Climate change is the biggest challenge the world is facing today. It crosses borders and languages, income brackets and cultures. Its impact can be most effectively addressed when there is a concerted international effort.
Singapore’s recent budget decision to progressively raise the carbon tax to reach a net-zero target by mid-century is a positive signal of the city-state’s commitment to long-term climate goals.
Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 will require innovation in new energy infrastructure and green solutions to accelerate the reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Solar, wind, hydro and energy storage breakthroughs create thousands of new jobs. According to the World Economic Forum, there were estimated to be around 10 million new job openings last year, a number that’s only growing.
By 2030, the green economy is expected to offer up to 24 million new green jobs. These possibilities provide great opportunities for those looking to start a career in the green industry today.
Opportunities galore
With the energy transition underway, it’s no surprise that students, graduates, and professionals already in the workforce are thinking about contributing to the green transition and kickstart a career in renewable energy.
The good news is that these value-based jobs are competitively paid and in high demand, with the growing renewable energy sector requiring all sorts of roles, skills, and diversity.
Over the last few years, we’ve gone through a seismic shift where concerns about climate and sustainability are now acknowledged as a major strategic challenge by both private corporations and governments.
Also Read: Transitioning to new energy? Here’re 5 prominent solutions for your business
There are many diverse options that one can consider for a career in cleantech, such as shaping sustainability strategy at traditional companies and banks, driving products and operations at startups working on green solutions, becoming an investor in sustainable ventures, or even forming policies in the public sector.
Indeed, for those who don’t want to work in the private sector, there are opportunities in public service and nonprofits where you can make a meaningful impact.
A career in renewables or cleantech is also an opportunity to be surrounded by like-minded individuals who share a vision for a greener planet while getting the chance to work on cutting-edge technology and be at the forefront of change.
For students and graduates, there is no better time than now to be early adopters and ride the waves of change in Singapore and the wider region as every nation doubles down on its commitment to net zero.
Build networks and do internships
Today’s climate tech ecosystem encompasses startups building solutions across a wide range of industries and use cases.
My advice to today’s young people is to get excited at the prospect of a career in cleantech and get exposure as early as possible. Educate yourself about the opportunities, immerse yourself in research, read articles, and bookmark the names of companies doing compelling things that are of interest.
Internships are a great way to start, but so are attending trade shows and conferences, networking, and self-study outside your core curriculum at university.
Internships and placements while as a student allow you to get the best of both worlds, combining institution-based learning with structured on-the-job training. If you do well, you may even end up with a job offer after graduation.
My startup, VFlowTech, is reinventing energy storage with Vanadium redox flow technology in Singapore. We welcome interns and graduates, and professionals who are either already in the renewable sector or looking to make the switch.
Also Read: 13 cleantech startups to watch in Asia
We’re also partnering with Local universities like Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the University of Glasgow to support students with PhD scholarships. The new programme will nurture students who want to build a fulfilling career in cleantech.
Reskilling and switching sectors
Reskilling is an option for professionals already in the workforce who want to take an entirely new career path than the one they have pursued till now.
Even if you don’t have a background or expertise in the (renewable) energy industry, cleantech is so diverse that you may very well find a role that fits what you’re looking for perfectly. Indeed, many renewable energy and green companies are now refining their job descriptions to attract people from non-traditional fields.
Traits that make a good cleantech candidate include being solutions-oriented with a keen interest in the sector and a mind for designing new processes, technology, and equipment.
Just being interested and sustaining that interest over time is half the battle, as it’s always obvious when a candidate is genuinely interested versus just looking for a paycheck. Being a team player and knowing how to ask the right questions and accommodate feedback is also vital.
As mentioned, one of the best ways to get started is through networking and building relationships (or just sparking a conversation) with people already in the industry. So be curious, open, and engaging at events, online, or during internships and placements.
I wish everyone looking to start a career in cleantech in the year ahead the best of luck, and please do reach out to me if you’d like to grab a coffee and talk more about the exciting developments in this fast-evolving space.
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