Andy Nelson on overcoming the three most common hurdles that sustainability job seekers face.

Hey there,

I’ve got another exciting episode of the Sustainability Skill Set podcast to share with you!

Episode 13. Andy Nelson on overcoming the three most common hurdles that sustainability job seekers face.

In this episode, I was honored to speak with career coach, Andy Nelson. In his past, Andy was involved with scaling multiple start-ups and worked in management consulting. He now focuses on helping mid-career professionals transition into the climate, sustainability, and social impact space.

Andy has mentored hundreds of people through career changes. He understands the major challenges they face and provides them with essential tools and tactics to be successful.

In our conversation, Andy and I uncovered so many actionable strategies for those who want to work on sustainability.

Most notably, we covered three of the most common hurdles Andy sees, related to identifying your transferable skills, understanding the sustainability jobs landscape, and developing a clear and confident mindset.

Even if you already work on sustainability, I’m confident you’ll take away new perspectives that will help you advance your career.

Here’s what I found most interesting:

Sustainability Career Hurdle #1: Identifying your transferable skills.

Are you interested in pursuing a sustainability career, but feel like you don’t have the right skills?

If so, you are not alone. Many people who want to pursue a purpose-driven career feel this way. But the truth is, you may have more transferable skills than you think…

Start by reflecting on your experiences, and what they taught you that can be applied to sustainability work.

You are not building a resume. You are identifying your unique strengths. Most people aren’t very good at this. So, try asking colleagues, friends, and mentors for feedback. People outside your “professional” network might have the most clear and objective perspective.

Many people think they need highly technical skills to work on sustainability, but this is not true. You don’t need to be a data analyst or an engineer. In fact, data alone is not enough to change people’s minds or behaviors.

Here are some examples of common transferable skills:

Example #1 - Change Management - This is the ability to lead, influence, and support organizational change towards more sustainable practices. If you have experience managing projects, people, or company performance, you likely have examples of successful change management skills.

Example #2 - Communication - We need to be able to communicate the value and urgency of sustainability, while avoiding greenwashing. If you have experience in marketing, sales, writing, customer service, or public speaking, you can use those skills to promote sustainability in any context.

Most people who have been working for more than a few years have plenty of experience in these areas but haven’t practiced framing their experience from a sustainability perspective.

If you are just beginning your career and don’t have much work experience, an option for rapidly developing your relevant skills is to pursue a career in consulting, even if it is not sustainability focused. Consulting exposes you to a variety of industries, clients, and challenges.

Although you can learn quickly in consulting, you have to be prepared for an intense work environment and you may not be able to work on projects that align with your values and interests. Aspiring sustainability professionals that take the consulting route should take care of themselves and continuing fostering a network of like-minded people. Look for consultancies with supportive cultures that invest in their people and offer training and mentoring.

Follow these steps to build and identify your transferable skills, and you’ll be working on sustainability before you know it.

Sustainability Career Hurdle #2: Understanding the sustainability jobs landscape.

It can be extremely difficult to navigate the sustainability career space and understand what career options are available.

Career coach, Andy Nelson, says that there is a huge lack of awareness around career pathways among aspiring sustainability professionals.

For those who already work in the space, it can be easy to assume that others know what the landscape looks like, but things are changing so quickly that it is extremely difficult to keep up unless you are working on sustainability every day.

For sustainability job seekers:

1. Perform research to increase your awareness of what’s out there. There are many organizations focused on providing support to sustainability job seekers, such as Climatebase and Work on Climate.

2. Focus on building your network. Don’t go at it alone. If you think you don’t have anything to offer at networking events, begin by listening.

As you learn more about the sustainability jobs landscape, try finding an area that you are particularly interested in and dive deeper. Try to get in touch with someone in that space, and clearly define your relevant, transferable skills.

Sustainability Career Hurdle #3: Developing a clear and confident mindset.

Are you a capable, talented, high achiever, who wants to work on sustainability but are overwhelmed by how to get there?

Pause, breathe, and read on.

Career coach, Andy Nelson, often works with job seekers on their mindset before even touching their resume.

First, think about WHY you are seeking a change.

• “Push factors” are things that make your current situation unbearable. Ask yourself: Can you improve your current situation? Or, are the push factors too strong?

• “Pull factors” are aspirations that you cannot meet in your current situation. Ask yourself: What pull factors are leading you to different work? Can you satisfy your aspirations in creative ways, such as volunteering, side projects, or donations, while you strategically adjust your career?

Your motivation for change is likely a combination of these factors. Get clear on whether you are being pushed or pulled to change.

Second, decide whether you will change your CONTENT or your CONTEXT.

• “Content” is the type of work you do. Staying at your current company but shifting your work to more sustainability-focused content can be a very effective solution. Your most impactful work opportunity might be right under your nose.

• “Context” is the environment where you do your work. If you cannot shift your content, it might be necessary to shift your context. You can leverage your transferable skills to land a new job that is more sustainability focused.

Your best next step likely depends on your current situation, company, and industry. Some are more open to change than others.

By understanding the push and pull factors you are experiencing, and deciding whether you need to change your content and/or context, you can chart an actionable path towards a more fulfilling career.

Thank you for continuing on this journey with me! Read or listen to the full episode to learn more.

Connect with Andy on LinkedIn or contact him directly at [email protected]

Registration is now open for the next cohort of Andy’s six-week Master Your Climate Career Shift program, starting on Wednesday 7th February and registration is now open – sign up today!

You can also schedule a quick (virtual) coffee chat with Andy by clicking this link.

Finally, Andy wants to give a shoutout to the #opendoorclimate movement, where people can find help and support from professionals in the field. Check it out on LinkedIn and connect with people willing to help you!

Wishing you the best,

Louis DeMaso

P.S. Feel free to hit that reply button anytime. I would love to hear from you.