Category Archives: Careers

Green Jobs Event: Tips from the Experts

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Posted by admin on July 9, 2009 – 4:05 pm
Filed under Careers, Events (Net Impact)

What a success! Last night we had over 60 RSVP’s and 2 great speakers that left the crowd in an upbeat and hopeful mood. Leonard Adler of Green Jobs Network and Christina Gilyutin of Bright Green Talent were there to assure us that there are jobs out there…we just need the right tools and strategies to sniff them out!

You’re good enough, smart enough, and gosh darn it! People like you!

The burden of finding a job is not only like dating with its many high expectations and low results, but many of us feel like we need therapy just to get through it! How many resumes do we have to send into oblivion via Craigslist/Career Builder/Hot Jobs/Monster before we get a break? According to Christina Gilyutin, Director of Development and Chief Career Counselor for Bright Green Talent, we need to stay positive and remember that we are smart and talented, we just need to find strategies so that we are seen. Leonard and Christina helped the crowd to stay positive with some inspiring tips on finding a job.

Tips on how to be noticed: Networking

  • Volunteer to meet people or become a leader of a group, this not only helps you to meet new people, but it shows that you have initiative
  • Join affinity groups such as Green Jobs Network (www.greenjobs.net), Net Impact (www.netimpactsf.org) or SF Green Drinks (sfgreendrinks.org) which all serve to surrounded you with people who have similar interests
  • At networking/social events, TALK TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE
  • Comments from the crowd included using your every day activities as an opportunity to tell people about your interests, you never know who you’ll meet!
  • Another suggestion from the audience was to organize dinners with friends and acquaintances who have similar/related career interests
  • A Net Impact leader mentioned that he found his job by talking to people in his field of interest as a peer, which resulted in a job! Confidence pays! He continued to say that if you’re looking for a job in sustainability, you need to find a 3rd vector to define your niche. Green + Business isn’t specific enough. Are you into design, procurement, logistics, materials science, …? The more specific the better.
  • Be a connector! Link people to others, they will likely return the favor!

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Get Strategic! Leonard Adler of Green Jobs Network highlighted 3 points for us to remember:

  • Follow the Venture Capitalists! They might want to fund your idea!
  • Follow the money! Where is the government funneling money right now? To Green projects! Find out what kind of projects and to which companies the funds are going.
  • Follow the law! What laws have been passed recently? How does this legal change relate to my industry of interest?

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Online Tips:

Spend only 10-20% of your time online for your job search and use the rest of that time giving your elevator pitch to new networks. While job boards are great, try to find job boards with a clear focus on your industry of interest such as Treehugger.com. There are a lot of Green job boards out there! General job boards can be more competitive due to their high amount of traffic and tendency to cover a broad number of industries. Also, try your old university’s job board, they often post jobs for alumni.

Need help with your resume?

Did you know about the Job Forum? The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce holds an event every Wednesday evening (6:30 to 8:30) called the Job Forum where they provide feedback on resume writing and give advice on job hunting http://www.thejobforum.org/.

What if I don’t have experience?

Try interning, its not just for the 20-somethings! If you don’t like that idea, try volunteering. Many businesses would love to have you work without paying while you gain valuable experience.

Seek Professional Help!

To learn more about Bright Green Talent’s Career Counseling Services, please visit http://www.brightgreentalent.com/

To get more tips on successful job searching and learn more about last night’s event, please go to Bright Green Talent’s blog posting:

http://brightestgreen.wordpress.com/2009/07/09/wisdom-of-the-net-impact-crowd/

Net Impact Monthly Gathering: Green Jobs

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Posted by admin on June 22, 2009 – 9:45 am
Filed under Careers, Events (Net Impact)

Date: Wednesday, July 8th
Time: 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Location: Cafe International; 508 Haight St. (between Fillmore St & Steiner St), San Francisco, CA 94117
RSVP below or at http://nisfjuly.eventbrite.com/

At this month’s Net Impact SF gathering, we are pleased to announce that we will be partnering with the Green Jobs Network for a casual discussion on Green Jobs: Where are they? How do I get one?

The Green Jobs Network’s mission is to connect people with opportunity by providing resources to help green job seekers succeed! More details at www.greenjobs.net.

We are inviting a few inspiring and approachable speakers:
- Leonard Adler is the founder of Green Jobs Network, a social enterprise with a mission to connect people who are seeking jobs that focus on environmental or social responsibility with jobs and career development resources. He has worked in the private and non-profit sectors for organizations including FindLaw and Equal Justice Works and is the recipient of a social entrepreneurship grant from the Echoing Green Foundation. Leonard has a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was a Public Interest Law Scholar and co-founded the Georgetown Journal on Fighting Poverty. He also has a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and received a Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Political Science from Stanford University. Leonard is a Net Impact member.

- Jim Cassio is a career information and workforce development consultant to workforce boards, educational entities, and private corporations involved in career information or talent management. His newest book (with co-author, Alice Rush) is called Green Careers: Choosing Work for a Sustainable Future. His work involves industry, occupation, job and skills research, data analysis, technical writing, and resource product development. In recent years, Jim has been focusing much of his research on green jobs/careers and published the Green Careers Resource Guide in 2007. Jim is an experienced trainer and workshop facilitator, and conducts popular seminars on Green Jobs and Careers.

- Christina Gilyutin is the Director of Development and Chief Career Counselor at Bright Green Talent.  She attended Stanford University, spent some time living in Jackson Hole, WY before heading over to the University of Michigan’s Erb Institute of Global Sustainable Enterprise earning a joint MBA/MS in Natural Resources and Environment. She’s been a Net Impact member since 2005 and served on the board of Michigan’s chapter which has been named Chapter of the Year for 3 years running. While at Stanford, Christina captained the varsity lacrosse team and continues to play with the San Francisco club team. When not wielding a stick, she is out biking, snowboarding, doing yoga and laughing, incredibly loudly, at jokes that most people think aren’t that funny.

Following a brief conversation with our speakers, we’ll turn to the audience to get your tips to getting a dream green job. Should be fun!

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We host a gathering for the Net Impact SF community on the second Wednesday of every month, featuring a different discussion topic each time. This offers the opportunity for informal interaction with the invited guests and with your fellow Net Impact members, with the discussion topic serving as a launching off point for engaging conversations.

Contact Us: sfprofessional@netimpact.org
Chapter Website: www.netimpactsf.org
Venue Website: www.cafeinternational.com

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Cafe International is easily accessible via public transportation. Take J, K, L, M or N MUNI lines from downtown to Church St Station. Go to 511.org for more details.


Info Session Thursday, June 25th — Join one of 2 NEW Service Corps Consulting Projects!

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Posted by on June 19, 2009 – 12:35 am
Filed under Careers, Events (Net Impact), Service Corps, Uncategorized

INFO SESSION:::

Learn More About the Chapter’s 2 NEW

Service Corps Pro Bono Consulting Projects

for Summer 2009!

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What: Learn about the chapter’s 2nd and 3rd Service Corps projects of 2009, with:

- Clean Tech Open (sustainable business advising to cleantech startups). Applications due July 3rd, project starts July 7th.

- Foundation for Self-Sufficiency in Central America (non-profit supporting sustainable development in El Salvador). Applications due July 10th, project starts July 21st.

When: Thursday, June 25, 7-9pm

Where: Cafe International, 508 Haight St. (btwn Fillmore & Steiner)

Directions: www.511.org (5 min walk north from Church MUNI/Castro Safeway)

MORE INFO: “Service Corps” tab above

Net Impact Central is looking for interns

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Posted by menteral on April 29, 2009 – 7:06 am
Filed under Careers

The central office of Net Impact is located in SF and they’re looking for interns to help with their various programs. They’ve asked us to reach out to the Net Impact-SF community and let you all know about these positions. Check them out here.

“Please keep in mind that these positions are designed for undergraduate students or recent graduates, but we know that some graduate students or other professionals might want to use their business skills while possibly looking for other work”

Service Corps Program Launch (April 22)

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Posted by on April 12, 2009 – 11:21 pm
Filed under Careers, Events (Net Impact), Events (other Bay Area), Service Corps, Social Entrepreneurship

Mark Your Calendar: Wed, April 22nd

* Come Celebrate the Launch of Service Corps *


6:30 – 7:30pm at Cafe International, 508 Haight St. (between Fillmore St. & Steiner St.)

This Earth Day, join fellow Net Impact SF Professional Chapter members to celebrate the launch of our chapter’s 2009 Service Corps program; the opportunity to engage in pro bono consulting for local non-profit organizations through Net Impact!

Take this opportunity to meet Rubicon National Social Innovations (http://rubiconnsi.blogspot.com) Director Jonathan Harrison and Senior Business Analyst Katherine Daniel, and to express your interest in the Energy Retrofit Enterprise Feasibility Study that our chapter is carrying out for Rubicon this spring, in partnership with Green For All (www.greenforall.org) and a team of Bain & Company (www.bain.com) pro bono consultants.

SF Pro Chapter members are encouraged to submit an application (CV and statement of interest) to join our team of Rubicon consultants prior to this meeting, as applications are due on April 24th (see posting below for details).

First Service Corps Project of 2009 – Apply Now!

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Posted by on April 12, 2009 – 10:21 pm
Filed under Careers, Events (Net Impact), Events (other Bay Area), Service Corps, Social Entrepreneurship

* April 13th Announcement *

First Consulting Project of 2009

for Net Impact SF Professional Chapter


Apply by Friday, April 24th to join the team of Net Impact SF professionals participating in a nationally scalable green consulting project!

Rubicon National Social Innovations (RNSI) (http://rubiconnsi.blogspot.com) is a recent offshoot of 35-year old Rubicon Programs (www.rubiconprograms.org), a social services agency that runs two social enterprises, including a bakery and a landscaping firm, in Richmond, CA. The goal of the San Francisco-based non-profit organization is to launch nationally-scaled social enterprises that have a positive and lasting impact on individuals living in poverty and are financially sustainable in the long-term from the revenues they generate.

Rubicon’s Director Jonathan Harrison would like to recruit a team of Net Impact SF Professional Chapter members as pro bono consultants to carry out a feasibility study for a national energy retrofit enterprise. Green for All (www.greenforall.org), a team of part-time pro bono consultants from Bain & Company (www.bain.com), and three business school interns will partner with our team to carry out this study. In addition to earning revenue, the social enterprise must achieve three social objectives:

· To employ hard to employ groups and create an enterprise which will help facilitate disenfranchised populations to tap into the burgeoning green jobs that will form the apex of the new economy.

· To increase the value of low- and middle income homes by making them more energy efficient.

· To increase the ability of low and middle income households to invest in deep efficiency measures by increasing their access to financing tools that increase the affordability of these measures.

RNSI is looking for our team of consultants to conduct research and analysis into several areas upon which the success of this business is contingent. Please contact us if you have an interest or knowledge these areas and would like to be involved:

  • Energy retrofitting/weatherization
  • Market analysis
  • Strategic analysis
  • City level energy efficiency incentives/programs
  • New technology for efficiency
  • Financing tools for efficiency
  • Community impact of green jobs

Pro bono consultants will each be expected to devote 5-6 hours per week to this effort, for a total of about 4 months (during evenings/weekends).

This is a unique opportunity and spots for this project will fill up quickly.

By Friday, April 24, 2009, please send your CV and a brief statement of interest in the Rubicon project to:

Sarah Miller, Project Lead for Rubicon Study at sarita.miller@gmail.com

Please send any questions about the Service Corps program offered by the Net Impact SF Professional Chapter to:

Sarah Rea, Service Corps Program Coordinator at rea.sarah@gmail.com

Rock Climbing & Green Jobs with Net Impact & Bright Green Talent

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Posted by menteral on April 11, 2009 – 10:02 am
Filed under Careers, Events (Net Impact)

greenclimbing

What do rock climbing and green jobs have in common?

…They’re both awesome!
And Net Impact is teaming up with Bright Green Talent
to bring them together for a fun event on the eve of earth day.

Come join us on Tuesday, April 21st from 6-9 pm for an evening of casual fun and physical and mental challenge at one of the best new indoor rock-climbing walls in the country – Planet Granite!

It should be a fun way to meet your fellow Net Impacters, learn more about them, and share a good laugh. Also, some members of the green recruiting firm, Bright Green Talent, will be there so you can meet some people on the “front line” of green jobs.

Don’t worry if you have never climbed. A few of us have our belay certification, so you can climb the higher wall (if you are daring!) with one of us, or you can play around on the fun boulder problems in the training area. Also, lessons are available if you want them (at 6:30 and 7:30 – must book separately in advance), but we recommend just getting a feel for it first before you jump into a lesson.

ALSO… we’ll likely meet-up at Liverpool Lil’s for a drink afterwards to continue the conversation and give our forearms a rest. (2942 Lyon St San Francisco, CA 94123)

Please RSVP by APRIL 20th at http://greenclimbing.eventbrite.com/ (OR the form below). Space is limited and spots will be given on a first-come, first served basis. This event is open to both members and not-yet members. If there is still space available, walk-ups are welcome on the date of the event.

(NOTE: Refunds will be given if you let us know you can’t attend on or before April 20th. Email sfprofessional@netimpact.org)

** A special thanks to Matthew Savage from Bright Green Talent for organizing the event! If you have a great idea for an event you’d like to plan with Net Impact, e-mail us at sfprofessional@netimpact.org.


March 4th Net Impact SF Social Venture Event

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Posted by admin on March 16, 2009 – 9:06 am
Filed under Careers, Events (Net Impact)

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About 25 Net Impact members attended our chapter’s first evening event of 2009 on Social Ventures (Wednesday, March 4th).

Jonathan Harrison, Executive Director Rubicon National Social Innovations, Leila Chirayath Janah, Founder/CEO of Samasource, and Alison Bailey Vercruysse, Founder/CEO of 18 Rabbits, shared the stories behind their socially and environmentally responsible ventures: passions, successes, challenges, and what’s to come.

  • Rubicon National Social Innovations (http://rubiconnsi.blogspot.com), has approached our chapter for support on a pro bono consulting/research project this spring. We will keep you posted on project details later this month. The goal of RNSI, a recent offshoot of 35-year old Rubicon Programs (www.rubiconprograms.org) is to launch a nationally scaled social enterprise that has a positive and lasting impact on individuals living in poverty and is financially sustainable in the long-term from the revenues it generates rather than an ongoing subsidy.
  • Support 18 Rabbits by trying Alison’s delectable granola and granola bars – made from a recipe she created herself, modeled after her mother’s homemade treat! The granola is made from organic ingredients and manufactured in a LEED-certified California facility. Locate a distributor near you: www.18rabbits.com/stores.html
  • Samasource would love the support of our members: This socially responsible non-profit ( www.samasource.org) screens and selects fledgling tech companies in poor regions and helps them scale through training and business development. Samasource is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization run as a social enterprise, with operations in Kenya, rural India, and Nepal.You can help this innovative non-profit:

2009 State of Green Business Forum

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Posted by on January 15, 2009 – 9:50 am
Filed under Careers, Events (other Bay Area)

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TIME: February 2ND, 9:30AM – 3:30PM
LOCATION: PG&E Auditorium San Francisco, CA

The 2009 State of Green Business Forum is filling up fast. Join more than 400 of your peers for a content-rich, one-day event on key trends affecting the greening of mainstream business. Hear leading experts from corporate, academic, and nonprofit organizations discuss how mainstream companies are addressing the challenges of this dynamic year, and be the first to hear the findings from GreenBiz.com’s State of Green Business 2009 report.

COST: $149, *Lunch will be provided
RSVP & INFO: https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ereg/index.php?eventid=3668&PHPSESSID=6569q9j2hmtkbelidff2kiepn7&

SPEAKERS:
Lynelle Cameron, Director of Sustainability, Autodesk.
Valerie Casey, Global Practice Head, IDEO
Lee C. Cooper, Manager, Emerging Technologies, PG&E Corp.
John Davies, Vice-President GreenBiz Intelligence, Greener World Media.
Leslie Guevarra, Associate Editor, GreenerBuildings.com, Greener World Media.
Ian Kim, Director, Green-Collar Jobs Campaign, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.
Michael Kobori, Vice President, Supply Chain Social and Environmental Sustainability, Levi Strauss & Co.
Joel Makower, Chairman and Executive Editor, Greener World Media.
Jason Morrison, Director of the Pacific Institute’s Economic Globalization and the Environment Program.
Stephen Selkowitz, Program Head of the Building Technologies Department at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Robert Shelton, Director, PRTM; author, “Making Innovation Work”.
Elizabeth V. Sturcken, Managing Director, Corporate Partnerships Program, Environmental Defense Fund.
Van Ton-Quinlivan, Director of Workforce Strategy, PG&E Corp.
Peter Williams, CTO, Big Green Innovations, IBM.

Broad Residency Event (1/22): Education Focused Networking That Matters

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Posted by menteral on January 9, 2009 – 4:37 am
Filed under Careers, Education, Events (Net Impact), Events (other Bay Area)

Discover career opportunities. Create new connections. Make a difference.

Are you seeking a management career in the education industry? Or are you just beginning to explore a career transition to the education sector? Join The Broad Residency, Net Impact and several education organizations as we host a networking event to connect business professionals with education organizations. This is a great opportunity to mingle with representatives from several education organizations and learn how they can utilize professionals with your expertise to improve education.

Date/Time: Thursday, January 22, 2009, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Location: Omni Hotel San Francisco, 500 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94104
Participating Education Organizations: The Broad Residency, California Charter Schools Association, Education Pioneers, FSG Social Impact Advisors, Knowledge is Power Program, New Leaders for New Schools, NewSchools Venture Fund
Refreshments: Hors d’oeuvres will be provided.

RSVP: Space is limited and an RSVP is required. Please email sf-info@broadcenter.org your name, title/organization and contact information.

Learn more about applying your business skills to education by visiting the education section of the Learning Center.

For more information on the Broad Center’s programs, please visit http://www.broadcenter.org/, or download the brochure: The Broad Residency brochure (pdf).

Co-hosted by The Broad Residency, Net Impact, Education Pioneers, Knowledge Is Power Program and New Leaders for New Schools