How can you identify your sustainability career path?

Sustainability requires a multi disciplinary approach. All companies approach sustainability differently, and that requires a large number of individuals with various skills to support each role. From the product design and energy consumed, to process improvement training, and monitoring. And this is a requirement in all sectors and industries. All jobs can contribute to sustainability if the one performing them focuses on improving the corporate sustainability practices and performance. And we all can make a difference by having more sustainable approaches

A “job in sustainability” does not fit into one mold. Sustainability cuts across many industries. You could work in government, charity, business, finance, consulting, research, filmmaking, fashion, marketing etc. Sustainability could be the core focus of your work or simply represent a small aspect. While employers value passion, they’re also looking for skills. Think about your technical skills (climate change, engineering, business, management, communications, knowledge of a particular industry, etc.) and soft skills (innovation, commercial/business awareness, creativity, systems-thinker, teamwork, leadership, etc.), as well as how you can develop these.

Independently of our position or job description, we can invest in sustainability by considering the triple bottom line of ESG in our workplace and doing our very best to adopt best practices, do more with less, and be mindful of our activities' effects on communities and the environment. By integrating sustainability considerations into decision-making processes, Identifying ways to reduce resource consumption (energy, water, and raw materials); or even properly engaging with our stakeholders and involve them in decision-making processes to ensure a positive impact, we will be positioning ourselves and increasing our competitiveness the sustainability market.

The beauty of sustainability lies in its ability to permeate every profession. Every job has the potential to contribute to sustainability practices, regardless of the specific title or industry. For instance, a marketing professional can incorporate sustainability messaging into their campaigns, while an accountant can promote sustainable procurement practices within their organization.

Most important: align your sustainability goals with your career path. It sounds simple, but it's not. Sustainability is a broad field in which there is a lot of work to be done. Ask yourself: Where do I want to make a change? Do I want to improve working conditions? Do I want to work on innovative mobility solutions? Do I want to make the oceans cleaner or campaign for animal welfare? Once you have clarified these questions, you have already done 50% of your homework. Now it's time to do some more detailed research and find out in which position at which company you can make a real difference.

A key question is whether you’d like to focus on sustainability in the public or private sector. In the private sector, you might play an in-house role in a company or work with a sustainability consulting firm. Similarly, in government you could work on the sustainability of a government agency, or on regulatory issue. Either could be done inside government or in a specialized consultancy.

This field values practical experience. Consider internships or volunteer opportunities to gain hands-on knowledge and showcase your dedication to potential employers. When applying to jobs do tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the specific needs and values of sustainability-focused organizations.

Don't limit yourself to research "the sustainability sector" but rather see what intersects with sustainability. Every job can be a sustainability job, and by looking in a narrow field, you may be limiting ideas or opportunities for yourself. For example a procurement job may not show up in a sustainability search, but sustainable procurement is incredibly powerful and important.

Attend industry conferences, enroll in online courses, and network with sustainability professionals to keep your knowledge and skills up to date. This continuous learning journey will not only enhance your expertise but also expand your professional opportunities.

There are 2 ways to approach this - learn about sustainability transformation tools & how they can help measure and track progress. In parallel, every business is essentially a value chain. Break these individual links down and see where you can unlock value to do things differently. Through this process of sustainability transformation, you will gain invaluable skills to take your learnings across industry and businesses, because essentially, the building blocks are all similar. This is a far better education than focusing all your energies on pure certifications and siloed processes.

Es vital realizar networking con profesionales de la sostenibilidad. Una ventaja de este sector es que muchos miembros pueden colaborar entre sí y generar sinergias. El sector de sustentabilidad da la oportunidad de generar colaboración entre distintas compañías y organismos, y de esta forma lograr potenciar sus ventajas competitivas.

The Myth of Sisyphus... I really love my job and I want to be a part of the change but at the end of the day I just find myself rolling the sustainability rock to the top of a mountain everyday...

As rewiring the economy to become sustainable and becoming a sustainable company as a part of that is a challenge that cannot be solved alone, it is essential to connect to like-minded sustainability experts. To progress it is key to collectively join forces and learn from each other - especially as this transformation is highly complex and time-critical. But: it’s not only the formal networks that count! Open and honest discussions beyond corporate politics are likelier to take place in informal networks, where people come together without feeling they have to represent their company at all times. The basis of informal networks is the passion of individuals, and people can often stay onboard also when their job changes.

In my view networking is crucial to learn and exchange on challenges and opportunities in the field of sustainability. Many specific sectors, e.g., the financial sector, have local associations focusing on sustainability, which can be good platform to network and learn more from specialists and industry representatives. Sustainability clubs and initiatives at universities are also emergent and offer a great possibility to proactively participate in sustainability projects, gaining experience and network with different stakeholders.

Understand different career paths through networking can be incredibly valuable as a tool to help you self-reflect and take inspiration about new avenues to explore. My biggest inspiration was seeing Sir David King, who went from being a leading chemist to becoming chief climate negotiator for the UK and now one of the leading voices on climate change and climate repair.

Sustainability is not a well-defined area, and it encompasses many different disciplines. Furthermore, scientific discoveries, regulatory developments, and industrial expertise constantly being developed. All of this points to the fact that it is a very dynamic topic that necessitates ongoing learning and communication among experts, scientists, and practitioners. As a result, depending on the current demands of your setting and yourself, learning gaps may shift over time.

The way you create your sustainability career roadmap will vary depending on your situation - but make sure you are attacking it from all sides. Niche Identifications, Skills Inventory, Learning and upskilling, Networking & finally applying all that you've learnt through jobs, projects or business ventures.

THE DIVERSITY OF OUR NETWORKING IS GLOBAL AND SPECIFIC AS WELL AS THE CHALLENGES. SO IT IS CRUSIAL TO ADOPT A GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY SYSTEM CAPABLE TO HANDLE EACH SPECIFIC SECTOR OF INDUSTRY TO THE SPECIFIC RESOURCE AND SKILL FOR GLOBAL SOLUTION OF CHALLENGES. GLOBAL INTERDEPENDANT SKILLFUL NETWORKING IS THE SOLUTION OF WORLDWIDE GLOBAL CHALLENGES. OUR NETWORKING HAS SPECIFIC CONSULTANCY OF EACH SECTOR IN THE WHOLE WORLD HENCE WE CAN SET ALL HANDS IN HANDS WITH EQUITY OF CONTRIBUTION. WE CAN CONNECT EASILY PRIVATE TO PUBLIC WITH GENERAL MASTER TEAM WORK. medicineguinea2017@gmail.com julianbea1984@gmail.com

It may be easier to bring sustainability into your current role than trying to shift into a purely sustainability role directly. Sustainability is often increasingly embedded into operations so the clearcut difference between sustainability careers and careers full of sustainability is decreasing.

Embrace technology. It is the key ingredient to unlock the problems of our future. The more you can learn to use technology tools to accelerate sustainability transformation, the greater the impact you deliver to your organisation. Take gender diversity in hiring for instance. An organisation cannot rely on static sheets to record information. It needs real time analytics to understand the state of their gender sensitive recruitment processes, the number of women in management and leadership positions, gender pay parity ratios of women from ethnic backgrounds Vs others, attrition rates of women Vs men and so on. Information needs to be to available in real time to take informed & fair decisions.

Define your passion: Identify specific areas within sustainability that resonate with you. Acquire relevant skills: Equip yourself with the necessary skills through education, certifications, or hands-on experience to make a meaningful impact in your chosen field. Network and seek mentors: Connect with professionals in the sustainability space, attend events, and seek guidance from mentors. Please keep in mind: Keep abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and global sustainability initiatives. Pursue opportunities: Actively seek internships, volunteer roles, or entry-level positions to gain practical experience. The journey to a sustainable career involves continuous learning and dedication.

Keep an open mind. Most sustainability career pathways are unmapped as the sector is constantly evolving. Take every opportunity to learn and create your own path forward.

Sustainability is more than a career. It’s an advocacy for fulfillment, focused on understanding the balance of its pillars and how that applies in everyday living. The clear path to that knowledge can only be gained through the human’s passion to profoundly impact the sustainable development goals of the local community where his/her upbringings were culturally established or belonged.