VSO Volunteering
www.vsointernational.org/volunteering
Wilderness Volunteers
Wildlife Conservation Society
Aim of increasing global biodiversity (particularly with charismatic species). Website lists targets for preserving each listed species and current issues surrounding conservation
Woodland Trust
UK‐based charity – interested in those looking for volunteering roles, as well as opportunities in graduate schemes/careers
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/get‐involved/
Working Abroad
Organisation allowing users to search through conservation volunteering schemes across the world
www.workingabroad.com/volunteer‐organisations/
World Wildlife Fund
Internationally recognised organisation in protecting species (as well as emphasis on habitat restoration/preservation)
www.wwf.org.uk/about_wwf/jobs/
Worldwide Workers on Organic Farms
To note: if the above organisations do not have suitable volunteering available, they are also key employers in the sector, so are worth keeping an eye on, nonetheless.
1.9 Green Careers Coaches and Green Career Services
Green Career Coaches are a relatively new and growing phenomenon within the well‐established area of career coaching. Career coaching was defined by Donna Sweidan, in a 2013 interview in Forbes (2013) magazine:
I approach it as a discipline composed of two similar but distinct tracks: coaching and counseling. The goal is to support people in making informed decisions about their career development and trajectory, as well as offer various tools that they can use – résumés, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles – to meet those goals…definitions of the field – and the work – may still vary among more conventionally trained coaches.
In general, ‘coaching’ tends to be a solution‐oriented approach, which involves working with clients to see what concrete steps they can take to achieve career objectives. ‘Counseling’, however, is more process driven – you look at whether there are any behavioral, emotional or psychological issues that could be impeding a person's desired career ambitions.
But the core virtue of career coaching is to help people assess their professional situations with a greater degree of honesty, curiosity, empathy and compassion.
Green coaches can help you to develop a career in the sector, but they differ in many ways, including
Approach
Some focus on your approach to life and your personality in order to help you develop a fruitful career. Others have a focus on directing you towards a green career through professional advice, training and linkages to main employers.
Clients
Their clients vary between graduates, career changers, senior executives and all levels of management.
Sectors Covered
Can be highly focused such as conservation only, or can cover corporate sustainability, or the entire green careers sector.
Location
Normally country‐based – many focussing on the UK or USA but can be online and/or global.
1.10 Background
Backgrounds vary for career coaches. Many have university careers services backgrounds or professional experience in the environment sector. Some are psychologists or councillors.
Services Offered
Services from coaches can include:
Packages of training
Careers advice
Subscriptions to ongoing newsletters
One‐on‐one coaching interviews
Events and webinars
Helping with professional network listings, resume development and cover letter advice
Interview skills
Salary negotiation
Offering professional link ups (connecting people)
Job search skills
Careers advice for universities and developing internship programmes for companies as well as being corporate recruiters
Some coaches offer a bespoke service that includes adventure‐based trips and inspirational travel.
Coaching Qualifications and Certifications
There are many different types of career coaching certifications. The main thing is to ensure that the career coach has a certification which requires them to adhere to a strict code of professional conduct for the career coaching profession. However, some companies offer a career advisor service from a professional standpoint, so they are more likely to have professional sector qualifications rather than coaching qualifications.
If additional help is required beyond career coaching (for example, mental health counselling), it is important to seek a Licensed Professional Counsellor (or equivalent) which requires a master’s degree (e.g. in Careers Counselling) with additional training.
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