Interview: Looking for a CleanTech job? Get a resume that works.

CleanTech is sexy, and job seekers all around the world are looking for ways to enter this exciting market. But the job search can be daunting, and it can take months to land a job. Career changers with several years of experience in other industries are facing additional challenges as some are not confident applying directly for CleanTech positions.

The best way to boost confidence is to learn about the companies and technologies, to identify what you are passionate about, and to learn what roles your experience is best suited for. To do that, you need to do research, attend conferences, and network! (See: Does Your CleanTech Job Hunt S***?)

Another tool you need in your search is a great resume. A good professional resume writer can help a job seeker identify his most important skills, leverage his previous experience, and position himself for a CleanTech job. CleanTechies talked to Andy Burnett, a seasoned Sales & Business Development professional, about his decision to work with a professional resume writer.

Why did you decide to work with a professional resume writer?
After 20 years of starting my own companies and helping other start-ups expand their markets and sales, I decided to live my passion and pursue a career in Renewable Energy. I updated my resume and put two months of work into it, trying to make it sound just right. But I realized that it was going to be difficult for me to enter the CleanTech market, given that I didn’t have a typical career. I wasn’t sure about how to position myself and lost confidence in my resume – not a particularly good way to start looking for a job. Having an expert resume writer help me with that seemed like a great idea.

How did you learn about CleanTechies’ resume writing service?
In one of my LinkedIn groups, I came across an article by TreeHugger in which CleanTechies’ resume writing service was recommended. I had never thought about the possibility of having my resume written by an expert, but when I read about it, it made a lot of sense to me. I knew it was exactly what I needed to speed up my job search.

What made you decide to work with CleanTechies’ resume writers?
What I particularly liked about CleanTechies’ professional resume writing service was the special focus on CleanTech resumes. I really liked the idea of having a CleanTech recruiter and a professional resume writer working together. The resume writer knows how to write a perfect resume, and the recruiter has the necessary CleanTech knowledge to oversee the process. I liked the unique focus on CleanTech, and I was comfortable with the price – especially after having done a quick search on typical pricing for this kind of service. The combination of having an expert writer and a recruiter team up really made it for me, and I knew a strong resume was the first and very critical step in building a CleanTech career.

What were your expectations from a professional resume?
The challenge with my resume was to take my story and make it flow. I didn’t know what the resume had to look like specifically, but I trusted CleanTechies’ experience with hundreds of resumes written. Previously, I had asked some friends who work in HR to take a look at my resume and give me advice. While that was somewhat helpful, my resume never became a complete story. In contrast, the CleanTechies resume writer I worked with transformed a disjointed story into a career story that flows. She chose words that are going to help me succeed with my job search.

How did CleanTechies help you understand where you fit in within CleanTech?
Before working with one of CleanTechies’ resume writers, I don’t think I was giving myself enough credit. I had 20 years of work experience, but I didn’t know how to leverage my experiences and position myself for a CleanTech career. It was great to have CleanTechies look over my achievements and highlight the most important ones, thereby using the keywords CleanTech recruiters are looking for. They explained how my previous career experiences were a better fit for this market than I had realized. They raised my confidence and encouraged me to apply for positions such as VP of Sales & Marketing or a Regional Business Development position in CleanTech.

What’s your advice for job seekers who wonder if this investment makes sense?
It’s definitely a good investment to have an expert look at your resume. Each industry has its own specific needs, and a generic resume is not going to get you anywhere. If you are applying for a CleanTech position, you need to pull out a resume that shows you have CleanTech experience – or other relevant industry experience that you can leverage in your new job. I talked to a lot of people, and some asked me whether I really needed to have an expert write my resume. I certainly didn’t want to throw away cash, but I don’t have a past that speaks for for itself. I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy sell, and I needed CleanTechies’ expertise to tie all ends together and offer a complete picture. I felt very comfortable spending the money, and I think it’s a good investment in my future career. Now, I know that I have the best resume I could put forward, and that makes me feel confident.

Learn more about how CleanTechies can help you write a winning resume and cover letter.