Picking a 'green' job (apply, average, analysis, degree)

[MJ7]

Originally Posted by supersavina

^Hemlock: Sustainability jobs aren't sustainable...

^and MJ7 says there's no money in environment jobs, going to go into oil industry

Lol!

I must say, the future does sound pretty dismal in terms of climate/resource problems...it's so easy for us to forget that, with all these brand new items and diverted water. The current batch of college kids like myself have been made well aware of the problem so it's a no-brainer to get into anything that reduces waste and needs for virgin materials & energy.

In part I tend to somewhat agree with Hemlock, but I think that will change later when alternative energy becomes mainstream later, for now natural gas and oil will be around for awhile, there are proven reserves for the next 50+ years or so.

I never intended to get into environmental work because I wanted to save the planet, it just sort of happened, and I don't think if it were me or any other person working that one small job there would be a difference. The big change will come when technology outshines current methods, when that happens there will be drastic change, the type of change that will actually change something, but it won't happen overnight.

There is okay money in environmental, 30-50k is typical of an entry level job, small firm-large firm. Could I live off of 50k/yr, yeah I've been doing that for the last 4 years. The problem is it isn't all that great and I would rather put myself out there earning more and learning more about the Earth, oil companies have vast amounts of data of the Earth, environmental firms only drill 400ft max, yeah...not so much.

[winkosmosis]

Envrionmental jobs typically have nothing to do with conservation. They're about meeting regulations. You're not working for the earth, you're working for the corporation whose business is pollution and resource exploitation. Calling environmental consulting a green job is the opposite of reality.

[MJ7]

Originally Posted by winkosmosis

Envrionmental jobs typically have nothing to do with conservation. They're about meeting regulations. You're not working for the earth, you're working for the corporation whose business is pollution and resource exploitation. Calling environmental consulting a green job is the opposite of reality.

I would have to disagree, there are plenty of restoration projects, whether that be superfund sites or brownfields. Then there are wetland delineation, etc. Is there a lot of regulation and government involvement? Absolutely, but they are cleaning up the Earth to a certain degree and making it more habitable for wildlife and human growth. I will agree that the majority of environmental consulting does not do this.

[winkosmosis]

BTW there are many conservation jobs where you can sample organisms, maintain trails, etc etc. But they pay low (or nothing) and are generally for rich kids whose parents can support them.

[jobaba]

Originally Posted by supersavina

Which do you think is the best of these three and why?

GIS specialist
environmental consultant
green architect
urban planner

I am a young woman and am going to graduate with a geography/sustainability general education. Things like software and engineering give me a headache, but learning about physical geography, different chemicals and their effects, and building materials sustainability excite me. I prefer to work alone, and at home as much as possible. I hate delivering speeches. I'd rather not have to actually spend much time outdoors, collecting samples etc.

You can't really go into environmental consulting with a geography degree. You can, but your resume will be at the bottom of the pile. They prefer engineers, geologists, and scientists. And collecting samples outside is exactly what you will be doing for the first several years. So, you can cross that out.

You really need a Masters degree to do urban planning. Let me rephrase that. You absolutely need a Masters Degree in Urban Planning to have any prayer of even finding a job doing that within a year of graduating with your Masters.

GIS is sitting in front of a computer and making maps. Licenses for GIS are very expensive, so offices typically only have 1 or 2. Depending on what type of outfit you work for, work may be slow at times and they'll probably have you do other stuff.

I don't know what your life is like, but if you can hold out indefintely and look for jobs, there are nonprofits and smaller sustainability based companies which do more of what you like. As you might guess, there's not many openings and it is competitive. Having a Masters would help a lot.

[supersavina]

@jojoba,

Yes, I really am not learning much at all with geography. I most definitely plan to either get a second bachelor's degree in environmental science or something like that. My major, geography: environment and sustainability is quite broad, mixing human and physical geography classes. I learned a bit about cartography, a couple classes on GIS, a class on climate change, one on small-scale meterology (soo much math and equations with Greek letters UGH, I nearly flunked) etc. But not in depth enough on any one topic to be considered an expert.

I volunteered at this non-profit here in Vancouver, BC and such amazingly qualified people were working in this corner of a rodent-infested office shared with another environmental organization. It was pretty unglamorous. Hopefully things aren't so blah at most offices of that type, but I wouldn't be surprised...

[winkosmosis]

Originally Posted by supersavina

@jojoba,

Yes, I really am not learning much at all with geography. I most definitely plan to either get a second bachelor's degree in environmental science or something like that. My major, geography: environment and sustainability is quite broad, mixing human and physical geography classes. I learned a bit about cartography, a couple classes on GIS, a class on climate change, one on small-scale meterology (soo much math and equations with Greek letters UGH, I nearly flunked) etc. But not in depth enough on any one topic to be considered an expert.

I volunteered at this non-profit here in Vancouver, BC and such amazingly qualified people were working in this corner of a rodent-infested office shared with another environmental organization. It was pretty unglamorous. Hopefully things aren't so blah at most offices of that type, but I wouldn't be surprised...

I know people who work in conservation and it's a dead end. You will never make a living wage. The field is solely for Trustafarians

UNLESS you work in government

[supersavina]

Trustafarian...a brand new word for my vocab.

[timberline742]

I work in conservation, and have on and off for 20 years. It isn't really a "dead end", unless you're not flexible. I certainly don't have rich parents ore relatives and have been on my own for 23 years now. No, you don't make much money and you often don't have job security. I spent many years going from seasonal field work position to another position to another before I got one with benefits and security (and left that for grad school). But I lived, and lived fine. Many people do. You just can't be the type to want "stuff".

The odd thing here is that you don't seem to want to be outside. That is why most people go into the field. Working from home? I've not seen it except in some botanists, entomologists etc who have home labs, but even then they're in the office a lot of at the herbarium, etc. Oh, and grant writers. That is a very employable skill set and often those people work from home.

[supersavina]

Maybe I should really go into urban planning then. No programming knowledge needed, no complicated math equations, and I'd get to avoid the sun for the most part and work mainly in an office, it would seem.