The dot com industry and the start-up trends was the in thing in the late 1990’s and early 2001. During this time, Internet based businesses funded by venture capitals flourished.  But then the dot com bubble burst and hundreds of companies folded and went completely out of business. Thousands of the same companies reduced or were forced by circumstances to reduce their work force. And for those who have planned their mortgages and/or retirements based on the prices of the stocks they held in the technology company they work with or preferred, this was a agonizing time. For those who remained in the dot com industry, they learned to diversify.

These days, although there are graduates still attracted to work in the dot com industry, there is a growing trend gravitating towards jobs in environmental sustainability. Young, ambitious and idealistic young professionals and fresh graduates are now attracted to work or volunteer in green jobs. They want to make a career where they can be of most help or work on something that makes them feel good. Their generation has seen a lot of environmental issues bombarded on multi-media. 

According to the New York Times article I read, the operations director for Idealist.org - a Web site that lists paid and unpaid opportunities for nonprofit groups and social enterprise companies-Amelia Byers said that the number of environmental work related jobs has roughly tripled in the last three years. “A lot of new graduates are coming out of a world where volunteerism and service has been something that has helped define their generation,” she said. “Finding a job with meaning is an important value to them.”

Green jobs are not confined to non-profit sector. There is a growing number of corporations that are including environmental issues such as reducing waste and carbon footprints in their policy. There are also companies focusing on their environmental strategies and activities and their efforts to consider long-term social, environmental and economic impacts when making decisions. Issues like sustainability are thus integrated into their M.B.A education in order that their graduates would be more than ready for these issues.

For those who are interested in working in environmental related jobs, here are some suggestions you can look into:

• Solar Power Installer - Nearly 800,000 jobs in the country are related to making and installing solar power systems. This can include anything from installing solar-thermal water heaters and rooftop. Currently there are more than 3,000 companies nationwide in the solar energy sector. Solar power installers are responsible for planning and setting up the photovoltaic equipment that will provide electricity to the building. Installers work with clients to decide what kind of solar panel structures to install, and what would be the best location to install them. They will be in high demand to help design more environmentally friendly homes and office buildings, reducing energy waste and overall costs.

• Environmental Engineer - Use engineering skills to protect the environment and human health. Environmental engineers work on air-pollution control, water treatment, waste management, alternative energy, and conservation, in both the private sector and government agencies. Considered to be ranked 5 for the Top 100 Best jobs in America by Forbes.com with a median salary of $81,000.

• Environmental Scientist - With the rapid advance of technology and booming urban expansion, human health concerns and environmental health concerns become one in the same in regards to water quality, air quality, and waste management. Environmental scientists will be in demand to help cities keep their people and surrounding environment clean and healthy. Environmental scientists conduct research into factors that could negatively affect people, wildlife, or the environment. These factors include air pollution and water pollution, but the biggest responsibility that environmental scientists usually cover is waste management.

• Environmental Health and Safety Specialist - conducts research or performs investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or the health of the population. Utilizing knowledge of various scientific disciplines may collect, synthesize, study, report, and take action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources. Ranked 22 for Top 100 Best jobs in America by Forbes.com with a median salary of $71,000.

• Solar Community Organizer – A solar community organizer is someone who understands how communities are driven by relationships and who can work within that fabric to make change happen. This is a fun job, where you will help create and run local campaigns to increase solar adoption through classic grassroots organizing and affinity marketing techniques. You’ll be the public face of this Solar Communities program and will need to be excited to embrace lots of public exposure as well as detailed data management in the office.

• Farmer -- There are only 2 million farmers in America, and since organic and sustainable agriculture requires small-scale efforts, there is a huge need for more farmers.

Example of jobs in farming:

Field Manager - for a certified biodynamic farm like Hawthorne Valley Farm

Partners for Sustainable Farm in Reedley, California

Sustainable farmers in Northampton, MA

• Energy Efficiency Builder – Energy efficiency builders are architects who specialize in designing and constructing structures that have less impact on the environment and conserve more energy than typical buildings. Building retrofitting is growing as a business due to increasing government standards and regulations for energy efficiency. As an example of the growing industry, LEED, the major green building certification, alone have more than 43,000 accredited professionals.

• Land Conservation Specialist - is responsible for managing and completing all aspects of conservation projects, including providing guidance to landowners, writing grants, and collaborating with private and public agencies.

• Wind Turbine Fabricator - Buildings accounted for 39.4 percent of the total U.S. energy consumption and to combat these figures, wind power, and thus wind turbine fabricators, will be in high demand to help power homes and office buildings in a more environmentally-friendly way, reducing energy waste and overall costs. Wind turbine fabricators are responsible for designing and installing wind power units. Wind turbines are large structures, and therefore require ample space for construction. In addition, wind turbine fabricators must take into account how much wind an area receives before installing a turbine.

• Green Architects - Green architects design buildings to optimally support human needs while protecting and enhancing the earth’s ecological systems. Green Homes are in demand, and as a result, so are architects who know how to incorporate green structures and aspects to a new home. Green architects are also getting a lot of business doing eco-friendly upgrades to existing homes.

• Forester - Foresters will be in demand to help control the rate of deforestation and better manage wildlife resources with the needs of the population in mind. Foresters work with individuals, industries, and the government in deciding what to do with forested land and how to keep them thriving and healthy. Foresters must find a way to keep the plant life in the forest devoid of damaging diseases and pests while also ensuring that maintenance of the land will not cost the landowner excess expenses. Some foresters also draft plans on redeveloping previously destroyed land, monitoring the growth of new forests, and controlling the growth of established forests.

• Social Responsibility Officers - These jobs combine environmental and business experience to help companies set and meet goals regarding carbon reduction, sustainability, and eco-friendliness. Green Consultants are also being brought in, as corporations are trying to quickly set programs in place, measure their carbon footprints, audit supply chains, etc, all while communicating these changes to employees.

• Urban Planner - Environmental urban planners take particular interest in preserving wildlife habitats and finding areas to develop that would least damage the local ecosystem. For example, instead of breaking into new ground for a proposed shopping mall, urban planners may recommend reusing an old abandoned site for the building and developing it to make it attractive once more to consumers and businesses. Planners also deal with government codes and legislations, and must put together comprehensive reports for government executives and others. Employment of urban and regional planners is expected to grow 19 percent from 2008 to 2018, faster than the average for all occupations.