With all the discussion surrounding the US economic stimulus package, which will nudge into Europe and the rest of the globe in the coming months, I have been tracking the job boards on sites like CleanTechies to see if I can spot a trend in the sort of people that are being attracted to clean tech organisations around the world.
These roles seem to fall into four categories, the first of which is the continuous demand for engineers, technologists and science majors. They will continue to be critical to the development of technologies; passionate early stage participants that must hold their breath until they get a risky cash infusion to explore a potential business. I say risky due to the fact that many clean tech businesses are in a chicken and egg position of needing to progress and develop their propositions with limited funds to deliver and pay salaries. The risk intensifies as scaling requires additional participants to be drawn from a limited talent pool. The pay high now to attract and keep the best, is a strategy that seems increasingly untenable.
The next demand point is the project managers, technicians and installers; again, there is a finite pool of skilled talent available to cover the demand. Given cash shortages, time constraints and intense pressure to deliver, I would gamble the diminishing value of my house that there is limited on-site/on-the-job training and education, especially within smaller organizations. Sure there is a growing number of wind farm and solar installers, but bio-mass engineers, wave technologists? Hmmm not so sure…
Then there is the analyst sector, here we see government quangos, VC’s and consulting firms offering their take on the clean tech space by telling organisations just how big their carbon foot print is and where the next big deal will come from. But the data is, at best, piecemeal with some of the best sources coming from sites like this (is my cheque in the mail?), offering insight as to what might happen. To illustrate that point, I was talking to a good friend and VC last week who stated that the four analysts they have working for them spend the majority of their time on blog sites – his words not mine!!
Finally there is business development and management per se. Out of all of them this is the one that threw me a bit. I totally understand that you need an MSC and other relevant skills at the technology end of things and then even in the operational management of a plant – but to sell technology and run a business? Using MBAs or people with several years of running and making a business work I totally get; but I think that some businesses are shooting themselves in the foot by insisting that everyone be a technologist. Even Jack Welch, who knew a bit about running a company, stated “I don’t need to be a banker at GE Capital; I employ over 4000 people that can do that job much better than me.”
So my take on the clean tech job world – we need more smart technicians and scientists, structured training on the job would be a good thing – so why don’t we do it? Analysts will get smarter and be much more valuable once all of the metrics are understood and become the how-to of the industry. And finally once the thinking becomes less technical and more about running a business, the ever important skills surrounding just how to run a business and make it hum will become critical.
We continue to live in exciting times.
7 comments
I think the green/clean industry is the way of the future. But I agree with you many of these companies do have a “chicken and egg” problem. I see many of these companies get round after round of VC funding with very little public news coming out or any type of large developments. It seems some of these green tech companies are kind of a black hole when it comes to funding. I think the job market should continue to open up in years to come but like you said we need more smart people such as scientists, etc to move over to green.
It will be a while in the US before the $$ from the stimulus package works its ways to these companies, but between designers, evangelists and executors there will be plenty of demand in the years to come.
Great article. I am a recent graduate with a BS in Geology with a focus on climate change. As a student I made every effort to volunteer and participate in research projects that were relevant to mitigating CO2. While applying for graduate school is a goal for 2010 it’s hard for me to find research projects that will eventually translate into a green career in carbon finance and the emerging cap and trade industry. It seems that most people in the Green sector magically fell into the position they are in now through a hook up or luck. I would love to find a way to break through the Green ceiling but finding industry connections is difficult and academia is slow to catch up to the needs of business. Thanks for getting the word out that green industries can’t grow if they aren’t willing to train and hire the willing.
Stick at it ZiZi, the market is moving away for start-up to established and more importantly the businesses that are out there are seeing gaps that will need to be filled. I am sure that you are doing all of these to get that first job, but in case you missed any, why not……
1. Build your own database of clean tech businesses in your area and identify what they do and who are the key players
2. Pester (to the point where they will see enthusiasm – not stalker qualities!!)your base that are working in the installation of solar or wind and offer your services as an open book willing to learn and start at the bottom (it does not need to be forever).
3. Keep looking at sites like this and track back new investment by VC’s and others into business near you and follow point 2
4. Network, blog, join local clean and green groups and make sure that they know you are for hire – even get a t-shirt made with “brain for hire” and your details on the front!
5. Dont give up, this market is changing daily and a business that said no today – may say yes on Tuesday, its that fluid and it beats stacking shelves and selling burgers!!
Good luck
Steve, great analysis. The issue is that green tech companies are founded by technologists and as they get their first funding, the initial founders really look for people like them.
Anybody who has been around in business knows that for your last three categories (project managers, technicians, analysts and business development ) the skills are generic. Companies and individuals have to invest time in training in the domain. Thats it.
Your blog is a great source of information to do that. I am not any expert myself but I know a bit having spent sometime here. Based on the research that I am doing I am trying to build up educational material for senior managers as they transition to this field.
That is available at http://www.regainparadise.org
Also, ZiZi if you want to promote yourself to the community do send me a mail and we can work on a topic – I need collaborators.
First off I have to laugh and respond to the quote by Jack Welch: Even Jack Welch, who knew a bit about running a company, stated “I don’t need to be a banker at GE Capital; I employ over 4000 people that can do that job much better than me.” Considering the state of GE Capital these days, maybe he should have been a banker!
2ndly, I agree with Zi Zi. I am a sales rep who was working for a large solar integrator until being laid off last November when they ran out of funding. I also looked into going for an MBA with a real program dealing with alternative energy financing and haven’t really found anything all that great. There are a lot of “green MBAs” but they seem kind of like the usual MBA program taught by somebody wearing birkenstock shoes and hemp cloth pantalones. Not really up to speed with the industry. Good advice Steve, and good luck everyone.
Been a while since this was posted. But green companies are slowly beginning to hit the radar screen in the staffing industry. Orders are slowly inching up in New England for technical help in green sector companies.
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