How to Grow Your Own "Green" Job

Summary:
Green is no longer just cool. It's actually hot - especially when it comes to managing your career.

A "green" job is "self-employment or any job which 'genuinely' contributes to a more sustainable world. Jobs can be in the green sector (such as) solar energy or wind power."

But, another way to look at "green" employment is this: Individuals working in such jobs are committed to and passionate about sustainability and living a greener lifestyle.

You can find jobs which work for sustainability in
science and research, environmental studies, engineering, construction, architecture, law, education, public information and advocacy,
transportation, health sciences and entrepreneurial activities.

"Green" is all based on how you want your world to be for your children, your grandchildren - and yourselves. It means our survival.

People are buying more locally grown, organic foods, for instance, because we have seen numerous food recalls and we are no longer sure of the origin of the food available through supermarket chains.

As a result, farming is becoming more organic and green, using fewer pesticides. And
people are returning to visit local farmers' markets as well their local grocery stores to buy produce when it is in season.

So, now is the time, no matter where you live in the world, to perhaps consider going green in your job or in your job hunt. Maybe now is the time to start your own small business doing something green-related or looking for employers who are
willing and committed to making their work place greener.

Keep this in mind: The public - and entire governments - now support "green" employment.

Read about President Obama's "green jobs" vision.

In the U.S., the Green Jobs Act has been developed to support on-the-ground apprenticeship and job training programs to meet the growing demand for green construction professionals skilled in energy efficiency and renewable energy installations.

The Act envisions sound and practical energy investments for three million new jobs by helping companies retool and retrain workers to produce clean energy and energy efficient components or end products that will result in residential and
commercial energy savings, industry revenue, and new green jobs throughout the country.

To better serve the workforce system and its efforts to support green jobs and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration has developed a "draft green jobs" framework.

That framework is designed to promote the development of new and existing green jobs and hasten widespread employment in green careers across several industry sectors.

And the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) received funding under President Obama's 2010 budget to produce quarterly tabulations of aggregate employment and wages for "green" businesses.

That means, starting in 2011, BLS will produce information about occupations involved in whole or in part in the "green" economy - and analyze those workforce trends.

How does this apply to those of us with disabilities? We also have the opportunity to create, design and produce assistive devices or new ways
for doing things which may indeed save the environment and our planet.

You don't just need a science or engineering degree or research experience. Through their work, people with liberal arts degrees can make their own statement about sustainability. See "Green Jobs Take Root and Proliferate"

Think about how to find a "green" job that fits your situation. Consider these 10 tips for doing so.

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