www.environetwork.com/

http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/a9fws.asp

http://www.interpnet.com/interpnet/jobs.htm

http://www.eelink.net/jobsearch-multisitesearch.html

http://www.eelink.net/eejobsdatabase.html

http://www.aeoe.org/jobs/#find_a_job

http://www.backdoorjobs.com/

http://www.alhfam.org/alhfam.jobs.html

http://www.greenbiz.com/jobs/viewjobs.cfm?CFID=2753934&CFTOKEN=92053250

Andy

by CowsEatGrass at 10:43 AM on 15 Jun 2005

Act locally

Try looking for work in a small local government. You get to be a jack of all trades, and put that broad knowledge to work. You also get to butt heads with small-minded people intent on preserving their fifedoms, but it's great mental exercise, and allows you to frequently practice both forgiveness and zen, and (if you look closely) you actually make a difference in the long run.
Local government is where the rubber meets the road. Builders and developers get their permits from cities and counties--and it's usually the cities and counties that enforce most of the environmental rules (like erosion and sedimentation). Water and sewer departments are locally run, and can do a world of good when they are operated by ecologically minded folks instead of those just trying to meet the letter of the law.
I work in a small-medium sized southern city/county as an environmental services director. I monitor water quality in the area streams, find grants to purchase greenspace, and conduct education programs, among other things. Yesterday I got to chase a run-away dock down the river and tow it back into place, then race back to attend a city commission meeting to help answer environmental impact questions about a new $900 million mixed-use development on the riverfront. This morning I spoke with 4th graders at a school summer camp who were doing research on water pollution, then met with the city and county managers and consultants to design a new section of trail/riverwalk in an environmentally sensitive, visually appealing manner (read: riparian restoration, not rip rap).
I don't win every battle, but I can see a change in thinking even in some of the ole' boy departments. And after 5 years, some of the ideas that once drew jeers and rolled eyes are now common place and unquestioned. Some...but it's moving in the right direction.
Local government is where it's at--and if it turns out you don't like the job, or can't influence change from within, you'll have the inside scoop to make one heck of an activist.
Good luck.

The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness. --John Muir

by riverman at 1:43 PM on 15 Jun 2005

Shameless Plug - The greenest of green jobs...

What a coincidence! The AWESOME environmental group Clean Water Action just happens to be looking for a Community Organizer for its Philadelphia office. I'm willing to bet there will be more ideal candidates reading this on Grist than anywhere else, so I figured I'd give it a shot. Here's the post: (And let me just add that I found MY job here through idealist.org, and it's the best job I've ever had - you'll love it here!)

Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund are seeking a full-time Community Organizer to work in our Philadelphia office. The Organizer would help local communities stop pollution that is making them sick and help implement Clean Water's campaigns to protect our rivers and streams...and our drinking water...from pollution.

Clean Water Action (CWA) is a national citizens' organization working for clean, safe, affordable water, prevention of health threatening pollution, creation of environmentally safe jobs and businesses, and empowerment of people to make democracy work. Clean Water Fund (CWF) is a national research and education organization which promotes the public interest on issues relating to water, waste and toxics.

Responsibilities:
·Provide organizing support to grassroots groups fighting pollution problems, helping them address problems affecting their health.
·Help organize regional and statewide campaigns to protect drinking water quality, mobilizing the public to demand strong standards and to protect the sources of our water.
·Help local groups protect their rivers and streams, promoting state and municipal policies that will preserve and improve watersheds.
·Assist in CWA's electoral activities in eastern Pennsylvania.
·Help coordinate media and public relations activities in eastern Pennsylvania.
·Provide support for CWA's field and phone canvasses, including briefings and materials.
·Participate in local fundraising activities, including events and presentations.

Qualifications:
·Paid or volunteer experience in issue organizing and/or electoral campaigns.
·Good oral and written communication skills.
·Experience with canvass programs and/or environmental issues desirable.

Compensation:
·Salary from mid to high 20's, depending on experience. Attractive benefit package provided.

To Apply:
·Send your resume to Eric Wilden, Clean Water Action, 100 N. 17th Street, #900, Philadelphia PA 19103. CWA and CWF are equal opportunity employers.

by ewilden at 2:34 PM on 15 Jun 2005

Shameless plug addendum

OR (even better) email your resume to ewilden@cleanwater.org.

by ewilden at 2:38 PM on 15 Jun 2005
[ Parent ]

Watershed work via Orion

The Orion Grassroots Network has many great conservation jobs listed, including for 30 Watershed Development Coordinators. Go here:

http://www.oriononline.org/pages/ogn/ics.cfm

Click on New Postings and find the listing under May 31. They are Americorps positions, so they can help you pay off your college loans, too!

You can search more broadly for all sorts of opportunities with water/conservation etc and by state, here:

http://www.oriononline.org/pages/ogn/positionsrch.cfm

Best wishes,

Erik

The Orion Grassroots Network: supporting grassroots groups working for conservation, justice, & more

by Erik Hoffner at 11:50 AM on 16 Jun 2005

Working for an Environmental Organization

I currently work for a great Environmental Organization. I had been out of work for a while dealing with some medical issues, and, to ease myself back into the workforce, I started volunteering with three different environmental organizations who were close enough to where I lived, and had a fairly large scope. I was doing what I had a knack for, and was feeling very appreciated. Then I actually was offered a job, with pay, with two of the organizations. I eventually took the job with shortest commute. I started out volunteering, doing what I like doing, so once they started paying me, well, this is the happiest I've ever been at any job in my life. And most of the people working for environmental organizations are there because they want to be doing what they're doing. They are not there just to earn a paycheck. We all care about each other as human beings, so there isn't the back-stabbing crap that I've seen with other jobs.
If you're not sure what you want to do, volunteer with a couple of organizations, find out what they do, what you can do for them, and if it's a good match, you'll wind up with a job you love.

Recycling is good....except for bad politicians.

by gigospam at 1:15 PM on 17 Jun 2005

Also consider The Student Conservation Association

You might also want to look into opportunities with The Student Conservation Association(SCA). We partner up with Federal, State and other non-profits to offer internships in the conservation field. We figure at least 50-60% of our alumni go on to work in the field. It's a good way to get experience and gain professional contacts. Go to any National Park and I would bet that at least one employee there (if not more) got their start in SCA. Oh, and despite the name, you don't have to be a student to participate.

I was an intern with SCA for three years working on a variety of programs with everyone from the National Park Service to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. I had a great time, got amazing experience, did some fulfilling work and eventually I managed to talk them into hiring me.

Check us out at www.thsca.org.

by Jesse at 10:07 AM on 20 Jun 2005

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What, a Way to Make a Living?

On finding the right green job