5 tips for graduates looking for their first job in sustainability

I have one personal rule: if I get a message from a students or graduate who wants to start a career in sustainability, I always speak to them for 20-30 minutes. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but I will speak to them because finding your first job in the industry is really tough, and we (people that have been on it for a while) can really help out just by sharing some experience and advise.

So yesterday I talked to a bright student from a top university considering starting a career in sustainability, this time though I kept some notes and I summarised them here below. Mainly to help me when someone else reaches out so I can pre-empty some of the conversation, but also for others in case they found this helpful.

So here are my top 5 points for a young person approaching the sustainability job market:

1) It’s not you. It’s the process.

When I started applying for my first job in sustainability, I had to track every job I applied for on a spreadsheet as I was sending so many cold emails that I was worried I would send it twice to the same company. My success rate? One interview every 100 CVs. It wasn’t my CV. It wasn’t my skills. It’s just how it goes if you don't have a plan (and even if you have one sometimes)

Finding your first role in sustainability is tough. But if you keep going, in 15 years time you will find your self on LinkedIn writing an article on how to help graduates looking for a job in sustainability (Inception moment).

2) Treat your job search like a project.

You wouldn’t start a sustainability strategy without a plan. Same rule applies here.

✅ Define your target companies. ✅ Set weekly KPIs (CVs sent, people contacted, posts written). ✅ Track your progress. ✅ Review and improve.

Be intentional: decide where you want to go, build the steps that will get you there, follow the path.

3) Build your profile before you need it.

Lots of people wait until they start applying to “get active” on LinkedIn, building a personal brand, networking, etc. Instead, start now. Literally now.

You don’t need 10 years of experience to share your perspective. Write about your learning journey, your degree, a talk that inspired you, or how you’re approaching people in the industry

I saw someone on LinkedIn recently documenting their job search in sustainability, developing tools to help others, sharing their experience. Within months, they built 20,000 followers - your experience matter and there is an audience for that.

If you can stand out and build your profile by telling your story with authenticity, you’re already ahead of the mass.

4) Get out there.

There’s a whole sustainability community waiting to meet you, lots of free events and tons of projects to be involved.

Start with: 🌍 People Planet Pint events 💬 Open Door Climate 💻 “Work in Climate” - a short google search on these will tell you more.

Networking isn't a nice to do, it's part of the job. In fact, it is the part of the job that you can start even before you have the job.

5) Make it exciting.

This process can feel long, but it’s also the start of something big. Design it to be meaningful and fun, mix your CV sending with networking, writing, and exploring ideas that excite you. Build something from day one. 

You know the goal, but the path to get there it's up to you!