PM Network - January 2010

The project
manager doesn’t
have to be the
technical expert—
he or she has
to be the expert in
running the project.

—Peter Beadle, Greenjobs, Fairfield, California, USA

THE REAL McCOY

Before you can land that dream green job, you’re going to need to build up some environmental credibility. Here are five ways to acquire the skills and experiences to stand out from the sustainability wannabes:

Know your strengths and weaknesses. “Identify the skills that you have that would benefit a green project, such as value stream management and regulatory experience, as well as the skills that you lack,” says Tricia Sutton at Sutton Enterprises Inc., Bensenville, Illinois, USA. Once you know where your shortcomings are, figure out ways to address them.

Get training. From university degree programs to free online courses offered by utility companies, there are an increasing number of educational opportunities around going green. “For most project managers, the skills are there—they just need help learning the language and the right questions to ask,” says Ms. Sutton.

Volunteer. Whether you champion an e-waste recycling project in your own company or offer your services to a local community project, volunteering is a great way to add tangible experience to your résumé while building your network.

Make your current project green. “There are ways to implement green best practices on any project,” says Paul Blagbrough, Carbon Reduction Services, Los Angeles, California, USA. “Discuss ideas with your team and your client, and show how going green can add value. It’s a quick way to build experience and establish yourself as the in-house expert.”

Reposition your résumé to showcase your assets. “Draw out the hidden skills and experiences behind the titles to emphasize what you’ve accomplished,” says Ms. Sutton.

“Anything that will give a potential employer confidence that you have the skills to do the job, as well as the passion to be a part of the industry, will give you an edge,” says Peter Beadle, Greenjobs, Fairfield, California, USA.

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project managers to investigate any rules that might potentially impact their projects, including requirements for waste reduction, energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions and green certifications.

“The regulations are always changing, so you constantly have to assess what’s coming and be aware of how that will affect the status of your project,” Ms. Sutton says. “When you stay informed, you can make better decisions for the project and the company.”

For example, organizations may be able to take advantage of tax credits for achieving energy efficiency if a project is completed by a certain date.

OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE That doesn’t mean project managers must know every detail of every law or regulation, though.

“The project manager doesn’t have to be the technical expert—he or she has to be the expert in running the project,” Mr. Beadle says.

However, you should familiarize yourself with the issues that impact your projects and network with the people who can decipher them.

“Find someone from your company or your industry who knows the regulations and ask questions,” Ms. Sutton says.

Partnering with experts and specialists can help project managers avoid making seemingly innocuous decisions that have long-term environmental ramifications while also building their own knowledge base.