We’ll be reminded throughout the day today, this 40^th annual Earth Day, to consider our impact on the environment. We’ll hear about green beauty products, cars, household appliances, etc. We may stop to pick up some litter on our daily walk. Or, we may get involved in a community project or plant a new tree. These are all great things.

But I stopped to consider what earth day has to do with careers.  How can we, through our careers, build a better earth? Is it possible? Can we really do it?  Here are a few small ideas to get you thinking:

If you’re currently employed and your company isn’t so green or environmentally friendly, what can you do to help change this in small ways?

• Perhaps you could team up with the Office Manager to build a new recycling program.
• Or, perhaps you could spearhead a small volunteer employee committee to implement one new ‘green’ initiative every month or two.
• Think about the small things you can do in your immediate work environment.

If you have your own business, implement some new processes or programs to reduce your carbon footprint. Perhaps things like:

• Put recycling bins everywhere. Make it easy for your employees!
• Do more online marketing and less print or mailers.
• Give incentives for people who carpool or take mass transit to work.
• Don’t print your emails and encourage your employees to do the same.

If you’re unemployed or considering a career transition, research the many new career options popping up in the ‘green’ industry.  Just a few of the online resources to check out and do some research:

• http://www.greencareersguide.com/: Self-described as, “… the most comprehensive database of articles on green jobs. Whatever your stage of life, we have you covered. Green careers, green training, and green entrepreneurship articles are only a small part of our exhaustive green career site.”
• http://www.greatgreencareers.com/: Self-described as, “…connects employers and job seekers in the green jobs industries.”
• http://jobs.greenbiz.com/ : Self-described as helping you, “Find the sustainability professional and green-collar job that’s right for you.”

Or, you may want to pick-up one of these green career books:

• Green Careers: Choosing Work for a Sustainable Future by Jim Cassio
• Green Careers For Dummies by Carol L. McClelland
• Green Careers by Jennifer Power Scott
• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Careers by Barbara Parks
• Careers in Renewable Energy: Get a Green Energy Job by Gregory McNamee
• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Careers by Barbara Parks
• Green Jobs: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Employment by A. Bronwyn Llewellyn
• Green Jobs for a New Economy: The Career Guide to Emerging Opportunities by Peterson’s
• Green Collar Jobs: Environmental Careers for the 21st Century by Scott M. Deitche
• Green Careers (Wetfeet Insiders Guide) by Frank Marquardt
• Making a Living While Making a Difference: Conscious Careers in an Era of Interdependance, Revised Edition by Melissa Everett
• 75 Green Businesses You Can Start to Make Money and Make A Difference by Glenn E. Croston
• Green Careers in Energy: Your Guide to Jobs in Renewable Energy by Therese DeAngelis
• Green at Work: Finding a Business Career that Works for the Environment by Susan Cohn

So, on this earth day, do something small. Share wisdom. Help a friend with green career advice.  Walk instead of drive.  Recycle that plastic bottle at lunch instead of tossing it in the trash can.

Or go big and consider your green career options.

And, of course, if I can help you explore what ‘green’ means to you in your ideal career, please contact me and we’ll talk about it!  Happy Earth Day