Looking for a job can be difficult in any sector, especially if you are just starting out in your career or transitioning to a different field. Don’t know who to turn to for advice? We asked environmental leaders for their green flags to help align your job search with a role that best suits your needs.
Michelle Gin, Program Manager at Green 2.0
Open-minded leadership style
Regardless of the job, understanding an organization’s leadership style is essential to determining if a job will be a good fit for you. When possible, it’s important to ask questions that help you understand your future manager(s):
- How would they describe their leadership style?
- How did they resolve a recent conflict?
- How do they value/incorporate different perspectives or work styles
Answers that demonstrate trust in their employees, security in being able to admit when they are wrong, open-mindedness, and a desire to grow are all green flags. Pay special attention to how they speak about not just current but past employees, as speaking fondly about both can indicate they will support your personal growth and career goals, even if they may mean moving on to other opportunities in the future. Your leadership can make or break your professional development and will disproportionately influence the culture of the team you’ll be a part of, so looking for green flags (and avoiding red ones) in leadership are key!
Kwolanne Felix, Fellowship and Digital Community Manager at Black Girl Environmentalist
As the green economy continues to expand, many environmental organizations and companies are emerging and growing. This creates exciting new career opportunities for job seekers.
Disclosing salaries upfront
A green flag for me is listing the salary on the job listing instead of waiting for the interview to disclose the salary range. For me, this is a sign of transparency and awareness that the company intends to be fair and competitive. This also allows you as a candidate to come in with fair expectations as you advocate for your own worth during the negotiation process.
Self-awareness of workplace culture and flexibility
During interviews, having a sense of the kind of team culture and structured support you’d prefer is very helpful in evaluating fit. For example, if it is a job where you would be learning a lot of new skills, and you prefer a lot of support from your manager, looking for a team that is very hands-on and that implements a lot of structured meetings and check-ins often, would work well for you. Coming up with your expectations and vision will also help you assess fit; it is a green flag when a company can clearly articulate its culture but is also open to being flexible in addressing your individual style.
Lillian Zhou, Associate Attorney at Earthjustice
Investment in professional development
It’s important for me to work with folks who are invested in helping me develop my skills, especially as someone early in my career. For example, it’s a green flag when people give me thorough and detailed feedback. It’s an even bigger green flag when their advice is geared toward my broader skill development, not just the deliverable at hand. Good mentorship is another big part of skill development–it’s a green flag when my supervisor guides me toward getting good experience and provides a safe space for broader career questions. These practices not only improve my job performance, but also help me feel like a true part of the team.
Biographies of contributors
Michelle Gin (she/her) got her start in the field with a degree in Wildlife Conservation from UC Davis. Over the past 6 years, Michelle has worked in outdoor education, wildlife rehabilitation, and project management. Her work advocating for staff as the Process Improvement team lead at San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife solidified her passion for people driven conservation work. She has since expanded on this work through her involvement with Green 2.0, where she started as a fellow in Fall 2023. She went on to lead their Transparency Report and Environmental Journalism Report before becoming a Program Manager. Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time with loved ones trying different restaurants, going to the beach, and playing board games.
Kwolanne Felix is a NYC-based writer, historian, and gender and climate advocate. She is the Fellowship and Digital Community Manager at Black Girl Environmentalist, where she runs an exciting program empowering Black women and gender-expansive folks in the climate sector. She writes articles and opinion pieces about climate change, politics, gender, and Black History, and she has been featured in Truthout Ms. Magazine.
Lillian Zhou (she/her) is an associate attorney with Earthjustice’s DC Regional Office, where her work focuses on reducing toxic air pollution.