Eight Creative Ways to Identify Green Companies
Eight Creative Ways to Identify Green Companies
One of the challenges of the new Green Economy is figuring out which companies are green. Although this is a somewhat useful question in the broad sense, it becomes an even more important question when you are searching for a local job opening.
Why would you wonder which companies are green in the broad sense? If you are exploring a career direction you might do a broad search for companies within a specific industry or sector. At this stage of your journey, you don't really care where the company is located; you just want to learn what they do and how they do it. You might be interested in the technology they use, the associations they belong to, the vendors they work with, and the customers they service. During this broad research you may discover that you belong in one of the companies that interacts with the company you originally started researching.
If you are in an active job search, your requirements for a green company become much more specific. You want a company within a certain commute, with a certain culture, with a certain focus...and...oh yes... with a job opening!
Green Career Tip - One sure-fire way to derail your quest for a green career is to focus too soon on which green companies are in your local area. Although you may be in job hunt mode, take some time to understand the entire industry and its possibilities and trends, before you start your local search. Staying open to the larger picture will give you a better sense of where you fit in. Furthermore, your more thorough understanding of the industry is a great way to differentiate yourself from other job candidates.
Where Do You Find Green Companies?
Several months ago as I was beginning my research for Green Career Central, I had a tough time finding lists of green companies. As I prepared to write this newsletter it's apparent that more and more lists are now available. I have no doubt that such lists will become easier and easier to come by.
Rather than point you to a specific list of green companies, I want to show you eight ways you can find lists of green careers. With this knowledge you'll be able to continue your search even as the green career terrain changes and evolves.
1) Major Media Sources - More and more magazines are including lists of hot green companies in their editorial copy. Inc. and Fast Company are two media outlets that come to mind.
As you look at their lists you may find the companies they profile are right out there on the cutting edge. Keep in mind that they may be in a research and development stage rather than full production. Use these lists to spot trends and take a fascinating look into the future.
If you are looking for local companies, check your local media sources to see if they've profiled green businesses or compiled a list of green companies in your area.
2) Niche Media - Websites that cater to a particular demographic (working mothers) or geographic region (Britain) may also provide interesting lists of green careers.
3) Press Releases - Companies that have just been included on a top green companies list are bound to distribute a press release to celebrate their achievement. Canon is a recent example.
4) Green Energy/Power Lists - Several organizations (such as the EPA) are reporting companies that are purchasing the most green energy. This is actually a fairly good objective measure of a company's "greenness." Business Week recently put out a list of the companies that have reduced their carbon footprint significantly.
5) Green Investor Information - Companies that help green investors make good financial decisions provide valuable information about companies that qualify for their lists. Some organizations will show you stock quotes while others will tell you what companies are included in their fund.
6) Green Business Organizations - Another intriguing way to discover green or socially responsible companies is to identify organizations where green businesses are members. Often these organizations, such as the Social Venture Network, include a list of their members on their website.
7) Green Business Directories - Although some directories are like the typical phone directory where green businesses are included if they've paid for advertising, there's also a green directory where companies are screened to ensure they meet the directory's standard. The Green Pages Directory is a good example of the latter method of inclusion.
8) Job Boards - Although most people use job boards to find job openings, you can also use green job boards to research green/sustainable companies in a particular profession, industry, or geographic area. Most of the larger green/sustainable job boards Environmental-Expert.com or jobs.care2.com include a search function that allows you to pull up positions to meet your needs.
Remember one of the best ways to keep your sanity during your search for your green career is to keep in mind whether you are doing a broad search or a specific search. Each kind of search requires a different mindset, different research skills, and different problem solving skills. More on this in next week's Green Career Tip.
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