23’ companies (now called the ‘Global 22’ by Environment Analyst in 2019) dominate the global market with over 40% of the total global market. These companies include AECOM, Tetra Tech and Arcadis.
The services delivered by consultancies have developed significantly. There are a small number of global consultancies who are able to manage virtually any engineering, technical and environmental service needed, from building a dam or bridge to developing policies and strategies for governments. There are also many more specialised consultancies who offer services in more specific areas such as ecological surveys, planning, policy development and environmental restoration works. Increasingly, the more successful of these smaller consultancies are being swallowed through acquisition by larger consultancies who want to be able to offer further services and gather the clients of the smaller companies. There is also a pool of experienced independent individual consultants who are hired as freelancers by the larger consultancies as and when they are needed.
Consultancies have become increasingly global in their reach, operations and main offices. This also rings true for employment within these companies – many multinational organisations have teams of experts who work on a global basis, as well as considerable numbers of local staff. This opens an opportunity for global environmental careers in a diverse range of areas of employment. However, the limitations of working rules and visas for certain nationalities can complicate the flexibility for some staff to secure global roles within consultancies. This book has a chapter on Environmental Consultancy as this is a key area to consider for a green career.
1.6 The Limitations of Online Searches
The Internet is an amazing resource for job seekers, especially those in such a diverse field as the environment. The process of job hunting and linking to employment agents and jobs websites has become streamlined and simplified. Unfortunately, as many of us are beginning to realise, using Internet searches for many elements of green career development is becoming an exhausting process unless you’re willing to trudge through what could be termed ‘dross’ all day, seeking a single gem of a site. It is particularly complicated for those who have not yet focused in on a specific area of work.
Information on global environmental careers, both in print and online, is messily scattered and most is very out of date. Most information is either UK‐centric or aimed at US career hunters. There are few resources available that outline in an organised and selective manner what sectors are available and how to get a job in those sectors. A very high proportion of roles and internships in some sectors are not advertised externally and some are only visible on specialised blogs or mailing lists.
Many online resources are just jobs boards, with no supporting information for a career hunter. Where there is careers information, it is often out of date and limited in scope. Even the most promising online resources are hard to find and are not securely funded, often depending on short term charitable funding.
In the current maturing environment sector, there are clearer routes to environmental jobs, and careers services have more computing and search power in their hands to advise on the sector, although careers services worldwide tend to be under appreciated and under resourced. In addition, the internet has helped with job and information finding, but it has also caused a decline in information quality and a clogged internet of old ideas and urban myths.
National governments have supported numerous jobs websites in order to encourage growth in the sector. In the United States, the Government‐supported website Careeronestop (www.careeronestop.org) aims to provide comprehensive careers information in a similar way to the National Careers Service in England (www.nationalcareers.service.gov.uk). However, because these websites are a ‘catch all’, finding the information required and then jobs available in the sector can become an exhausting process.
The global environment sector is growing rapidly and there are millions of roles which are open to those who can use the right resources to get them into the sector. Competition for environment sector jobs is very fierce and job hunters need the right advice, resilience and ‘stickability’. Rapid change in the sector leaves career professionals playing catch up in terms of being supportive to job seekers.
1.7 So Where Do I Start?
There is a blinding amount of information available, some of which will be helpful and much which will take you in circles. There are some fundamental tasks which you should undertake. The tasks below are not in a specific order and some are less relevant to those at different stages of their career.
Tasks for those before ‘working age’:
1 Do research into the sector. Do you have personal interests that make you want to develop a green career, such as nature watching, fishing or conservation volunteering? Look at roles within the sectors that are relevant to your interests and see what skills, education and knowledge they need. Sign up to relevant newsletters and news services.
2 Consider voluntary work and look at organising relevant work experience – this can help with applications for further education as well as looking good on a CV or resume. It also can assist you in developing skills and knowledge, which are helpful in any career, let alone a green career.
3 Consider what school and college choices give you options to develop a green career.
4 Use social media as a tool for information gathering, as well as a way to develop networks of contacts. Getting into the habit of developing and maintaining a network is sensible.
Tasks for those of ‘working age’:
1 Sign up to jobs email and update services and link up with jobs agencies. Even if you are new to the sector or have minimal qualifications and experience, it is worth getting to know the sector deeply. If you have a specific area of interest, ‘immerse’ yourself in the subject through newsletters and other news services.
2 Review your current situation and organise your CV or resume. Many roles ask for specific knowledge and qualifications, so this will help you target your search and consider future training and education. There are many books and websites that focus on CV and resume styles. There are also many experts that may be willing to help you.
3 Consider using social media and professional networks that are helpful. On LinkedIn, there are relevant networks which include Environmental Careers Network, Sustainability Career Group, Green, Environmental Consulting Professionals and Green Jobs & Career Network.
4 Is there a mentor who can help you? Mentoring is growing in scope and not just for people already within a company mentoring scheme. LinkedIn have a scheme for mentoring.
Tasks for those who want to transition into a green career:
1 Transitioning is not necessarily a major career change for many, merely a migration into the area using current skill sets. Use online tools to see what roles you can move into and review your skills and CV or resume to consider what elements would be helpful for a green career. Look at job adverts for roles that would interest you and develop your skills to match their requirements.
2 Consider additional training to help you fit into the right career.
Each section of this book has information on training and helpful resources in that sector.
1.8 Volunteering
Many
