Engineer a Sustainable Career Newsletter

Happy Fall!?

We hope your school year is off to a great start!?

We’re here to help you showcase your green skills!

by Carly Cohen & Tom Loughlin - October 2024

Hello Everyone - Happy October!?We hope you enjoyed our Climate Policy event with Zach Brown and will join us for our next event - details coming soon!?

Interested in being featured in our next newsletter? Share your internship, study abroad, or ESW Project experience here.?

ESWCon2025 - Save the Date!

Join us in Akron, Ohio on March 27-30, 2025. Learn more about ESWcon2025 here and purchase tickets here. Early bird pricing ends on October 31st. Learn more on our Conference website here.?

Sustainability Podcasts:

Here are a few of our favorite podcasts on Sustainability:

• Volts - A new way to retrofit old buildings ... from the outside
• The Jane Goodall Hopecast - Hope is the Power of Plants and Indigenous Knowledge

How to Write a Resume for a "Green Job" as a Graduating Engineer

As a graduating engineer, entering the green job market presents a unique opportunity to apply your technical skills to sustainable development, clean energy, and environmental conservation. To stand out, your resume should reflect both your engineering expertise and your passion for sustainability. Here’s how to craft a resume that gets you noticed:

1. Align Your Resume with the Green Engineering Job

Start by customizing your resume for each green job you apply to. Whether it’s in renewable energy, environmental engineering, or sustainable product design, research the company and incorporate keywords from the job posting. Terms like "clean energy," "sustainable design," and "green technology" should be used strategically throughout your resume.

2. Highlight Relevant Engineering Skills

Showcase technical skills that are in demand for green jobs. For example, if you have expertise in energy systems, sustainable materials, or water management, list them under a "Technical Skills" section. Skills in CAD software, energy modeling, or environmental impact assessment tools will also catch the employer’s attention.

Examples of relevant skills:

• Proficiency in renewable energy systems (solar, wind, etc.)
• Experience with energy efficiency design and analysis
• Knowledge of green building standards (e.g., LEED)
• Familiarity with environmental regulations and compliance
• Skills in life cycle analysis and sustainable manufacturing processes

3. Include Green Certifications and Education

Even if you’re just graduating, you can highlight relevant coursework, projects (including work in the ESW community), or certifications that align with green engineering. Include degrees in environmental engineering, energy systems, or sustainability engineering in your "Education" section. Additionally, if you’ve completed any online courses or earned certifications such as LEED accreditation or energy auditing, make sure to highlight them.

Examples:

• Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering, 2024
• Coursework in Renewable Energy Technologies, Sustainable Design, and Environmental Impact Assessment
• Certification: Fundamentals of Engineering (FE), LEED Green Associate

4. Showcase Green Engineering Projects

Since you may not have years of professional experience yet, focus on ESW and academic projects, internships, or research that showcase your ability to apply engineering solutions to environmental challenges. Be sure to quantify your impact wherever possible.

Example:

• Capstone Project: Designed an off-grid solar-powered water purification system for a rural community, improving water access for 500+ residents while reducing energy consumption by 20%.
• Internship: Assisted in energy audits for commercial buildings, identifying energy-saving measures that reduced carbon emissions by 15%.

5. Demonstrate Transferable Soft Skills

In addition to technical expertise, employers value engineers who can work collaboratively and think creatively to solve sustainability challenges. Emphasize skills (many of which you pick up with ESW) like problem-solving, teamwork, and project management—particularly if they relate to your green engineering experience.

Examples of soft skills:

• Strong problem-solving abilities in eco-efficient design
• Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams on sustainable infrastructure projects
• Effective communication of complex engineering concepts in sustainability initiatives

6. Use a Professional, Eco-Friendly Resume Format

Present your resume in a clear, concise format that reflects your commitment to sustainability. Choose a simple design, avoid excessive graphics or text, and consider using eco-friendly color schemes or icons that subtly highlight your passion for green initiatives.

Final Tip: Lead with Passion

Employers in the green job market look for engineers who are not just skilled but also motivated by environmental stewardship. In your resume and cover letter, express your passion for sustainability and commitment to making a positive environmental impact through your engineering career.

By effectively highlighting your technical abilities, green projects, and environmental passion, you can position yourself as a strong candidate for the rapidly growing field of green engineering.

Finally, check out these 7 Green Job Resume Samples by People Who Work to Save the Planet

Reference: OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (October 7 version) [Large language model]. Retrieved from https://chat.openai.com/

Join your colleagues on the ESW Career Center!

As an ESW member, you have access to ESW's job platform, which offers exciting opportunities in green and sustainability engineering, career advice, and more.?

For more information and to begin your journey to enhance your career or organization, please visit the ESW Career Center.

Join us on LinkedIn and stay up to date with all of our upcoming events!

?Sustainably,

The ESW Workforce Development Team?

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Engineers for a Sustainable World · 2885 Sanford Ave SW #47541 Grandville, MI 49418, United States

ESW | Executive Director https://www.eswglobal.org/