Knowing Yourself

Picture your environmental career

It can help to bypass the left side of your brain and let the right side picture your career. Use doodles, symbols, cut-outs or pictures to visualise your perfect environmental career on a large poster.

Key career path questions

 

General – POEMS

People – What are your kind of people? What sort of people and personalities do you like around you? What social/ working relationship would you like with other staff or volunteers?

Organisations – What type of organisations – small/large, public/ private – interests you?

Environments – What environments, environmental topics or issues really interest you?

Motivation – Will you work to live or live to work? What really turns you on about an environmental career? What recognition do you want? What enthuses you to get started? What work would motivate you most – People, Data or Practical/Scientific? These 3 categories are used for many career guidance tests and questionnaires.

Skills – What practical, analytical or interpersonal skills bring you alive and give you real satisfaction? What role did you play in your achievements?

 

Specific – PPLLCC

 

Payment – What pay, if any, do you need in the short-term? What pay do you want in the right environmental job in 5 years time? What perks, such as accommodation, membership, friendship, are offered? Are they ethical and fair?

Many environmental professionals sacrifice potential earnings for a good environmental cause or culture, especially if self-employed. Several organisations publish annual surveys of graduate starting salaries – Association of Graduate Recruiters, Incomes Data Services, Prospects. Starting salaries for environmental careers are some of the lowest.

Prospects – Is the work specialist, only leading to certain jobs, or generalist, giving you transferable skills and mobility? Is the job secure, long-term or short-term? Is there opportunity for job change, promotion?

Many short-term placements are extended job interviews leading to permanent jobs. Many first jobs only last for 1-2 years.

Learning – What induction, learning on the job, accredited training, workshops and courses are offered? Are the employers committed to quality management, with standards like Investors in People? Is there opportunity for continuing professional development?

Many employers and volunteering programmes, esp. the larger ones, have quality standards and structured learning.

Location – What sort of office, environment, amenities, accommodation, social life and travelling do you want?

Many employers allow movement between regional offices, encourage travelling. Many commuters get stressed and embarrassed by their unsustainable travelling.

Career development – How will the work help your future job applications and CV? What transferable skills and experience will it give you? What direct or indirect environmental experience will it give you? Are you keenest on working in the environment, or with people for the environment?

Many careers follow unexpected paths. However planning your path is always worthwhile.

Culture – What is the culture around flexible working, working hours, after hours, organisational hierarchy, culture change, ethical purchasing, sharing information, team working etc? Do you want to change the employer’s culture to be more environment-friendly, or fit in with an existing environment-friendly culture – working from the inside or outside?

Each employment sector – local authorities, businesses, consultancies, voluntary organisations, educational institutions – has a distinct culture. Employees who have worked in more than one sector are the best advisers.

 

Knowing Yourself

Knowing Yourself
Picture your environmental career
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