Environment, Climate and Sustainability Careers

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics defines green jobs as either a) jobs in businesses that produce goods or provide services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources or b), jobs in which workers’ duties involve making their establishment’s production processes more environmentally friendly or use fewer natural resources. – BLS Green Jobs Initiative

Sustainability careers and other green jobs vary considerably from position to position. Due to the diversity within this career, one sustainability worker may work in an office, while another may work in a more industrial environment, while yet another may spend the majority of their time outdoors. For example, a director of responsibility would work in an office, overseeing a corporation’s approaches to the environment and energy consumption. On the other hand, a soil and plant scientist may spend a great deal of time in the field, enduring adverse weather conditions as they monitor soil PH levels and discover measures to prevent soil pollution. If you’re looking for a field that offers diverse options, then sustainable careers and green jobs may be a perfect place to look. – Environmentalscience.org

To learn more about careers, go to Become (shares categories within green jobs, a list of nonprofits, job titles, and internships), environmentalscience.org (job profiles and salaries for environmental science career interests), wildlife careers, careers in environmental education, including policy, and other environmental-related careers.

Read trade magazines, newsletters, and popular websites in your industry. Places to start include Trellis, ScienceDaily, and Nature Climate Change. Subscribe to blogs and newsletters, follow industry insiders on social media and research the types of positions that are available in those fields. Company websites, O*NET, and the Occupational Outlook Handbook are equally helpful resources. You must show not only an interest, but also knowledge about the industry.

Select Resources

  • The Climate Tech Handbook shares 80+ job boards, news sources, and Slack communities to join.
  • This student-led energy resource hub offers podcasts of professionals sharing their careers, pathways to explore, and a community hub.
  • Join the Work on Climate community to read about climate careers and attend climate-related events.
  • Voiz Academy hosts podcasts with professionals sharing their climate careers.
  • Vault Guides (create a free account with your Georgetown email) share comprehensive information on various careers. Relevant guides include several related to energy jobs (such as, alternative energy, oil & gas, nuclear, and utilities), agriculture jobs, and environmental science and conservation jobs.

Attend employer information sessions, industry events, and conferences — on and off-campus — and connect with popular professional organizations regionally and nationally, such as the International Society of Sustainability Professionals, and the National Association of Environmental Professionals. For those interested in the energy sector, check out Young Professionals in Energy and Women’s Energy Network. Get involved by attending events and connecting with D.C. community groups like Climate DC, Green Careers DC,and EcoWomen of DC. #OpenDoorClimate also shares a thousands of professionals who are happy to chat with climate jobseekers. Last, get involved with the Climate Reality Project, founded by Al Gore, by signing up for their newsletter and connecting with a local chapter to take action in your community. There are numerous professional associations representing the various specialties in the environmental industry. See a full list of professional associations. Professional associations host a variety of professional development, educational, and networking events. 

Consider the many opportunities to volunteer in the Washington, DC area with the Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE), DC Audubon Society, USGBC, Rock Creek Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, Student Conservation Association, and other organizations that help keep DC clean. Joining groups on LinkedIn related to your industry is a great way to meet new people, find mentors, contacts and ask questions. Also, reach out to alumni through Hoya Gateway and Georgetown’s alumni page on LinkedIn. Our website provides helpful guidelines on networking and informational interviewing.

Georgetown offers a number of opportunities for Hoyas to get involved. Joining a school club is an excellent way to learn more about the industry, develop your skills, and get hands-on experience. Earth Commons is an institute on Georgetown’s campus that provides coursework, events, and fellowships to help students gain exposure to environmental research and careers. Earth Commons also oversees the Hoya Harvest Garden which integrates farming spaces into the campus and generates food for the community. Serve as an EcoRep with the Office of Sustainability, and keep the Georgetown community informed about sustainability best practices and educate on simple behavior changes to support the university’s sustainability goals.

Some related clubs include Georgetown EcoConsultants, Georgetown Renewable Energy and Environmental Network (GREEN), Slow Food, Food Recovery Network, and Georgetown Undergraduate Environmental Health Collaborative. Explore nature as you welcome an incoming class via the Georgetown Outdoor Pre-Orientation Program (GOPOP). Get involved with Corp Green in The Corp, which seeks to cut down on waste and employ compost centers, and/or submit a project idea to support Georgetown’s sustainable operations. For more student club information, visit Campus Groups. The Center for Social Justice offers immersion trips focused on a variety of topics including environmental justice. On and off-campus jobs are another excellent way to build skills valued by employers.

To better understand what skills you need to highlight on your resume, check out internships, fellowships, and entry-level positions in the environment, climate, and sustainability industry. See our resume and cover letter pages for more tips and advice

For listings beyond our campus recruiting platform, Handshake, visit ClimateTechList, Reconsidered, Ecojobs, Greenjobsboard, environmentaljobs, Terra.do, and climatebase. View Green Jobs Network internships and fellowships. Subscribe to Ed’s Clean Energy and Sustainability Jobs List and Green Job’s List. For energy-specific job boards, check out Dayaway and energyjobs.com. For environmental education-related jobs, use eejobs.org. For naturalist conservation roles, see Conservation Job Board, Natural Resources Job Board, and Wildlife Society. As mentioned above, be sure to check out this curated list of 80+ job boards. If you are a student, you can also find research opportunities through the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) program.

Selected government: Department of Energy | Environmental Protection Agency | National Park Service | State and Local Government
Selected nonprofits: The Nature Conservancy | Worldwide Wildlife Fund | Environment America | Sierra Club | National Geographic Society | Ocean Conservancy | Climate Corps | FoodCorps
A list of climate-related organizations searchable by sector, such as energy, food, carbon emissions and removal, etc.
Forbes Top Consulting Companies working in the environment and energy sector. (filter by energy and environment sector)
27 Environmental Startups That Will Inspire Entrepreneurs to Go Green