Meaningful careers are becoming more and more popular as the workforce begins to understand the need for a healthy balance between work and life. However, graduates are particularly interested in a “green” career, with a 2018 study reporting that almost two-thirds of 18 to 24-year-olds are attracted to eco-friendly sectors that pump money into the green economy.
The divide between men and women isn’t big, either, as 89% of women and 80% of men say they search for jobs with employers that have an environmental policy in which they believe. This was recently discovered by a company called Debut.
What Are the Impacts?
Highlighting green tendencies is turning into a major differentiator for businesses, something that wasn’t the case five or ten years ago. Today, companies realise they can attract the best talent from universities if they provide them with the environment they desire. That’s why job listings increasingly advertise the organisation’s green credentials, even if the position or sector doesn’t fall into the category.
As you might expect, investment within the green jobs market is also experiencing expansion at unprecedented levels. For example, 24 million roles in industries such as renewables and electric vehicles are expected to be created in the next decade globally, with the UK contributing considerably via commitments to cut the region’s carbon footprint. As FSB’s 2021 forecast summarises, one of the best places to start is the corporate sector as thousands of new startups launch annually, contributing additional pollution.
Thankfully, the brightest minds from UK universities will be at the forefront of figuring out ways for the government to reach carbon net-zero by 2050. That’s less than 30 years, which is why establishments must lean on the science, maths and engineering graduates to help solve the problem.
What About Graduates?
A direct knock-on effect is a demand for graduates. Overall, there has been an increase across the board, but certain sectors are desperate for passionate green employees to join their staff and tackle worldwide issues. Waste recycling, water and renewable energy are just three sectors aiming to balance out their ageing staff with tech-savvy people who are comfortable with using the latest hardware and software. As we’ve acknowledged here at Career Experts before, the perfect demographic to fill this void is graduates who have been exposed to these advancements their whole lives.
Another plus point is the acceptance of transferable skills. Since a lot of the positions are technical, technical degrees that teach core attributes are accepted by employers as they know they can up-skill recruits that are willing to learn. Therefore, waste recycling and water companies are hiring engineers because engineering knowledge applies to these industries. This is particularly true of chemical engineering.
Which Businesses Are Appropriate for Graduates?
The big brands with stellar reputations will stick out in your mind. Not only do you know of their passion for conservation, but the thought of working for a big company is intoxicating as it combines motivation and a healthy salary. Patagonia is a fantastic case study because the clothing giant is renowned globally for its excellent products, making it a popular employer.
On the flip side, it donates 1% of its sales to Earth Tax, helping to restore forests and protect endangered species. TOMS is another example of a company that rose to fame thanks to its approach to sustainability. The founder, Blake Mycoskie, pledged to provide a pair of shoes to poor communities for every pair of shoes bought by a customer.
The same strategy applies to services the organisation has released, from donating a week of clean drinking water for every bag of coffee purchased to Water Eyewear, a scheme that brings water to thousands of households in India for every pair of glasses sold. Inspired Energy, meanwhile, has a dedicated graduate programme offered to 20 graduates each year. It’s important to remember that the link between environmentalism and helping the planet doesn’t have to be as direct as working for the likes of Patagonia and TOMS, as Amazon has proven.
Arguably the biggest retailer in the world, Amazon recognised the need to appease one-third of their customer base that believes brands are responsible for the environment, launching The Climate Pledge scheme in 2019 that aims to reduce the brand’s CO2 emissions to net-zero by 2040. With Amazon showing the way, corporate social responsibility is thriving throughout the business world, such as within the online casino sector.
Like Amazon, online casinos want to prove to their customers that they have ethical standards, which is why the likes of casinos such as 888 have a CSR framework focusing on the risks of gambling, enhancing the workplace, and reducing its carbon emissions. This can be seen through the operator’s investment in less harmful payment methods, such as credit/debit cards and eWallets like PayPal and Skrill that are available at an 888 casino in UK, Europe or online. With extra options for players, there’s less pressure to accept cash, which means labour- and resource-intensive processes don’t need to destroy habitats. Online casinos are simply part of the bigger picture in this sense because physical money has reduced in popularity, encouraging contactless payments to takeover. So, while you won’t directly be planting trees or saving animals, you can still do your bit for the world and forge a career for yourself.
Of course, securing a job means focusing on the key elements of the specification. That means you can’t solely concentrate on environmental issues. Instead, it’s better to select one or two that apply to the position to highlight your passion and knowledge.