Driven By Impact: Networking Tips

Driven By Impact 🌱

Edition 87: February 6, 2025

Transform Networking into Career Opportunities

Networking is crucial for job seekers, yet many struggle to leverage their connections effectively. Follow these key steps to turn conversations into opportunities:

✅ Narrow Your Focus – Define 1-2 job titles and specific climate sectors to target. Use resources like Climatebase, MCJ Collective, and Climate People’s Playbook to refine your search.

✅ Identify Companies – Follow industry leaders on LinkedIn, explore accelerators and incubators, and utilize market maps like CTVC to track climate sector players.

✅ Find the Right Contacts – Use LinkedIn, referrals, and Slack groups like Work on Climate to connect with professionals in your target companies.

✅ Build Relationships – Approach networking with authenticity, gratitude, and consistency. Treat it as relationship-building, not just a job hunt.

✅ Refine Your Outreach – A/B test message templates, track outreach effectiveness, and set clear networking goals (e.g., 10 cold messages, 4-8 conversations/month).

✅ Handle Rejections & Follow-Ups – Persistence is key! A 5-15% response rate is normal. Always follow up with thank-you notes and value-driven insights.

🌎 WHAT: MCJ + Climate People: Leveraging AI in your job search
🗓️ WHEN: 2/19/2025 at 12 pm EST
📍WHERE: https://lu.ma/giyh0vdb

🌎 WHAT: Uncovering Climate Funding and Job Insights
🗓️ WHEN: 3/13 at 12 pm EST
📍WHERE: https://lu.ma/vqyx1pjq

🌎 WHAT: Purpose to Pay: Interview with Impact
🗓️ WHEN: 3/21 at 12 pm EST
📍WHERE: https://lu.ma/PurposetoPay3

→ The other week, we hosted Shannon Houde for the second event in our “Purpose to Pay” webinar series. This second session focused on standing out and tricks for getting to the top of the pile. Watch the recording here!

→ We are launching an anonymous talent portal in the coming weeks. Fill out this form if you’d like your anonymous profile shared directly with hiring managers. Reply to this email if you have any further questions.

→ Missed the last edition? It was a jam-packed one! Check it out here.

→ Interested in a career in climate data? Check out this regenerative roundtable event!

→ Young people want climate careers. Employers need to adapt. Read Project Drawdown’s guide.

→ Looking to improve your climate job search? Check out our job seeker playbook!

Snippet: Building Electrification

Building electrification is a crucial climate strategy, not just for reducing emissions but for improving grid resilience, lowering household energy costs, and cutting indoor air pollution. With residential buildings accounting for nearly 30% of U.S. emissions, the transition away from gas is gaining momentum—driven by cost-effective heat pumps, policy incentives, and growing consumer awareness. Organizations like RMI, Rewiring America, and the Building Decarbonization Coalition are advancing research and advocacy, while innovators like Sealed and Elephant Energy provide practical solutions for homeowners. To accelerate progress, we need broader policy support, utility reform, and scalable financing models that make electrification accessible to all.

🪴 PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER
➵ We’re partnering with a fast-growing grid-resiliency company in San Francisco, backed by top investors, to hire a Principal Software Engineer. You'll develop scalable, full-stack systems to process real-time sensor data and enhance grid reliability. Ideal candidates have 5+ years in Python backend development, experience with cloud platforms (AWS preferred), event-driven architectures, and proficiency in SQL, GraphQL, React, and TypeScript, plus familiarity with observability tools and Linux environments.

🪴 TECHNICAL PRODUCT LEAD
➵ We're partnering with a profitable, fully remote climate tech startup that helps renewable energy developers fast-track installations. As a Technical Product Manager, you'll lead new product work in Transmission Engineering, balancing software PM responsibilities with deep domain expertise. You'll drive new feature launches, expand into new markets, and build MVPs, working closely with engineers and designers. Ideal candidates have 3+ years of experience in technical SaaS, thrive in ambiguity, and enjoy user research. Experience in niche technical domains is crucial, and utility industry knowledge is a plus. Passion for climate solutions is a must!

🪴 APPLIED DATA SCIENCE LEAD
➵ We're partnering with a fast-growing grid-resiliency company in San Francisco that’s revolutionizing grid protection with advanced sensing technology. They seek an Applied Science Lead to drive R&D efforts, developing machine learning models from diverse time series, categorical, and graph data. This role involves exploratory data analysis, sensor fusion research, and collaborating across teams to shape new data products. Ideal candidates have 4+ years of experience in production machine learning, a background in research, and a passion for tackling early-stage product challenges. Leadership experience in data science and a strong grasp of physical modeling are preferred.

🪴 TRANSMISSION PLANNING ENGINEER
➵ We’re partnering with a profitable, fully remote climate tech startup that helps renewable energy developers fast-track projects with its software platform. As a Transmission Planning Engineer, you’ll collaborate with software engineers and founders to automate transmission planning studies, support sales, and enhance products. You’ll become a subject matter expert in regional study methodologies while leveraging tools like TARA, PSS/E, and Power World. With 3+ years of experience in generation interconnection studies, you understand the data developers need. If you’re eager to learn software engineering—especially Python—this is a high-value opportunity.

🪴 SENIOR INTERCONNECTION SPECIALIST
➵ We’re partnering with a company dedicated to accelerating the transition to a reliable, decarbonized grid by providing software solutions that streamline the interconnection process for grid operators, utilities, and renewable developers. As an Interconnection/Transmission Planning Engineer, you’ll bridge client success, business development, and engineering to enhance software that automates interconnection studies. Your role includes informing product development, validating study results, and working closely with customers to demonstrate solutions and troubleshoot issues. With 4+ years of experience in interconnection or transmission planning, deep ISO/RTO expertise, and power flow study proficiency, you’ll help tackle the interconnection bottleneck. Python skills and broader transmission study experience are a plus.

That's all for this edition! Thanks for doing your part in mobilizing a workforce transition to work on climate!