Imagine this, you have just graduated after three challenging yet rewarding years at university, ready and eager to take on the working world. You are ready to hang up the textbooks, late night studying, the tracksuits and Ugg boots in exchange for early morning commutes, loafers and smart casual. You have been told at school that going to university and getting a degree will make it easier to get a job. So, when it comes to applying, the excitement begins to slowly trickle away when realisation sets in.

This job search thing is tough.

And what’s worse, trying to pursue a career in sustainability is even tougher because, as mentioned in an article by Trellis, it is an evolving industry. Without a specific career pathway to follow, and with many vacancies advertised solely through ‘word-of-mouth’, making connections can be an important piece of the puzzle.

Even though I haven’t landed my first role just yet, I am beginning to scratch the surface. From speaking to established professionals and doing research, I have identified sustainability roles that align with my interests and to explore further. Navigating the sustainability job market so far has been an eye-opening experience full of learning and breakthroughs as well as a fair few rejection emails. It has shown me that resilience, taking the initiative and having a real passion for the industry you want to join are just as important as the required technical skills.

To give you some background on me, I am a recent Geography graduate and passionate about sustainability. My interest was sparked from studying modules within my degree, where I explored concepts such as a just transition, which emphasised the importance of diversity, equality, and inclusivity in sustainability efforts as well as climate change, its impacts and the need to reduce carbon emissions. This demonstrated how sustainability needs to be at the forefront of how we manage our world, inspiring me to begin a career in this industry.

So, if you’re in a similar position to me, or starting your job hunt in sustainability, here are three things I have learnt which may help.

1. TAILORING YOUR CV

It may be obvious but, I did not understand the power of tailoring your CV to a specific role until I noticed the positive reaction I got. I make it clear from the get-go that I am interested in a career in sustainability through the profile at the top of my CV, which demonstrates how my passions and experience align. I include personal qualities and skills, and how the modules I studied during my degree sparked my interest in sustainability. I also mention the things I have done since leaving university that show my dedication to professional growth.

2. UNDERSTAND THE INDUSTRY/ROLE

To give yourself a fighting chance of getting noticed, it is key to understand the type of skills sustainability and ESG roles require. Working out the attributes employers require is a process which, with perseverance and practice, gets easier. I took time to identify the skills I’ve gained and, how I could translate them into a sustainability role. Even if you feel like you have zero experience in sustainability, you definitely have transferable skills that will prove valuable in your application.

3. INVEST IN YOURSELF

Upskilling through online courses is a great way to develop your knowledge, gain experience and highlight your dedication to the industry. I use Forage, a free online resource, to complete job simulation courses on ESG roles, which gives industry insights. I also use LinkedIn Learning to help enhance my digital skills. Not only does it demonstrate your ability to take responsibility for your professional development, it builds confidence and creates a sense of purpose that spurs you on when the job search seems relentless.

I hope these insights have been helpful in providing ideas about what next to do if you are feeling stuck or uninspired. It is all about building confidence and enhancing your expertise whilst you wait for the right opportunity to come. Let this be a reminder to fellow graduates: we are all experiencing the same struggles, you are not alone!