Most of the people we talk with know they want a green career, but they don't know how to find that new career.

When you look for a new career, what's your first action?

• Do you start doing informational interviews?
  
  
• Do you go directly to job boards looking for positions that might work for you?
  
  
• Do you talk to your contacts to see if they know of any job openings?
  
  
• Do you start going to networking events to try to meet people who can help you find a job?
  
  

Although all of those steps are important, viable steps, none of them is actually your best first step. In fact, without completing the first task, all of the actions above will lead to limited success. It's like you are rolling the dice or throwing a dart to find your green career. There's a much better way.

After helping thousands of people find careers they love, I know there's a process people go through to discover, confirm, and find their ideal work. Understanding the process gives you a map to follow to reach your goal.

What Steps Should You Take to Find Your Green Career?

If you are committed to greening your career, you'll have a better, clearer journey if you follow the steps below.

Step 1: Customize Your Green Career Plan

If you want to shorten your path to your green career, familiarize yourself with the steps to your green career. We've developed these steps based on work our founder, Carol McClelland, has used with career change clients over the last eighteen years. During that time we've learned that helping someone identify their passions is the starting point, but not the end of the journey.

We also know that your goals and your personal situation will define the path you'll take to your green career. After you read about each of the seven steps, you'll find links to some additional guidance based on your current situation.

Step 2: Green Economy Big Picture

Before you focus in on your green career goals, take some time to get a sense of the overall green economy. We'll give you a map of the green economy that will give you a framework you can use to understand where your skills and interests fit.

Step 3. Find Your Green Niche

Before you step out to talk with others, your first task is to discover your place in the green economy. What industry or profession are you most interested in targeting? What position will allow you to use your passions, interests, talents, and experience? Although you may feel you don't know what green options are available, this question is really one you answer from the inside out.

• Use the What's Your Green Niche? section to discover your interests and skills and brainstorm over forty career ideas in a very short time. Although it is tempting to latch onto one or two of your passions and push forward to find a job, most careers are actually a blend of your skills and interests. By the end of the process you'll be able to articulate the direction you want to pursue in the green economy.
  
• In this step you'll also explore your work setting needs and the path you want to take to your green career.
  
  

Step 4. Explore Your Possibilities

When you have two or three career ideas you are drawn to, you are ready to move to Step 4.

• In this step, you conduct research to understand your target industries/professions. You don't have to be 100% sure about your targets, you just need to feel excited and drawn to each of your ideas. Before you jump into doing informational interviews, get a sense of what you want to learn about your target industries/professions.
  

• After creating a plan, your next step is to do online research to gain a general understanding of your target industries/professions. In this section you'll discover the best strategies and resources to use to conduct your research online.
  

• When you have a good understanding of your target industries/professions, you are ready to do your informational interviews. We've got a number of tips to help you make the most of your conversations with your contacts. Begin by listening! Don't try to make a decision until you have enough information to make a solid decision.
  

(If research isn't your favorite thing, don't worry. Green Career Central provides a lot of resources and tips to make your exploration focused, productive, and fun.)

Step 5. Build Your Green Network

With your target career and your path in mind, you'll have a much easier time creating a green network online and in person. With your green niche in mind, you'll know what networking events and conferences to schedule into your calendar. You'll know what professional associations to explore. You'll know who to target to talk to about the best way to reach your career goals.

Step 6. Prepare for Your Green Career

At some point in your research and your networking, it's likely you'll realize you need to strengthen your green resume in one way or another. Your preparations for your green career may take a couple of weeks, several months, or even a couple of years, depending on your personal situation and your career goal. Remember each step you take is moving you closer to your green career goal.

We've got tips for you whether you want to:

• Green your current job
  
  
• Volunteer for a green organization
  
  
• Gain more green experience
  
  
• Get more green education

Step 7. Take Action to Reach Your Green Goal

When you are ready to move forward, look to Step 7 for support to as you:

• Start your green job search
  
  
• Launch a green business

Copyright © 2009 Green Career Central