If you’re interested in a utilities career, you might want to look into renewable energy companies and the growing numbers of jobs opening up in green energy/utilities.
From solar panels to wind turbines, these and other “green” efforts are rapidly transforming today’s energy and utilities companies. To prepare for a career in this dynamic utilities sector, you’ll need to convince job recruiters and utility HR managers that you have the skills and knowledge it takes to succeed. Here are some tips to help you land that green utilities job:
Emphasize your technical expertise. Energy and utilities companies will be looking at tech-savvy candidates, people who can “hit the ground running” to design, build, and maintain technology systems. Even if you don’t have specific tech knowledge, however, some companies are willing to hire and train people with proven technical aptitude.
Hone your communication skills. Engineers and technicians must be able to communicate with subordinates, colleagues and superiors. Those who work in the industry note that half of a new engineer's work is spent in communicating. Those with project management duties can spend up to 90 percent of their time in communications.
Be business savvy. Utilities industry workers need to be knowledgeable about a company's business drivers. Those working in specialized “green” utilities need to know what makes a company profitable and how their work contributes to the bottom line. Utilities recruiters underscore the importance of a candidate’s leadership skills. The competition for utilities jobs can be pretty fierce, so, while good grades are important, leadership and project management skills can separate you from the pack.
ABN (Always Be Networking). Enlist contacts you met at trade shows, seminars, job fairs, LinkedIn and other resources. If you’re still in school, participate in on-campus recruiting. Most big energy and utilities companies visit colleges and universities to mine for talent.
For an added perspective, check out this video:
If you have any thoughts or suggestions on careers in the “green” utilities industry, feel free to share them in the comments section.
Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients. Please see more of his blogs and view additional job postings on Nexxt.
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