Driven By Impact: Turning Your Networking into Opportunities

Driven By Impact 🌱

Edition 59: June 6, 2024

Turning Your Networking into Opportunities

A Detailed Guide on Transforming Your Networking Conversations into Opportunities

Networking is widely acknowledged as crucial for job hunting, yet many seekers get stuck within familiar circles, struggling to leverage these connections effectively. In this blog post, we will delineate the essential steps to identifying suitable companies, refining your focus, and showcasing your skills. By doing so, these interactions can pave the way to new job opportunities!

Step 1: Narrow Your Scope

Climate Verticals

1. Focus on Specific Climate Sectors: Narrowing your scope to specific climate verticals makes it easier to become an expert in your chosen area and find relevant job opportunities.

2. Resources for Narrowing Down Climate Verticals:

   • Websites and Libraries:

     • Climate Scape

     • Project Drawdown Solutions Library

   • Slack Groups:

     • MCJ Collective

     • Work on Climate

     • Climate Action Tech

   • Cohorts and Programs:

     • Terra’s Learning for Action

     • OPF

     • Voiz Academy

   • Podcasts:

     • MCJ: Discussions with climate leaders and innovators.

     • A Matter of Degrees: Explores climate change solutions and policies.

     • Catalyst: Focuses on clean energy innovations.

   • Newsletters:

     • Driven By Impact: Covers impactful climate news and insights.

     • CTVC: Provides updates on climate tech and venture capital.

     • Heated: Investigative journalism on climate change.

Step 2: Pinpointing Companies to Reach Out To

1. Leverage LinkedIn

   • Follow Companies and Executives: Keep up with the latest updates and job postings by following relevant companies and executives in your target sector on LinkedIn.

2. Explore Accelerators and Incubators

   • Identify Innovative Companies: Accelerators and incubators often support startups and companies at the forefront of climate innovation. Engaging with these organizations can help you find cutting-edge opportunities.

3. Use Pre-made Market Maps

   • CTVC Market Maps: Utilize comprehensive market maps to identify key players in specific climate sectors.

4. Use Climate-Specific Job Boards

   1. Job Boards: Platforms like Climatebase, ClimateTechList, Green Jobs Board, Impact Hustlers, Tech Jobs for Good, etc. provide targeted job listings in the climate sector, making it easier to find relevant opportunities.

5. Create a Market Map

   • Market Map Template: Use a market map template to organize and track potential employers in your target sector.

Step 3: Pinpointing People at Those Companies

1. Search for Specific Roles

   • Use Keywords and Job Titles: Refine your search by using specific job titles and relevant keywords to find the right contacts.

2. Leverage Referrals

   • Ask for Introductions: Whenever you have a conversation, ask if the person can recommend others you should speak to. Referrals often lead to more meaningful connections.

3. Use #OpenDoorClimate

   • Find Open Professionals: This hashtag helps you identify professionals in the climate sector who are open to networking and informational interviews.

Step 4: Relationship Building Instead of Transactions

1. Initiate with Preparedness

   • Come Prepared: Have specific questions and topics ready to discuss. Showing that you have done your homework impresses your contacts and demonstrates your seriousness.

2. Make Genuine Connections

   • Treat Networking Like Friendships: Approach networking with a mindset of building genuine relationships. Offer value, whether it's insights, resources, or simply a listening ear.

3. Express Gratitude

   • Thank Your Contacts: Always thank people for their time and insights. A simple thank-you note can go a long way in maintaining a positive relationship.

4. Maintain Relationships

   • Follow Up Regularly: Keep in touch with your contacts by periodically checking in, sharing relevant updates, and continuing the conversation.

Step 5: A/B Testing Outreach Methods

1. Experiment with Different Templates

   • Try Various Approaches: Test different email and message templates to see which ones get the best response rates.

2. Track Your Methods

   • Use a Networking Tracking Template: Keep track of your outreach efforts and their effectiveness with a networking tracking template.

Step 6: Selling Your Value During Conversations

1. Highlight What Sets You Apart

   • Showcase Unique Skills: Clearly articulate what makes you different and valuable.

2. Identify Pain Points

   • Understand Their Challenges: Ask questions to understand the company’s challenges and think about how you can address them.

3. Follow-up

   • Send a Thank-You Note: After the conversation, send a thank-you note summarizing key points and offering potential solutions.

Next Steps

1. Set Tangible Goals

   • Define Objectives: Set clear, achievable goals for your networking efforts and stay committed.

2. Join Our Climate Career Bootcamp

   • Participate in a Bootcamp: Our in-depth 4-hour session will help bring all the pointers in this blog to life! We will provide templates, resources, and most importantly, the confidence to approach your climate job search. Learn more here!

🌎 WHAT: Breaking into the Hidden Job Market
🗓️ WHEN: 6/11 @ 12 pm EST
📍WHERE: https://lu.ma/hiddenjobs
👤 WHO: Job Seekers

🌎 WHAT: Weekly Climate Job Seeker LinkedIn Live Q&A
🗓️ WHEN: 6/13 @ 3 pm EST
📍WHERE: https://lu.ma/june13LIL
👤 WHO: Job Seekers

🌎 WHAT: Kickstarting your Climate Job Search
🗓️ WHEN: 6/18 @ 12 pm EST
📍WHERE: https://lu.ma/breaking-into-climate-june-24
👤 WHO: Job Seekers

🌎 WHAT: Climate Career Boot Camp: 201-Level Workshop
🗓️ WHEN: 6/26 @ 11 am EST
📍WHERE: https://lu.ma/ClimateBootcamp201
👤 WHO: Job Seekers

→ Climate People is hosting its first climate job crash course at the end of June! Our 4-hour intensive BootCamp will help you take your job search to the next level - with resources, templates, actionable advice, and more. Learn more here.

→ Earlier today, Brendan and Natalie went live for a Q&A session. We covered cover letters, interview advice, and how to discuss compensation. Check it out!

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

→ Here’s a new comprehensive list of the Climate Tech VC landscape! Pinpointing VCs can help create a company market map!

→ “Young people are moving towards climate careers. Employers need to adapt or be left behind.” Read more in Project Drawdown’s recent article.

→ AirMiners free CO2 removal BootCamp is launching 6/17 - learn more here!

→ Top 10 Climate Technology Trends in 2024 report. Check out the insight from GreenBiz.

TAX INCENTIVES AND REBATES FOR RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIFICATION

As more homeowners seek to electrify their homes, numerous tax incentives and rebates have been introduced to ease the financial burden of these transitions. These incentives, which include federal, state, and local options, aim to promote energy efficiency, reduce carbon footprints, and support the broader adoption of sustainable technologies. High upfront costs for installing renewable energy systems and energy-efficient appliances often deter homeowners, but various financial aids like tax credits, rebates, and grants make these green investments more accessible.

Federal incentives such as the Residential Clean Energy Credit and Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit offer substantial financial relief, covering up to 30% of renewable energy system costs without an upper limit and up to $1,200 annually for specific improvements, respectively. Additionally, many states provide their own tax credits and rebates for residential electrification, along with property tax exemptions for homes equipped with renewable energy systems. Utility companies also contribute by offering rebates and discounts for energy-efficient installations, easing the transition to sustainable living.

Companies like Rock Rabbit, EnergySage, Encentiv Energy, Opower (Oracle), RebateBus, Sense, Enervee, and Powerley make it easier to take advantage of these benefits.

🪴 COMPUTATIONAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER
➵ We are partnering with a company focused on accelerating the transition to a decarbonized grid by providing software solutions to electric grid operators, utilities, and renewable energy project developers. They seek a motivated software engineer to build cloud software that facilitates deploying renewable energy projects. Key responsibilities include translating manual grid study processes into efficient code, deploying large-scale compute code on cloud infrastructure, and collaborating with the team to define product requirements. Proficiency in Python is required, and knowledge of C++, power systems, and cloud environments like AWS is advantageous. A BS/MS/PhD in EE/CE/ECE/CS and relevant software engineering experience are preferred.

🪴 CLIMATE TECHNOLOGY ANALYST I
➵ Our client, an advisory firm aiding startups and Fortune 500 companies in securing government funding within the semiconductor, material science, clean tech, industrial, and energy sectors, seeks a candidate for independent technology research and analyses. Responsibilities include staying updated on government programs, supporting technical presentations, grant applications, RFP responses, managing schedules, assisting in client deliverables, and creating value propositions. Candidates should hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s in hard science or engineering, possess strong analytical and communication skills, and thrive in a fast-paced environment. Experience in relevant sectors is a plus.

🪴 JUNIOR DATA ENGINEER
➵ We are seeking a junior Data Engineer to join a company dedicated to accelerating the transition to a reliable, decarbonized grid. In this role, you will take ownership of complex projects, working to enhance software solutions for electric grid operators, utilities, and renewable energy developers. Key responsibilities include architecting and deploying data pipelines, processing and analyzing data, and developing intuitive dashboards. Ideal candidates will have strong Python coding skills, experience with cloud-native ETL data pipelines, expertise in cloud-based relational databases, and a passion for using analytical problem-solving skills to drive impactful change in the renewable energy sector.

🪴 DIRECTOR OF GRANTS
➵ We are partnering with a leading global consultancy to hire a Director of Grants to secure large-scale grant funding for high-impact climate solutions. This fully remote position (PST preferred) involves overseeing a multidisciplinary team of up to 25 grant writers, managing 15-20+ projects monthly, improving processes, and driving team growth. Ideal candidates have 5+ years of federal grant management experience, a proven track record with 8-figure awards, strong project and multi-stakeholder management skills, and a deep commitment to addressing climate change.

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