The Cleantech Job Hunt

1
The Cleantech Job Hunt

• Frank Marquardt
• frank_at_fierobooks.com
• www.solarjobguide.com

2
The Cleantech Job Hunt

• Focusing
• Communicating
• Strategy
• Networking
• Recruiters
• Market Climate
• Local Resources

3
Focusing

• Saying you want to get into clean tech is sort
  of like saying you want to get into Silicon
  Valley. Youre not being specific enough.
• - Debi Gerstel, Recruiter, Artemis Associates

4
Focusing

• Helps others help you
• Communicates you know the industry (and you know
  where you belong)
• Cultural issue--where do you fit?

5
Focusing Break It Down

• Industry (e.g., wind, solar, biofuels, grid)
• Job type (e.g., engineer, project developer)
• Industry sector (e.g., PPA, PV, CSP)
• Company type (e.g., utility, startup,
  installation firm)
• Customer type (e.g., residential, commercial,
  utility)
• Technology (e.g., power tower, parabolic trough)

6
Focusing

• Learn everything you can
• Read industry publications
• Greentech media
• Renewable Energy World
• GreenBiz.com
• Talk to people (aka Networking)
• Great way to meet new people
• Green Drinks, EcoTuesday
• Local Events (more on this in a minute)

7
Communicating

• Whats your story?
• Without a focus, its hard to say where youre
  going.

8
Communicating

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Bio
• LinkedIn / Facebook / Twitter Profile
• Elevator Pitch
• Your Passion
• Your Transferable Skills
• Your Experience

9
Communicating

• Build your personal brand
• Personality / Mission / Purpose
• Affiliations (internships, volunteer activities,
  groups)
• Communications (writing for your blog and for
  other blog, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)

10
Strategy

• Once you know what you want, develop a plan for
  getting it
• Personal brand building (aka your reputation)

11
Strategy

• Goal of your brand Position yourself in the path
  of opportunity
• Communications
• Internships
• Volunteering
• Networking
• Education

12
Strategy

• Create a plan
• Over the next six months
• Volunteer with Grid Alternatives (training in
  installation)
• Attend Solar Power 2009 (Oct 27-29, Anaheim)
• Networking 10 calls/week
• Events Green Drinks, other mixers
• Daily reading of industry pubs (Solarbuzz, Energy
  Daily, etc.)
• Study energy policy

13
Strategy

• Follow the money
• VCs getting funded (Greentech Media, etc.)
• Recovery.gov
• Govfresh.com
• Google Alerts

14
Networking

• Its a very small community. . . Youve got to
  find a way to elevate yourself, and having a
  personal relationship is the best way thats
  possible.
• - Ryan Hamilton, Project Developer, Solar Power
  Partners

15
Networking

• Lots of hype about cleantech industries
• Not as many jobs
• For many, the way in is to know somebodys whos
  already in
• If you dont know somebody, get to know somebody

16
Networking

• Who do you know
• Family
• Friends
• Neighbors
• Alumni network
• Coworkers (present and past)
• Volunteers
• Groups (church, recreation, clubs)
• Professors

17
Networking

• Who can you get to know
• People connected to your personal network
• Facebook friends
• LinkedIn - 2nd, 3rd connections groups
• Strangers (networking events)
• Common interest

18
Networking

• Enthusiasm
• Skills
• Curiosity
• Ideas

19
Recruiters

• Our business, we dont have a magic bullet to
  create jobs. We work with those who we think we
  can earn a living working with, even in the green
  economy.
• - Dawn Dzurilla, President and Founder at Gaia
  Human Capital Consultants

20
Recruiters

• Communicate your value proposition
• Your focus
• What you offer

21
Recruiters

• Do your research (you still need a focus)
• High-quality, up-to-date resume
• Know who you are and what you can deliver
• Intern, volunteer, learn

22
Market Climate

• U.S. Solar Market So Promising, Except for
  2009 (Greentech Media headline)
• In the U.S., flat to negative growth from 2008 to
  2009
• Fragmented, immature market
• Tax credits and rebates mean buyers must line up
  own financing

23
Market Climate

• Whats going on in the market? Because itll
  affect your job search
• Current macro-climate Recessionary
• Stimulus funds will make a difference
• Cut yourself some slack

24
Local Resources

• Green Business Networking (www.greenbusinessnetwor
  king.com)
• Sustainable Business Council (www.sustainablebc.or
  g)
• Green Drinks (lagreendrinks.blogspot.com)
• Culver City Green Business Association
  (www.ccgba.org)
• EcoTuesday (www.ecotuesday.com)
• Calendars LA Times Green Blog,
  www.gotogreenla.com, www.smgov.net/departments/ose
  /

25
Questions?

• Frank Marquardt
• The Solar Job Guide
• www.solarjobguide.com
• frank_at_fierobooks.com