Insider Info: Hot Takes On Breaking Into Climate From Those Already There
Mike Schwartz is Director Of Sustainability at a regional recycling and waste company in the U.S. He has been in the game for years, here is his point of view on the trends, challenges and opportunities you face breaking into climate work
As a quick reminder what is your current sector or fields within climate?
In-house, corporate sustainability, at a recycling and waste company
And what job title best describes your role in that field?
Director of Sustainability
What skills and qualifications are valued in sustainability careers?
Commercial mindset, ability to influence without authority, knowledge of reporting frameworks and how to manage data collection and report compilation, knowledge of ESG rating agencies, ability to perform gap analyses against rating frameworks and benchmarks against peers, ability to synthesize information across disciplines to inform product or service offerings, storytelling...
What are the current trends and future outlook in sustainability careers?:
Trends: mandatory disclosure, use of AI, combatting AI energy consumption as driver for GHG emissions, use and exploration of alternative fuels (e.g. SAF, shipping fuel, electrification, hydrogen...), focus on methane emissions my 100% subjective outlook: we're not going to move fast enough, but we're going to keep moving faster over time, adjusted for blips of political swings
“The difference in sustainability is that we’re all working towards shared goals, so it’s a space ripe for collaboration and lifting each other up. ”
What was the most difficult thing about finding work in your field?
a) getting attention of the right hiring managers,
b) differentiating myself in a world of impartial information and candidates willing to overstate their experience
What resources would you recommend to someone struggling with that difficulty?
That's the big question, isn't it. Here are my sustainability and career resources that I've compiled, certainly a partial list.
How might new entrants gain relevant experience and network in the sustainability sector?
Networking is key - many roles aren't as focused on the technical skills, and the right hiring manager will know that. Do what you can to study the **structure of** the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, ISSB/IFRS (or their parts TCFD and SASB), CSRD/ESRS.
If you can understand how the organizing principles of any of these, then you can action them. That + soft skills are enough for many hiring managers
What is the single best piece of advice you have for someone wanting to join your sector?
Find mentors and/or advocates who's already working in the space. Have informational interviews and ask for follow-ups in 3 months (unless there's already, clearly a more specific reason to connect sooner).
You can find a dozen people like this so you are connecting with someone in the field every week. This involves a lot of outreach and a fair amount of rejection, but it will, without question, unlock opportunities
Given your answer to the above, what practical steps are there that would make that advice actionable in the short term?
Go to all the networking events and follow-up with the people you meet. Virtual networking is real networking, and creates a need for 1:1 follow-up later
There are a lot of smart, educated and experienced people trying but struggling to make the transition to work in our space. If you could speak directly to someone wanting to help, what words of encouragement would you offer?
If you want in, then this is yours. When people say "you have to 'want' it", they mean you have to be willing to trudge through rejection after rejection, experience lows without walking away.
That's true of any field, sustainability included.
The difference in sustainability is that we're all working towards shared goals, so it's a space ripe for collaboration and lifting each other up. When you find you're people, they'll lift you up.
