If you are interested in working in sustainability, ESG, social impact, and related fields and job types, we recommend you start with the basics of career development by visiting the career center at your institution, like Smeal’s Business Career Center.

There are unique aspects of building an impact career, but first you need a strong foundation of career development basics such as:

• • a clear sense of your goals, values, and personal “story”
  • interview skills
  • an understanding of your strengths, abilities and areas of interest
  • effective resume and LinkedIn page
  • knowledge about typical entry-level jobs in your field

Standing on this firm foundation, you can build your impact career. Experts suggest you emphasize and showcase your skills and experiences within core elements of your major first, then follow up with skills, knowledge and your passion for sustainability.

The video and career matrix on the right from sustainability-career expert Katie Kross, Managing Director of the Center for Energy, Development and the Global Environment (EDGE) at Duke and author of Profession and Purpose: A Resource Guide for MBA Careers in Sustainability, provides a very helpful framework to get you started.

Check out Katie’s playlist of Sustainable Business Job Search Resources. It’s what we share with students and alumni all the time.

Finally, keeping up with the news on this evolving career space will give you an advantage and keep you ready for that next informational interview or recruiter conversation. Greenbiz keeps a helpful list of articles with insights on sustainable business and ESG plus advice on sustainability careers like this one on entry-level sustainability jobs.

Recruiter and Career Fair Tips

You should always do your research on the companies coming to a career fair and gain sufficient knowledge on companies’ engagements in sustainability. This way, you’ll have a targeted list of corporate sponsors/companies to visit during your limited time there.

The graphic to the left offers a few suggestions that may help when engaging in sustainability conversations with recruiters.

Once you’re ready to do your own search for open positions, use these resources on the left to assist you. Using sustainability keywords, like “sustainability,” “impact,” or “ESG”, in combination with positions in your major, can help narrow down your search.

The Smeal Business Career Center is a great resource for discussing your career plans. Check out their list of resources and/or make an appointment! If you are from another business school, contact the career center on your own campus.