Final Steps

Third step, you will want to learn as much as you can about the “green” occupations you checked. One good way to do this is to look them up in the O*NET's Careers in the Green Economy or in the Occupational Outlook Handbook. For training and education programs for green occupations, visit CareerOneStop’s “Find Education and Training” section for green careers. It will tell you whether an occupation requires a certification or license and where, locally (by your zip code), you can find the level of education or training you need.

Another helpful resource is the online Green Career Articles section of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website where they have articles like "Careers in Electric Vehicles" and "Careers in Organic Food Production." Also, search The Career Key Blog ("green careers") for good ideas and resources.

If global warming and sustainability are important to you, you will want to ask, “How green is this job?” Does this occupation or industry help,

• Reduce the use of fossil fuels,
  
• Decrease pollution and greenhouse gas emissions,
  
• Increase the efficiency of energy use, recycling materials, or
  
• Develop and adopt renewable sources of energy?”

Keep in mind that there are other occupations that make “green” contributions. For example, Teacher or Minister is not on the list of “green occupations”, but many of the people in them are playing an invaluable role.

In addition, what you do outside of your job – as a parent, volunteer, community leader – may be more important that what you do in a “green career”.

In general, consider all of your career options not just “green” ones. We highly recommend that you follow tips in our article “Learn More about the Jobs that Interest Me” and “Learn More about Occupations.”.

And, Fourth, you want to make a good career decision.
Since this decision is so important, you want to make it in a scientific, practical way. You want to use the ACIP method of decision making. It is simple and effective. If you follow it, you are least likely to regret your choice later. Research studies show this.

You want to consider your Alternatives, identify the Consequences of each; gather
Information, and Plan how you will (a) put your decision into effect and (b) handle negative consequences if the occur.

Go to High Quality Decisions to learn how to use the ACIP method.

Sources:

1. O*NET Resource Center, The Green Economy,
   
2. “Greening of the World of Work: Implications for O*NET-SOC and New and Emerging Occupations” Erich C. Dierdorff, Jennifer J. Norton, Donald W. Drewes, & Christina M. Kroustalis, NCSU and David Rivkin & Phil Lewis, National Center for O*Net Development, The National Center for O*Net Development (2009).
3. The Career KeyTM Holland Types – Work Groups Classification System. Second Ed. (2009).