Networking Tips for Climate Careers

𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝘾𝙖𝙣 𝙀𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙋𝙞𝙫𝙤𝙩 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙? Yesterday’s post focused on job leads and resources. Today, let’s talk about you. This is about how to pivot, not just react. Let’s get real: Losing your role at the EPA or a mission-driven org isn’t just a career hiccup; it’s a gut punch. But here’s the raw truth: Your impact isn’t tied to a badge or a title. I’ve watched colleagues turn layoffs into launching pads (yes, even in this messy climate). Here’s how to pivot without losing your purpose: 1. 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 "𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞" 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 "𝐀𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲" 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 Stop saying, “I only did permitting/compliance/fieldwork.” Example: Your EPA regulatory expertise? Private firms salivate for that. They need people who can navigate NEPA reviews like a second language. e.g., a friend reframed “enforcement officer” into “risk mitigation strategist”. 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧: 𝙒𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙨-𝙤𝙣-𝙩𝙝𝙚-𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚. 2. 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 (𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞!) The private sector isn’t the enemy. Utilities need pros who understand water equity and infrastructure gaps. NGOs don’t care if you’re ex-EPA—they care that you can fight for clean water in courtrooms and boardrooms. State roles are hiring like crazy for climate resilience. Pro tip: Use ECO-USA.net to find hyper-local gigs where your federal experience = instant credibility. 3. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐱𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 Join LinkedIn groups like “Environmental Consulting Network” and “Sustainable Jobs.” Attend industry webinars (many are free via ACS, AWMA, WEF). Find mentors outside EPA. If you only network with former colleagues, your search stays too narrow. Forget LinkedIn spam. Do this instead: Slide into the DMs of NEIWPCC or NAEP webinar speakers. Say: “Your talk on PFAS regs resonated. I’m pivoting from federal work—any advice?” (Works 10x better than “Looking for jobs!”) Join WEF’s “Young Professionals” Slack. They’re 24/7 hype squads for water nerds. 4. 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 It’s okay to grieve. But: Your “why” still matters.  You don’t need another degree, but micro-credentials & certifications can boost your resume. Certified Environmental Professional (CEP) GIS for Environmental Applications Project Management (PMP) Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻: Rewrite your LinkedIn headline: “EPA Alum | Bridging Regulation + Innovation in Water Equity” Pick 3 firms from the previous post. Research their projects, then email a manager: “I helped streamline EPA permitting for [X]—can I share insights on your Y project?” #Environmentaljobs #PivotWithPurpose #MissionDrivenHustle

Today I'm going to talk about EFFECTIVE networking in wildlife🐾, conservation🌿 & environmental careers🌍 For the first 15 years of my career, I thought networking only happened at conferences and looked like this: 🔹Go to talks or stop by posters I was interested in, ask questions to the presenter (if I even got the opportunity to do so due to long lines), send them a LinkedIn invite later that evening, and hope things would somehow evolve in my favor somewhere down the road 🔹Go to conference-hosted networking events, stop by booths, chat randomly with people, and again send them a LinkedIn invite, hoping something would happen for my career 🔹Hope and pray 😅 In the end, I had 500+ connections on LinkedIn & attended dozens of conferences, but my networking didn't lead me anywhere😔 Did it surprise me then? Yes! 😲 Does it surprise me now? NO ❌ Now, I know EXACTLY why it didn't work. I was bumbling through conferences with no rhyme or reason, just HOPING things would serendipitously work out for a career objective I didn't even have. Despite working towards or having a Ph.D., my goal was do "something in conservation." How were random professionals going to help me if I didn't know what I wanted? Didn't know what to ask for? 🤷♀️ When you network correctly (as you saw in last week's post, where I shared my students' successes ✨), you can get jobs (even ones you don't apply for), internships, publications, and more! So what is effective networking? 🤔 First, identify what you want from: 🔸A job? 🔸More experience? 🔸An advisor for graduate school? 🔸Understand more about wildlife careers? Determine your intention first 🎯 Then here's what just SOME of effective networking looks like: 📩 Reach out directly to people who can help you get these things. Don't wait for in-person events. Do this now over email, LinkedIn, and other social media. IMO, these means are better because you are not limited to whom you can see in person! 🤝 Before you ask for something, make yourself useful and think about what would be helpful to THEM. Yes, you want the experience, but think about it as offering your services. How can YOU help them? 💻 Conduct informational interviews! This is one of my best tips. Ask them for a 15-minute interview to learn more about their career. 👥 Stay in touch with your current network, provide thoughtful updates, and gratitude for their mentoring. Create engaging posts on LinkedIn to stay in their feed and top of mind. 🌱 Go to and volunteer at local events: Attend seminars, do restoration days, & beach clean-ups, etc. Talk to the organizers. This worked wonders for my student, Christina W.. 📅 Plan conferences! Research who is giving talks and going, and reach out to them BEFORE the conference starts. Loved these tips? 💚 Sign up for the Weekly Wildlife Wrap-up to get them and more delivered to your inbox. Link in the comments👇 #wildlifebiology #zoology #conservationbiology #ecology #conservation

I keep getting asked, so here are 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝟱 𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 later this month. It's already September, and you've forgotten to plan for the biggest week in Climate, but don’t worry! Whether you're into activism, solutions, art, or policy, try these ideas and see how they work for you: 𝟭. 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘁𝗵, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗵. Push yourself to network outside your usual circles. You never know when luck will shine on you. I got involved early with Alec Turnbull and the Climate Film Festival, and those connections have supported my climate investing mission multiple times over. If I had only attended investor events, I would've missed amazing climate angles that only the arts community saw. 𝟮. 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀’ 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲. Your friends might already be organizing, sponsoring, or paneling at events, giving them leverage with the hosts. If you must attend an over-subscribed event, your network is your best friend. Don’t know which of your friends are attending? Steven Zhang from ClimateTechList has a great hack for figuring that out! 𝟯. 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆. The best events I’ve attended (or hosted) had less than 20 people. Why? You get to know people better, they become your friends, and they help you next time around. Large events can be overwhelming, so immerse yourself in someone’s story, or share your own with a stranger. You might get more out of it than expected. My hack? Host dinners. If food isn’t your thing, try parks, walks, or coffee dates! Kate Russell and Nicole Kelner are amazing resources for these sorts of ideas! 𝟰. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲. It can be tough, especially if you’re from out of town, but leave room in your schedule. You might meet someone and get invited to an event you didn’t know about or didn’t think you could attend. These unexpected events can have a dramatic impact on your week. Last year, my friend Nick Gogerty from CarbonSig invited me last-minute to panel at the UNFCCC on carbon removals—it ended up as one of the most memorable events I participated in. 𝟱. 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻! Climate work can fill anyone with existential dread, but it’s crucial to find joy in what we do. My trick? Don’t take myself too seriously, surround myself with ambitious people, and see how many of them I can get to sing karaoke together 🎙 Whatever your version of fun is, give yourself the grace to find it. If it wasn't for fun, I wouldn't have learned that Jacob can beatbox, Zoe can sing, and Jackie can dance! If you try any of these, let me know if it was helpful (or not!). And if you have advice for first-timers at Climate Week, please 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀! Links to all the relevant materials in the thread below. See you at Climate week!!! #climate #climatetech #climateweeknyc #nyc #fun #karaoke

Networking is crucial for job hunting, but many have fear, get stuck, and don’t know where to begin. Here’s a proven technique that works for our climate-motivated job seekers to break into the space and create real opportunities for themselves through active job listings and accessing the "hidden job market". ➡️Step 1: Narrow Your Focus Target Specific Roles: Pick 1-2 job titles. (If you’re not looking to leave your non-climate job, Drew Wilkinson has tons of resources for you) Target Specific Climate Verticals: Use resources like Work on Climate, MCJ Collective, ClimateTechList, Climate Tech Action Network, Terra.do, OnePointFive (opf.degree), Voiz Academy, Project Drawdown and Climatescape to identify the climate solutions you're most passionate about. ➡️Step 2: Identify Companies Leverage LinkedIn: Follow relevant companies and executives. Explore Accelerators: Find innovative companies through climate-focused accelerators. Use Market Maps: Identify key players in specific climate sectors (Sightline Climate (CTVC) has lots). Climate Specific Job Boards (hey ClimateTechList, Climatebase, The Green Jobs Board - greenjobsearch.org) ➡️Step 3: Connect with the Right People Search Smart: Use job titles and keywords to find contacts. Ask for Referrals: Get introduced to relevant people. Use #OpenDoorClimate: Find professionals open to networking (s/o Daniel Hill). ➡️Step 4: Build Genuine Relationships Be Prepared: Have specific questions ready. Show Authenticity: Treat networking like building friendships. Express Gratitude: Always thank and follow up with your contacts. ➡️Step 5: Enjoy Networking Engage in Fun Activities: Network in environments you enjoy. Be Yourself: Authenticity builds stronger connections (Laurie McGinley teaches this exceptionally well). ➡️Step 6: Test and Track Outreach Experiment: Try different message templates and track their success. Stay Organized: Keep records of your outreach and analyze what works (here’s a template that can help: https://lnkd.in/eSf7TiEV) ➡️Step 7: Handle Rejections Be Proactive: Keep reaching out and participating actively. Normalize Rejections: Understand that rejections and lack of responses are part of the process. ➡️Step 8: Showcase Your Value Highlight Unique Skills: Clearly articulate what sets you apart (This is Mona Johnson, MS’s specialty). Address Challenges: Understand and solve the company's pain points. ➡️Step 9: Join Climate People's Climate Career Bootcamp! Get Practical: Our 4-hour session provides templates, resources, and confidence to enhance your job search. It’s jam-packed with actionable steps and will give you access to our network. This session is geared towards highly-motivated job seekers ready to put in the work! Learn more about the Bootcamp here! https://lnkd.in/epFH3xxx Read more of this networking advice in our most recent blog:  https://lnkd.in/eG4S3sQY 

Are your networking convos going nowhere?  Then, you are likely not asking the right questions at the end of the chat. So let me fix this for ya. Here are my favorite end-of-chit-chat questions to make sure you keep the new connections moving forward. ⭐ Expanding Your Network: "Based on our conversation, who else would you recommend I speak with to gain further insights into this field?" ⭐ Gaining Deeper Industry Insight: "Are there any groups, associations, or forums you think I should join to connect with other professionals in this field?" ⭐ Understanding Company Culture: "Who in your organization has been pivotal to your understanding of the company culture, and might they be open to a discussion?" ⭐ Exploring Opportunities: "In your opinion, which companies or teams are doing exciting work in this space that I should explore further?" ⭐ Finding Mentors and Advisors: "I'm interested in finding a mentor in the field. Is there someone whose career path you admire and who might be open to a mentorship conversation?" ⭐ Learning About Roles and Functions: "Which colleagues of yours have taken interesting paths or roles that you think I could learn from?" ⭐ Asking for Introductions: "Would you be comfortable introducing me to anyone in your network who you think could provide additional perspective on my job search?" ⭐ Keeping the Conversation Going: "What events or meetups would you suggest I attend to meet like-minded professionals in this industry?" ⭐ Following Industry Developments: "Are there any upcoming industry events or webinars that you think would be beneficial for someone in my position to attend?" ⭐ Staying in Touch: "How can I best keep in touch with you as I continue exploring this field and potentially seek your advice again in the future?" So...will you use these banging questions in your next networking chat? Then drop a "YEAH" Lil Jon style in the comments below. #networking #networkingtips

A practical take for those in climate: Don’t assume your clients care about the mission. Many don’t. 📊 Some people are chasing internal KPIs. 🙋🏻♀️ Some are trying to get promoted. 😕 Some just want to avoid friction. So if you come in swinging with a climate-first pitch, you might miss your chance to actually make change happen. Particularly now that budgets are tight. Here’s what founders have seen work instead: 1. Get curious: Understand what your client cares about most. It may not be what you think. 2. Meet them where they are: Use the language they speak with. Reframe in terms of what they care about. Help them understand how your work supports their personal and company goals. It’s more than possible to get people to implement the more sustainable approach, but you need to recognise that a lot of people won’t do it for that reason. We’ve seen this across the board in the Climate Connection community. In this economic and political environment, adapting your message to your audience has become even more important. LinkedIn folks: Does this resonate with your experience? 🤔 P.S: I unpack this (and more) in a recent interview with BusinessGreen. You can read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/dmJSZDwQ

🍀 Looking for a job in sustainability? Here are some tips and resources to help you find and land that role. 🍀 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐛 🌱Sustainability jobs aren't always clearly labeled as such so you may have to dig deeper into the lingo. Turn on LinkedIn job alerts with keywords like sustainability, climate, responsible, renewable energy, ESG, impact, clean infrastructure, water stewardship, carbon, circularity, zero waste, etc. Be sure to tailor to your area(s) of interest and/or expertise. 🌱Follow folks who regularly post sustainability job round ups. Some are recruiters and some are people who like to spread the good word. Good ones include: Steve Taylor, Ed Carley, Shannon Houde, MBA, PCC, Radhika Bhatt, Alisha Michaels, Rafael Achondo, Justin Daugherty, Afton Thompson, Danielle Aberg, Allison Rogers. Good recruitment firms include Brightsmith, Climate17 | B Corp™, Storm4, Piper Maddox, Dylan Green, Acre, Weinreb Group Sustainability Recruiting, and EnergeiaWorks. Know of others? Tag them in the comments! 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐛 🌱A lot of folks ask me how they can get into sustainability without direct experience. Here is what I advise them to do: (1) focus on transferable skills (2) dive deep and learn all you can about sustainability (3) be clear on your why. These actions will help hiring managers see how you can deliver for their programs, and show why you care about this subject and are a good fit. Tailor your resume to each role to help them see more clearly why they should hire you! 🌱"Do I need a certificate?" I love learning and education, but I am not big on certifications. Sure they could help and potentially intro you to alum networks, but it really isn't necessary. They can be expensive and if you are strapped for cash (in this economy!), they likely won't move the needle enough to warrant the expense. If you are looking for a more formal education, programs like Clean Energy Leadership Institute and USGBC - LEED Green Associate (GA) and LEED AP are good options. Trellis Group has a thorough list on their website (link in comments) 🌱Find your voice. I love writing about sustainability, why I care about it, and how I got to where I am in my career journey. LinkedIn is a fantastic platform to showcase your unique insights and background, so just start posting! Just be sure to use your own authentic voice and don't rely on AI to generate content. AI has exceptional uses but hiring managers don't want read something regurgitated from a chatbot; they want to hear from YOU - their potential team member. 🔋What has helped you level up and land sustainability roles? 🔋 #sustainability #sustainabilityjobs #greenjobs #hiring #jobsearch #jobhunting #career #careeradvice #careertips #linkedintips

I’ve talked with 100 climate job seekers in the past 3 months. Here’s some things I typically share. 👇 1. Your LinkedIn headline is more important than you think, make sure it's telling who you are now, not your previous job/interests, and test new ones out if it's not working. 2. Networking is not a one size fits all approach. Figure out where you show up (virtual vs IRL, 1-1 vs groups, etc.) and invest your time wisely instead of trying to do it all. 3. Talking to people working in the climate space is the most valuable thing you can do. End every conversation with an ask for other people and resources they'd recommend. Don't take it personal when you get ghosted - it has nothing to do with you. 4. Climate courses and bootcamps are an investment - know that community is the biggest value you'll get from them and ensure you can be active and engaged before committing. 5. Not everyone can "green" their existing job. Consider the idea of "experience-in-place" by joining a side project with your green team or do skills-based volunteering (i.e. project-based volunteering instead of time-based volunteering) outside of work. I follow up conversations with a climate career toolkit I created with other tips, resources, and templates. Comment “toolkit” and I'll send you the handout with the other tips and resources I share. —————— UPDATE: Amazing to see so much interest in the toolkit. I’ve hit my message limit so for those wanting the toolkit, I’ve put it online so anyone can access it. Find it here! https://lnkd.in/gKXmpwTy

In the last few months, there's been a lot of churn in the climate tech industry and I have a few tips and pointers that I hope will help. Here are a list of folks who are good to follow if you are looking, and what I've learned from reading their posts. First, my tips: ⚡ If you're reaching out to someone on LinkedIn that you don't know, personalize the invitation. Be specific about what you'd like to talk about. "We know people in common" is not specific enough, but "I am trying to learn about product roles in EV charging software" is. ⚡ Search for #hiring, #energyjobs, #climatejobs to see who in your network (and second-degree connections) is posting roles and reach out or get introductions to them if the posting is relevant to you. ⚡ It's your responsibility as the initiator to hold up the conversation, and to not take things personally if you don't get a response. Show up on time for calls or coffee; don't get upset your contact goes silent. People get busy. Try them later or try getting in touch with someone else at the company you're interested in. (Most companies have more than one person who work there 😉) Steven Zhang runs ClimateTechList and often posts tips and tricks on how to use that list. 👏 Read the list to see to see what companies are hiring, the specific role is irrelevant; the fact that they are hiring shows that they are looking to grow their team. Cameron McDonald posts about his own journey into climate tech (we met while he was learning about DERMS!), crystallizing a process for networking to the job you're looking for. 👏 Take a look at his formulas for defining exactly what you're looking for. While specificity may seem counter intuitive (I know you're thinking "but it'll close doors for me!), it's really not - it helps everyone know what you're looking for in the broad field of climate and energy (composting? energy efficiency? sustainable airline fuels? startup? Big tech? Operations? Sales?).

There are 19 days left in the year. Here are 3 things I would do NOW to land a Climate Job in 2025 🌎 1️⃣ Figure out your niche The number one thing you can do to accelerate your Climate job hunt is to get SPECIFIC. It accelerates your pace of learning, boosts the effectiveness of your networking activities, and allows you to be 10x more credible in a job interview. Best resource for this? Climate Drift They have a plethora of content that is explicitly designed to help you think through this problem. Want to go deeper? Their career accelerator program is top notch. 2️⃣ Update your Linkedin profile. Your Linkedin is your professional avatar. For all the same reasons that you would never show up to an important meeting in stained sweatpants and flip flops, your shouldn't show up online in a way that presents anything other than the best version of yourself. Some tactical tips: 😎 Get a clean, clear headshot. Not that one picture of you at your friend's wedding. Sorry. 📰 Have a clear headline. You know your niche, now put it in your bio! There's not a "right" way to do this, but if you want an easy format to follow, you can use "Role | Industry | Who you help and how". Example: "Data Scientist | Clean Energy | I help early stage clean energy businesses leverage data to achieve scale more efficiently" 📕 Use your bio to improve your SEO ranking. Talk about your skills, the results you've driven, and what you want in your next role. Pepper in tons of language that is specific to the niche you're chasing. This has a material impact on the SEO of your profile and increases the odds that recruiters will find you. 3️⃣ Make a list of 100 people to reach out to. The list should be half people that you already know, and half folks that you WANT to know. Start with the 50 people you know and set up catch up conversations. Use these chats to practice your elevator pitch. End every conversation by asking them who you should talk to next. Then, for the 50 that you WANT to know, figure out your plan of attack for getting in front of them. Best way in is a warm intro, but if you can't get that, don't be afraid to shoot your shot on Linkedin. Best resource I can recommend for putting this list together? Daniel Hill's #opendoorclimate list. Just google it, and boom, you've got hundreds of new climate connections waiting to meet with you. Do these three things in the next 19 days, and you'll be ready to hit the ground running in 2025 🙌 -- Want more advice on how to land a job in Climate? Follow me Cameron McDonald