It’s not news that it’s a particularly challenging moment to be a sustainability professional. Compliance demands and complex regulatory landscapes have stretched resources thin. The shifting political climate in the U.S. has raised questions about some companies’ commitment to sustainability. And several executive orders from the current administration have left some professionals feeling as though their work has been sidelined — or even outlawed. What may surprise you, though, is the large number of people who remain interested in this career path.
As a sustainability job search coach, I’m still seeing people get hired in this field every day. And I’m often asked about what corporate sustainability work is like and what experience is necessary to be a competitive job applicant. While there are multiple factors to consider, there are six top questions that I ask my clients to help them determine if a career in corporate sustainability is right for them, and what types of roles they should pursue.
Answer these questions as honestly as you can and I invite you to let me know of other questions you think should be added to this list.
1. Which sustainability issues do you want to work on?
This is perhaps the most important question I ask my clients, because their answer will affect every other decision they make. Different companies work on different issues depending on what’s material to their business.
While virtually every company in the world has the opportunity to work on reducing their carbon emissions, a clothing retailer such as Patagonia will have more opportunities to reduce waste and advance the circular economy than an accounting firm would. If you’re eager to work on human rights or deforestation, a company that procures problematic materials or sources from areas of concern would be a good choice.
Considering what sustainability issues you’d like to work on will help you determine the impact you’d like to make — and therefore the companies you’d like to work for.
2. How direct of an impact would you like your work to have?
Some corporate sustainability work delivers a sense of direct, tangible impact. It’s rewarding when your waste diversion project launches, your solar panels are installed or your decarbonization goal gets approved. Other work happens behind the scenes: greenhouse gas accounting, ESG data management or reporting and disclosure.
Corporate sustainability teams vary greatly in size and how they divide up responsibility for different work streams. Some roles are more generalist and involve a bit of everything, while others are more specialized.
Consider how tangible the impact of your work needs to be. That assessment will help you determine which team structures and roles would be the best fit for you.
3. How ambitious does the organization you work for need to be?
Consultants Steve Rochlin and Jeff Senne recently published an article that describes how companies define the purpose and role of sustainability for their organizations. The authors explain that companies exist on a continuum somewhere between “box checker” and “impact and purpose focused.”
Innovative work by leading companies often inspires newcomers, but often causes them to limit their job search to only the most high-profile, purpose-driven organizations. However, it’s important to understand that there are huge impact opportunities in helping “box checker” companies grow into something more. For example, I have friends who specialize in taking companies “from zero to 15 mph” and gain immense satisfaction from building programs entirely from scratch.
Advancing sustainable business practices delivers social and environmental benefits at companies of all types — regardless of where they are on their sustainability journey or what motivates their efforts. Thinking about how much a company’s level of ambition or motivation matters to you can help you determine which companies you’d like to work for.
4. Are you (very) comfortable with change?
The past six months have been an important reminder that nothing in this profession stays the same for very long. For example, current and proposed changes to cornerstone legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) have put many clean energy, resilience and environmental justice projects on indefinite hold and the way companies communicate about sustainability has changed virtually overnight. The landscape of tools that we use for analysis, data management, goal setting and reporting is famous for its state of constant evolution. And while the profession is maturing and we’re starting to see more consistent career pathways emerge, the skills required for success are always shifting. It’s common for people to need to change companies in order to grow into the next level of responsibility.
People with balanced perspectives on change and a track record of adaptability tend to flourish in corporate sustainability, such as Google’s CSO Kate Brandt. Consider how well you respond to change because it’s a constant in this profession.
5. Are you a (very) patient team player?
Implementing systemic change across a global organization is both a long game and a team sport. Developing key stakeholder relationships, socializing business cases and operationalizing new processes can take months, if not years. Progress often happens in fits and starts.
The most effective corporate sustainability professionals are able to build and maintain partnerships that balance making progress on long-term objectives while addressing short-term priorities. Consider how patient and collaborative you are, as these attributes are critical drivers of success.
6. Do you have the skills you need to be successful?
There are a lot of misconceptions out there about what skills corporate sustainability requires. I’ve had people tell me they’re not qualified to work in sustainability because they don’t have a background in climate science or they don’t have a policy degree. Neither of these things will prevent you from working in this space.
This is multifaceted work with many kinds of roles. While the profession is becoming more specialized and many positions do require experience with specific tools or frameworks, there are still plenty of roles that are accessible to candidates with relevant transferable skills. Most corporate sustainability teams look for applicants with strong communication, problem-solving and cross-functional collaboration skills and value experience in project management, data analytics or reporting.
Assess which roles align best with your current experience and identify whether targeted upskilling is necessary before launching your job search. There are hundreds of providers offering courses on sustainability training that can help you build expertise.
Corporate sustainability is deeply rewarding work for professionals who have clarity of purpose and are adaptable, patient, collaborative and driven. While the current environment is undeniably challenging, we have weathered similar storms before — and both the people and the profession have emerged stronger for it.
