Blog Post: Would a Green Job be a Good Fit for You?

So how do you know if a green job will be a good fit for you, and how do you track one of these green jobs down?

Start by researching, and talking to people.

Jacques Chirazi, who works as a Clean Tech program manager at the City of San Diego and teaches in the Sustainable Practices program at SDSU’s College of Extended Studies , says “many green jobs are jobs that never existed before. In the IT market in the late ‘70s and into the ‘80s, no one knew that jobs for webmasters would exist. Sometimes technology gets ahead of the skill sets we need.”

That doesn’t mean all green jobs are breaking brand-new ground. In fact, qualifying for a green job may simply mean retrofitting and upgrading skills you’ve already developed. “Many people – from machinists, to construction and water treatment workers, to electricians – have the necessary skill sets already,” says Chirazi, “but need additional knowledge to play a role in the renewable market or waste water treatment, or to work in positions that manage financial instruments directed toward these kinds of projects.”
 

Want to know more about the skill sets you might need to transition into a green job?

Check out the Embracing the Green Future Forum over at SDSU’s College of Extended Studies , from 8-10:30 am on September 11. Learn about fast-growing green careers, enjoy a breakfast with San Diego green industry experts, and network, network, network!

Their green industry panel will feature experts on green jobs in energy, wind, and water:

·       Peter MacLaggan, of Poseidon Resources Corporation, develops large-scale seawater desalination projects,

·       Terry Mohn, of BAE Systems’ newly formed Smart and Clean Energy group, works in clean and renewable electric generation, and

·       John Freeman directs communications for Knight & Carver’s Wind Group, working closely with influential industry leaders and government officials.

They’ll all be answering questions about clean and green jobs in the San Diego region – so head over there and ask all those questions you’ve been mulling over about the future of green jobs and how you can get involved in these growing industries.

To register, or for more information, visit online or call (619) 265-SDSU.