A Green Interview

By Anne Consroe

Here we are approaching October, and many recent college graduates are sill looking for that perfect first job. It’s not easy. No one can deny how horrible the economy is right now, and looking for a job with very minimal experience under your belt can be as daunting as climbing up a muddy ski slope. Even more challenging is finding that perfect first job in a non-profit and/or environmental field. Here are some interview tips you may find helpful when you finally get that dream interview.

Like everyone else, a “green” employer will most likely start off the interview going over your resume and asking you to explain your background and experience, strengths and weaknesses, and your biggest challenge thus far. He or she will ask you why you want to work for their company or organization, and where you see yourself in 5 years. Still there? Grad school? Will you be a valuable investment for the company? Or will you jet off to Guam?

A “green” interview will be very similar to any other interview you will have. One difference I experienced in my interview, however, was the employer’s search for that one candidate that is not just looking for a job, any job, to pay the bills, but one that will bring a certain flair to the work simply because they feel passionate about the issues. No one works for a non-profit because they think they’ll quickly bank a million dollars. As a general statement, a “green” employer will offer their entry-level candidates minimum salaries, and for a candidate to be enthusiastic about this salary while maintaining their passion for the issues at hand, says something about that candidate.

Keep these tips in mind, stay positive, and go find that green job.