August 7, 2017

{Green Careers} Guide to Starting a Green Career in NYC Launch Party, Recap

by Peter Dietrich On Tuesday, August 1st, GreenHomeNYC released the Guide to Starting a Green Career in New York City, written by Sam Yost, and hosted a release event at NYSERDA with career development professionals (and guide contributors) John Crant and Celia Currin. The guide, long in the making, is the result of an agglomeration of experiences and tips from GreenHomeNYC members and staff. We all know that job hunting is rarely fun, so this guide should help take some of the pain out of the process. It features advice for the gamut of the job search, including interviews, resumes, cover letters, networking, finding a mentor and more. Some tips that apply especially to the green job space are that you should get relevant certifications or accreditations, you should join local green groups (oh hey, you’re already reading this at the GHNYC site) and you should volunteer with groups doing what you want to do. You can download it free from the GHNYC website. (more…)

July 27, 2017

{Green Careers} proudly presents: Guide to Starting a Green Career in New York City

GreenHomeNYC’s Green Careers team is proud to present our new Guide to Starting a Green Career in New York City–a 24-page e-manual that tells you all the things we wish somebody had told us when we were trying to get our own careers off the ground!   We will be making this guide publically available on our website on August 1st, and to mark the occassion we are having a release event, featuring career development professionals John Crant and Celia Currin!

July 15, 2017

Green Careers July Event Recap: “Six Degrees of Separation” Networking Workshop

Recap by Brigitta Berze     On July 11, Green Careers hosted a workshop where participants were taught the dos and don’ts of networking and guided through exercises to practice networking in a more relaxed environment. Thanks to the helpful tips given by GreenHomeNYC volunteers Emily Taubenblatt and Samantha Yost, attendees walked away with a practical guide on how to properly network.   According to Sam, the first rule of any networking event is to Be on Time! She then asked the timeless question: What is your fear about networking? Naturally, people’s biggest fears related to their confidence in their knowledge about relevant topics to discuss, the awkwardness of selling yourself to someone in a high position, and not having anything in common with the person with whom you are speaking.   Sam eased concerns as she explained that having a successful networking experience does not depend on being a social butterfly. Proper networking is about making connections and building professional relationships. She recommended Kate Griffin’s ‘Human to Human Networking’. Sam reminded us that at the end of the day the CEO or Vice President of a company is human too, and asking for an informational interview is always a good idea. Trying to get to know someone professionally is a process and networking is building long-term relationships. Don’t be afraid to e-mail the person you really want to meet to start the conversation. (more…)

June 22, 2017

{Green Careers} June Event – Elevator Pitch Workshop

Join us for an annual Green Careers tradition: our Elevator Pitch Workshop! Do you want to get some tips on how to better explain quickly and concisely who you are and what you do when people ask you about your job? GreenHomeNYC veterans Andy Padian and Gina Piesco share their tips and tricks and you’ll get the chance to get feedback on your own elevator pitch.   REGISTER HERE!   As always, join us for informal networking afterward at Society Billiards + Bar, just around the corner! Date: Thursday, June 29thth Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm with networking afterwards Location: GROHELIVE! (160 5th Ave)

June 21, 2017

{Green Careers} July Event- Six Degrees of Separation

Ever wonder what these monthly “networking events” are really about? Well this month, we’ll show you! Come learn the tricks of the trade from professional networkers, and of course grow your own network too! We will talk about networking and share our connections to build a bigger web. It’s Six Degrees of Separation so come join us and make some connections!   DATE AND TIME Tue, July 11, 2017 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM EDT LOCATION ThoughtWorks 99 Madison Ave, 15th Floor New York, NY 10016   RSVP Here!

May 22, 2017

Green Careers: Sustainable Waste Management

By Megan Nordgren     On Tuesday, May 9, representatives from the public and private sectors in sustainable waste management came together with moderator Emily Taubenblatt to provide career insights into this rapidly growing and changing field. While the speakers described different experiences with their respective employers, they agreed on the kinds of traits that are most useful when working in the field of sustainable waste management: Patience, Persistence and the Ability to Troubleshoot.   Marisa Kaminski – NYC Department of Education Zero Waste Schools Program With more than 1,800 public schools in New York City serving more than one million students, the Department of Education (DOE) has a very large waste footprint. To support OneNYC’s Goal of Zero Waste by 2030, the DOE Office of Sustainability created a new Zero Waste Schools Program to help schools improve their recycling rates and reduce their waste. The program is a partnership between the Department of Sanitation and GrowNYC’s Recycling Champions, working together to increase recycling. With the program now in its first year, the seven current staff members who serve as Zero Waste Schools coordinators are working with 100 schools selected to be in the program. They also help other schools when requested, and assist schools identified as having a problem. The coordinators work with the various school staff involved in recycling, including custodians, school food staff, principals, teachers, and students to troubleshoot problems that are found and to provide education. Several of the coordinators have Master’s Degrees in Sustainability Management, but it is not a requirement for employment. What is required, however, are strong communications skills, project management skills, and the ability to troubleshoot. (more…)

April 26, 2017

Green Careers: Sustainable Waste Management

Interested in learning about compost, recycling, and other forms of sustainable waste management? Join Green Careers for an interactive panel on sustainable waste management practices in NYC!   Speakers: Marisa Kaminski – Zero Waste Schools Program Marguerite Manela – NYC Department of Sanitation, Bureau of Recycling and Sustainability Amy Marpman – Recycling Track Systems Jacquelyn Ottman – We Hate to Waste   Tue, May 9, 2017 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM EDT Steven Winter Associates 307 7th Avenue 17th Floor Conference Room New York City, NY 10001   Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/green-careers-sustainable-waste-management-tickets-34049741694

March 17, 2017

{Green Careers} March Event – Freelancing and Starting Your Own Business (RESCHEDULED due to snow)

  Please note: Due to inclement weather, this date of this event has changed from the 14th to the 21st. Are you interested in striking out on your own to start your own small business, startup, or freelance practice? It can be a daunting process, and this GreenHomeNYC event will feature professionals from the sustainability industry who have successfully managed to launch their own businesses or startups. Join us to hear their experiences, advice, and tips about what to do and (most importantly) not do! Speakers: Mina Agarabi – Agarabi Engineering Mike Brown – LogCheck Gaelen McKee – Brooklyn SolarWorks Gregory Iorio – Condor Consulting Date: Tuesday, March 21, 2017 Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm with networking afterwards Location: NYSERDA (1359 Broadway, 10018)   RSVP here!

March 12, 2017

Sustainability Careers in Our Changing Political Landscape: A {Green Career} Webinar Recap

By Pamela Berns   Green careerists and sustainability students have been wondering just how the changes in our government policies will affect their career choices. While Dr. Eban Goodstein is the first to admit he doesn’t have a crystal ball, his longtime experience as a career advisor and current role as Director, Graduate Programs in Sustainability at Bard College do afford him insights that can help jobseekers gain some sense of direction. We asked him to share those insights, along with strategies for education and job searching in a webinar hosted by GreenHomeNYC on February 16, 2017. Here’s what he had to say.   “We are really at the end of an era, a forty-five year period of policy stability and bi-partisan consensus,” says Dr. Goodstein. “There is new leadership now, and we have to think about how to negotiate that.” With indisputable scientific data indicating that the planet has become a half a degree warmer in just the last three years alone, “you guys are signing up to figure out how we’re going to rewire the world…That remains our mission in spite of the politics of the day.” It sounds daunting, yet Dr. Goodstein balances the challenge with a dose of hope. “We’re still living in an extraordinary moment in the human project.” Sure, we are ” in a race,” he added, “but we haven’t lost yet.” (more…)

February 28, 2017

{Green Careers} February Recap: Resume Speed (up)Dating Workshop

by Radhika Sri Paravastu   For many job seekers, a resume is the one chance they have to capture a potential employer’s attention. To help job seekers land a career opportunity in the green industry, GreenhomeNYC recently organized the Resume Speed (up)Dating workshop at Steven Winter Associates. The event saw a mix of participants ranging from students to industry practitioners, all seeking a better career in the green industry. Each participant’s resume was reviewed by several sustainability professionals.   Most of the reviewers pointed out that every detail included in a resume should be well thought-out, intentional, and appropriate to the kind of job you are seeking. Here are ten takeaways from the event: (more…)