Taking Action: Demand that Your Potential Employer Be Green

By: Shane Sabine

How many of us have heard how important it is to truly enjoy your profession? The wise of us should follow this advice as opposed sucking ourselves into the evil traps that money provides. Independent consultant Ms. Jen McDonnell has taken that advice and prospered: five years after earning her bachelor’s degree, she found herself working behind the counter at the local Whole Foods. She soaked up each bit of information like a sponge, actually catering towards customers’ needs and performing every task necessary. Not surprisingly, Ms. McDonnell was continually promoted and found her way to overseeing environmental programs. You could be making a measly ten dollars an hour at no expense, given your natural abilities will shine in the workplace of your choosing and you will soon be on your way to more demanding opportunities.

Demand that your employer be green. Never dare to associate yourself with any organization fraught with immoral practices and sub-par ethical standards. With your own values compromised, righteous desires will never be realized. Make a stand in the interview and ask for their environmental commitment is. Let us be realistic in that companies that lack the fortitude of embracing the future are backwards without exception and must not be trusted.

Regardless of your political standing, there is much to be said for favoring environmentally friendly policies. Both senators campaigning for president have expressed favorable perspectives regarding preserving the environment. Draw a red flag if your interviewer stumbles over his or her own explanation when you ask for the general direction of the company’s initiatives becoming greener. Much is to be said for taking a stand, as we plainly see here: http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/10/23/wal-mart-suppliers.

Keep in mind that is not how powerful, wealthy, or popular you might see yourself. Instead, who you are and how you plan to put your values into action might be more noteworthy.

I encourage you to take a break from your rigorous search and have a tree planted in your name at http://www.experience.com/alumnus/channel?channel_id=green&page_id=home.