You’re passionate about sustainability, but the job market is competitive. How can you stand out?

1 Find your niche

Sustainability is a broad and diverse field, with many subtopics and disciplines. To stand out, you need to find your niche and focus on what you can offer that others can’t. For example, you might be an expert in circular economy, green finance, or social impact. Research the latest trends and challenges in your niche, and identify the gaps and opportunities. Then, create a personal brand that reflects your niche, your vision, and your value proposition.

2 Build your portfolio

A portfolio is a collection of your work, projects, and achievements that demonstrate your skills and impact in sustainability. It can include reports, articles, presentations, videos, podcasts, or anything else that showcases your work. A portfolio can help you attract attention, credibility, and opportunities at conferences, as well as in your job search. To create a portfolio, choose your best and most relevant work, organize it by theme or category, and display it on a website, a blog, or a platform like LinkedIn.

3 Connect with influencers

Influencers are people who have a large and engaged audience, authority, and influence in your field. They can be speakers, authors, bloggers, podcasters, or leaders of organizations or movements. Connecting with influencers can help you expand your network, learn from their insights, and gain exposure and referrals. To connect with influencers at conferences, you can follow them on social media, comment on their posts, attend their sessions, ask questions, and reach out to them via email or direct message.

4 Engage with peers

Peers are people who share your interests, goals, and challenges in sustainability. They can be fellow attendees, speakers, exhibitors, or organizers of conferences. Engaging with peers can help you exchange ideas, feedback, and support, as well as collaborate on projects or initiatives. To engage with peers at conferences, you can join online communities, forums, or groups, participate in chats, polls, or quizzes, attend networking events or workshops, and follow up with them after the conference.

5 Showcase your expertise

One of the best ways to stand out at conferences is to showcase your expertise by sharing your knowledge, insights, and opinions. You can do this by speaking at sessions, panels, or webinars, writing articles or blogs, creating podcasts or videos, or hosting workshops or masterclasses. Showcasing your expertise can help you establish your authority, credibility, and reputation in your field, as well as attract attention, recognition, and opportunities.

6 Keep learning

The field of sustainability is constantly evolving, with new developments, innovations, and challenges. To stand out, you need to keep learning and updating your skills and knowledge. You can do this by attending conferences, courses, webinars, or podcasts, reading books, articles, or reports, or joining mentoring or coaching programs. Keeping learning can help you stay ahead of the curve, adapt to changing needs, and discover new possibilities.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?