Rutgers–Camden Students Green Their Resumes for a New Job Market

CAMDEN - While today’s job market may not be thriving, experts predict green careers will grow into the millions over the next two decades. At Rutgers–Camden, the Career Center is readying students for the green job bloom.

A recent green jobs webinar – an interactive workshop accessible remotely – filled to virtual capacity shortly after the event’s posting. The undergraduate and graduate registrants reflected a range of disciplines, including business, English, nursing, and music. Rutgers–Camden job seekers logged in from their personal computers and iPhones to learn about green terminology; what’s happening locally; and how to take advantage.

According to Kay O’Pella, a Career Center counselor who led the workshop, now is the time for students to prepare by educating themselves on the job trend and learning how to “green” their skill set. Fields affected by the trend are many and include advertising, biotech, ecotourism, and legal services, but O’Pella says almost any major could be “greened.”  To fully take advantage of this trend or any future job search, she stresses the need to excel in one’s current choice of study.

“You have to really know your own field or major first, before you can add the green stuff,” notes the Rutgers–Camden career counselor, who also pointed out the need to research one’s green career interest areas and explore training opportunities in target industries.

A green career should also be sought by a green citizen. Students can get involved in campus efforts for sustainability by reaching out to Nathan Levinson, associate dean for finance and administration at Rutgers School of Business—Camden, who heads up a program that organizes green initiatives for student leaders. Last semester student sustainability officers initiated Recylemania on the Camden Campus and took part in a forum about sustainability throughout the university.

O’Pella also recommended that students measure their eco-footprints, get involved in local efforts to improve the environment, and at the very least determine the ‘greenness’ of their happy hours.

A second offering for the webinar will take place on Oct. 22.

To satisfy student demand for access to green jobs, James Marino, assistant dean and director of the Career Center, plans to launch a national web-based platform solely for this niche market on campus this fall.

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