Green Jobs Green Bay

President-elect Barack Obama intends to remedy the economic woes of the United States with the creation of three million jobs during his first term. In December 2008, he reaffirmed the commitment of his incoming administration to specifically targeting those new positions at one field currently experiencing unparalleled growth: green technology. “[We will]…support high-growth industries by training the workers that they need. This includes promoting green-collar jobs,” said Obama’s Secretary of Labor Nominee, Hilda L. Solis. “These are jobs that will provide economic security for all working families while securing our energy supply and combating climate change.”Solis couldn’t be any more right betting on growth in green sector, even as the economy spirals towards record setting lows. At a time when other industries are weakening, downsizing, and losing money, nearly every sector of the green energy market is experiencing growth. Green industry – and the requisite “green-collar” jobs that come along with it – is on the rise as businesses and governments face an increasing pressure to protect the environment, reduce energy costs and ease global warming. That being said, business is going green not to just save the environment, but because it makes sense. With the aid of cutting edge technology, corporations are cutting their energy bill by 40% and saving millions. Green buildings are now more cost effective now than energy-guzzling counterparts and green cars make financial sense no matter what price oil is. Furthermore, green employees are a huge asset to their companies. IBM’s most recent marketing campaign indicative of the corporate attitudes towards cutting energy and going green. It opens on a scene shot entirely in black and white, evoking the public perception of “the big faceless corporation.” A CEO-type leans across his desk and says, “Why should I go green?” Cue the voiceover: “Because it will save you 40% of 18 million dollars.” Suddenly the world blossoms into color and it’s that Technicolor explosion that is representative of the corporate attitude today. From small local firms to Fortune 500s, businesses are queuing up for their chance to snag individuals who can accommodate the dramatic shift in the market place. For the eco-minded, there’s never been a better chance to get a foot in the door and, contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t require a PhD in ecology to make it happen.Whether you are a college student, a recent addition to the job market or a seasoned workforce veteran, chances are that somewhere in your chosen field there are openings for someone with a little green savvy and the proclivity to learn the ins-and-outs of this ever-growing field. Architects, lawyers, construction managers, consultants, journalists, engineers, scientific researchers and educators are but a few of those that have received the call to go green from on high. Even the entertainment industry plans to expand into the green arena as corporations like NBC Universal and Discovery Communications have publicly announced their intent to downsize their carbon output, while at the same time creating new media to cater to a green-centric niche.With so many opportunities in green sector, Kevin Doyle, President of Green Economy, a Massachusetts-based workforce-consulting firm, says, first and foremost, one should choose their area of specification. Says Doyle: “Do you want to be up on a roof, retrofitting a house, setting policy or perhaps making a ton of money as a venture capitalist?” It’s an important distinction. Wind farming, carbon trading, wastewater treatment, green building and bio-energy technologies all fall under the green umbrella, but there are several types of green certification one can achieve to order to market one’s self and skill set on a personal, rather than industrial, level. Green certification leads to green jobs, and the time is ripe to secure both.As of this writing, there are but a handful of LEED-accredited professionals throughout the United States. Nearly every construction project going to ground in the coming year is seeking a LEED-certification – the industry standard for officially labeling a building or development as green –and trained professionals are need to facilitate the inspection process. Several other types of training are available in the “green auditing” sector, including inspecting energy efficient retrofits of existing homes (RESNET’s HERS certification) or businesses (green business certification). Fortunately, there’s a source for finding information on this diverse array of opportunities in one place.Greenjobstoday.com is just one of the emerging businesses that have created an education and training platform to help people learn how to take their applicable skills and transfer them into the green arena. Greenjobtoday.com takes all of the guesswork out the green sector by bringing together green employers, seasoned professionals and the industry’s up-and-comers, so that never again will you find yourself asking, “What is a green job and how do I get one?” The answer is quite literally at your fingertips.”We are going to aggregate the best of the best content with partnerships with the leaders of the green industry,” says Greenjobtoday.com’s CEO Chris Marentis, formerly a Senior Vice President of AOL-Time Warner. “We are building a proprietary publishing and marketing platform that will become the leader in the green space. Key here is content and web services to support the business turn-key solution to getting a green job and educating people on how to make money while saving the environment.” The company’s newest release, Green Job Guide 2009: Secrets to Finding and Getting the Job You Want, is the ideal tool for empowering newcomers to the green marketplace . “With unemployment at record levels there has never been a better time to switch into a green collar job. Our book lays out a step-by-step process to help people get the proper education and training they need, so they can get the green job they want,” says the book’s co-author, Elliott Mizroch.As the inside track for green job information, strategy and helpful tips, Greenjobtoday.com lets the layman get in on the ground floor of the biggest growth industry of the 21st century. As the federal government repositions the employment sector to go eco-friendly on all fronts, green collar jobs will cease to be the question mark looming over the head of Joe Q. Public. In just a short time, they’ll be the industry standard – and Greenjobtoday.com will be right there beside them.

With the signing of the economic stimulus bill, there has been a rush to identify “shovel ready” jobs. But, behind the scenes, business and government leaders are grappling with the problems of being “people ready” for the millions of green jobs that will be created through the investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Meanwhile, job seekers, anxious and excited about the prospect of a lifeline into a new career, are finding it difficult and confusing to identify and determine the qualifications needed for a sustainable jobs. Many find, after navigating the waves of information about the green jobs, they end up with far more questions than answers. An ebook released by www.TheCompleteGreenJobGuide.com identifies the challenges and solutions for green job hunters trying to make the transition to a sustainable job. “The Complete Green Job Guide 2009: Secrets For Getting The Job You Want” is the most up-to-date green job search resource available. Experts agree that the money allocated thus far for training falls far short of that needed to meet the demands for skilled workers trying to make a green job transition in the coming years. In fact, research conducted by National Renewable Energy Lab (http://www.nrel.gov/) shows the major barriers to a rapid adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency are insufficient skills and training in America’s workforce. It is important to understand that momentum for green energy has been building for several years. After almost thirty years of debating the issues, government, business, financial and environmental experts agree that the conversion to sustainable energy is a necessity. The message is clear: we must act now. And those who act on their own to adapt to the new job market will have limitless opportunities in a green energy economy. With the support of government and business, green energy is poised to provide the largest growth in employment opportunities of recent decades. Statistics prove the green job movement has already started.• The American Solar Energy Society (http://www.ases.org/) reported that nearly 8.5 million jobs were created in renewable energy and energy-efficient industries in 2006. By 2030, that number will sky rocket to 40 million. In twenty years, one in four workers will be in a green energy job. • The online job site, Career Builders (http://www.careerbuilder.com/ ), reports that thirteen percent of employers they surveyed said they plan to add “green jobs” in 2009, up thirty percent from the previous year.• Several studies estimate that $1 invested in renewable energy or energy efficiency would yield up to four times as many jobs as $1 invested in oil and gas. In his pre-inaugural speech on the economy, then President-elect Obama outlined the reasons for investing in sustainable alternatives when he spoke of the paradox and the promise. “So many are in need of work and there is so much work to be done.” It will take an army of workers—an estimated 5 million—from all backgrounds to begin the work to build viable alternative energy sources; retrofit our homes, offices, schools and hospitals for energy efficiency; improve and expand mass transportation; build fuel efficient cars and trucks, and develop biofuels. For many, the big question remains unanswered. That is how to be competitive in the green job market? With information scattered throughout agencies, it is difficult to understand the qualifications needed to qualify for the cleantech jobs, what businesses are emerging in this new market that will create sustainable jobs, and how to conduct an effective green job search. Never before have so many complex issues intersected to create such an urgent need to act. This complexity makes information a key advantage for the green job hunter. Those who don’t arm themselves with research, don’t monitor ongoing developments, and don’t take the initiative to identify, adapt and upgrade their skills risk losing an early advantage in the emerging green economy. So where do you start in this quest for information? Inspired by the growing questions among job seekers, the green hiring professionals at www.TheCompleteGreenJobGuide.com decided to find answers. To find the answers green job hunters need, their staff did extensive research to:• review the history of the green energy job movement • consult with hiring and training experts • examine the statistics to ferret out the facts behind the headlines The results of their research is compiled in a comprehensive report, “The Complete Green Job Guide 2009: Secrets For Getting The Job You Want”. For those green job seekers who want the make transition into a sustainable job, “The Complete Green Job Guide 2009: Secrets For Getting The Job You Want” is a comprehensive green job resource which organizes your job search into a ten-step program. The steps are:1. First things first: define a green energy job?• Green energy is a move toward a new economy, with new industries, new jobs, and a new vision for economic and environmental stability. Learn what defines a green energy job.2. Be informed and be committed• Although green energy is a key item in the stimulus package, it is first and foremost a critical part of discussions on national security, energy independence and global warming. Any professional pursuing a career in this market segment will need a thorough understanding of the myriad of issues impacting green energy. 3. Learn “green speak”• Green tech, cleantech, sustainable…green terms such as these have become part of corporate and popular culture. New idioms show up in conversation frequently. Job candidates need to extend their grammar check to include green glossaries and dictionaries.4. Find the company that fits• Find out where green jobs are growing. Identify the top new business in the industries for your green job search. Learn where green jobs are emerging in traditional businesses.5. Pick the job you want• What are the job titles for a green energy job. Qualifications? Career track? Pay? Green job seekers will need to see where they fit in the new job market.6. Take inventory and show your skills• Assess your skills for a green job transition. How will you transfer them to a green energy job? 7. Bulk up your qualifications• Do you need more training or certification? Identify short term, cost effective ways to become better qualified for a green energy job. 8. Be sociable and network your way into the back door• Learn how to get into the back door through personal contacts. Understand how social networking can enhance your green job search.9. Brand your unique qualifications• Translate your unique abilities into benefits for cleantech job. Create your own brand, and market it through your resume, letters, networking contacts, and interviews. 10. Make job boards and job fairs work for you.• Navigate the 40,000 job boards and effectively narrow your search. Utilize job fairs for research and visibility and find the one that will help you make the green job transition. By following these ten steps, job seekers can successfully navigate the path to a green job. As job losses mount weekly, that transition becomes increasingly urgent. The good news is that, armed with a thorough understanding of its goals and requirements, we have the opportunity to meet the challenge being “people ready” for the emerging economy.