How to Find a Bright Green Job in the Dull Gray Economy Dan Smolen Managing Director, The Green Suits, LLC April 16, 2015

My Green Job Journey Accidental environmentalist (1978) Marketing, communications, sales executive ( ) Developed successful campaigns for large consumer goods brands Shocked by brands’ hazardous environmental and societal impacts Talent recruitment (1998-current) Started own recruiting firm (2005) Brief political career reconnected me with environmentalism Few recruiters address the workforce impact of green jobs and careers Rebranded as The Green Suits, LLC (2010)The Green Suits, LLC Talent search, workforce planning, and success management for green business and social good Wrote Tailoring the Green Suit; Empowering Yourself for an Executive Career in the New Green Economy (2010)Tailoring the Green Suit; Empowering Yourself for an Executive Career in the New Green Economy Op/ed columnist, speaker, radio program guest (2010-current) Op/ed columnist 2 Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015)

This Green Business Recruiter’s Perspective: The Skies are Clearing… 5.5% unemployment (3/2015) vs. 10%+ (2009) 295k jobs added in 2/2015, follows a year of month-to- month gains Strong turnover 5.1 million job openings 2/2015 (highest since 2001) 2.7 million “quits” 2/2015 (53%) Positive consumer outlook Green job availability is increasing, 3.1 million created (2012) Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 3

…But the Economy is Dull Gray Actual unemployment exceeds 10% ShadowStats: 23% New hires earning less than before AARP: 47% of laid off mid-career talent get new jobs paying less AARP Millennials making gains, but struggling Green job creation hasn’t scaled as we thought (2008 forecast: 5 million) Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 4

And the Green Jobs that are Available… Many go unfilled Managers often require talent to have green job skill, experience, and training One’s advanced degrees, good for non-green tracks, may offer no benefit How does one get skill, experience, training, without a green job? Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 5

You can overcome the obstacles, to find a bright green job in this dull gray economy Now is a great time to find a green job Use our 10 process points to guide you to a successful outcome Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 6

1. Establish Your Green Job Value Proposition What are your green career goals? What skill, experience, and training do you already bring to the table? What makes you unique? What motivates you? Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 7

1. Establish Your Green Job Value Proposition Become familiar with available opportunities: TheGreenJobBank (15k national listings) Regional Groups Industry and Trade Groups Company Websites Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 8

2. Acquire Green Skill, Experience & Training Whether seasoned talent or entry-level, there are gaps you may need to fill: Relevant accreditation tracks Certification through community colleges, industry groups, etc. Advanced degree programs Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 9 Association of Energy Engineers

3. Gain Green Job Experience Join apprenticeship programs such as EcoApprentice.com EcoApprentice.com Join a Green Team Pursue skill-based volunteer opportunities at work (Deloitte)Deloitte Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 10

3. Gain Green Job Experience Rather be the boss? Make a huge impact as an eco-entrepreneur Grossman Marketing Yuck Old Paint, LLC Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 11

4. Build Your Green Professional Network Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 12

4. Build Your Green Professional Network Make the most of your LERCPA membership Aggressively pursue new LinkedIn connections with green professionals, join LinkedIn green business groups groups Facebook (becoming more useful for green business networking) Most important…get out there, meet face-to-face Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 13

5. Create Your Own Green Job Advisory Board Advisory Boards help start-ups and entrepreneurs fill experience cavities Why not create an advisory board for you?you Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 14

5. Create Your Own Green Job Advisory Board Possible advisors: Clean energy/cleantech leaders Sustainability managers Corporate Social Responsibility experts Academics in business and environmental science programs Connect with them on LinkedIn Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 15 Juliana Deans, Corporate Social Responsibility Advisor, Silicon Valley Community Foundation

6. Craft a Great Green Résumé Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 16

7. Create Your Own Green Job During performance review at your non-green job: Met/exceeded your boss’s and personal goals Established your credibility, reliability Propose green projects that you can supervise With each success, add more projects Exit with real green job experience Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 17

8. Perfect Your Green Job Elevator Pitch A great green job elevator pitch says “I am worth it!” Seizes opportunity Communicates your green subject- matter expertise Establishes your worthiness for a green job Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 18

9. Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk Become a green thought-leader Write, publish, promote your own content on LinkedIn Pulse LinkedIn Pulse Speak at green industry events and gatherings Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 19

10. Frame for Green Job Success Language framing in green job hunt is EVERYTHING! Language framing Know your audience well Use frames that satisfy their needs and preferences Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 20

10. Frame for Green Job Success Framing that helps green job candidates succeed: Subject-matter expertise Adaptability Team leadership Track record of positive results Financial sustainability focus Triple Bottom Line? Maybe…but be careful. Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 21

It All Starts…NOW! Our best days lie ahead! Green job economy set to scale. Over next decade: million new jobs (executive ranks alone) Clean energy will lead new job creation, barriers to entry disappearing Growing societal acceptance Millennials (90 million strong) demanding workplace that offers purposeful employment Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015) 22

Thanks! Dan Smolen

1.ApprenticeBlog.com. “People with Green Hands” (accessed October 23, 2011) 2.Association of Energy Engineers, Detailed Certification Listings graphics (accessed April 13, 2015) 3.Explistats.com, Shadow Stats Alternative, April 3, 2015 (accessed April 6, 2015) 4.Grossman Marketing Group, Inc. “Ben Grossman and David Grossman,” 2011 (accessed October 23, 2011) 5.Jupiter Images Unlimited. “Clearing Sky” (accessed April 2, 2015) 6.Jupiter Images Unlimited. “Compact Fluorescent Bulb” (accessed October 23, 2011) 7.Jupiter Images Unlimited. “Four People in Green Suits on Stairs” (accessed April 8, 2009) 8.Jupiter Images Unlimited. “Ocean Wind Farm” (accessed October 23, 2011) 9.Jupiter Images Unlimited. “Woman in Green Jacket” (accessed May 1, 2009) 10.Jupiter Images Unlimited. “Woman in Olive Green Jacket,” from Tailoring the Green Suit dust jacket, 2010) 11.Jupiter Images Unlimited. “Woman with Tape Measure,” from Tailoring the Green Suit dust jacket, Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, networking event photo (accessed April 13, 2015) 13.MSNBC. “Elevator Pitch Video Segment” still photo, September 18, 2007, (accessed October 23, 2011) 14.MARC Regional Green Jobs, logo (accessed April 14, 2015) 15.Northern Virginia Community College, logo (accessed April 13, 2015) 16.Office Online/Office.Microsoft.com. “Man Shaking Woman’s Hand” (accessed October 23, 2011) 17.Presidio Graduate School, logo (accessed April 13, Smolen, Dan. Tailoring the Green Suit; “Build Your Professional Network Diagram,” Smolen, Dan. Tailoring the Green Suit; “Demand/Driver Diagram,” Smolen, Dan. Tailoring the Green Suit; “Résumé Exercise,” SolarCity, logo (accessed April 14, 2015) 22.Solar Energy Industries Association, logo (accessed April 14, 2015) 23.The Global Call for Climate Action. “Woman with Wind Turbine,” 2013 (accessed April 10, 2015) 24.The Green Job Bank, logo (accessed April 14, 2015) 25.WhiteHouse.gov. “Woman with Solar Installation,” (accessed April 9, 2015) 26.Weiss, Marsha D. “Frames Composite,” June 4, Yuck Old Paint, LLC. Still image from YouTube Video (accessed April 13, 2015) © 2015, Dan Smolen/The Green Suits, LLC Photo and Graphic Credits Leaders in Energy: Green Jobs (April 2015)