1 ) Look in the Mirror: Ask yourself, “who am I and what do I have to offer?” Take the time to really consider what it is that sets you apart from your competition. Carl Jung once said “who looks outside dreams, who looks inside awakens.”

2 ) Reminisce on Five Positives: Create a list of 5 personal or professional accomplishments you had in 2010. Think about what they mean to you and how they can be of value in 2011. Don’t ever forget how valuable you are!

3 ) Face Three Negatives: We can all use a good hard look in the mirror from time-to-time. Be sure to step back and think about 3 mistakes you made in 2010 and how not to make them again!

4 ) Read One New Book: Get a hold of a good career/self-help book (The YOU Plan perhaps) and start the New Year off with the right mindset.

5 ) Join One Group: If you want to be a serious player you must get in the game. Join your local professional association, business council, chamber of commerce, or community organization!

6 ) Update LinkedIn and Facebook: Check all of your social media profiles, links, postings, and pictures to make sure they are up-to-date and accurately reflect the 2011 version of YOU!!!

7 ) Make 12 New Friends: The world revolves around relationships, so get out there and start making friends. Go for one new contact per month and be sure to maintain that relationship.

8 ) Take One Risk: Find a way to make your life or career search more rewarding by contributing in a way you never have before. Volunteer to speak at your local professional association, contribute a white paper, attend an event you’ve never been to, or ask to guest post for an industry blog. Find a unique way to step out and enhance your stature.

9 ) Set Lofty Goals: If you don’t shoot for the moon, you’ll never get there! Develop a list of weekly and monthly milestones for your job search and/or general career development. Don’t end the year in the same exact place you’re in now.

10 ) Make a YOU Plan: Coaches have game plans, pilots have flight plans, so why don’t you have a career plan? If you want to get out of the Career Hot Seat and back into the game you are going to have to make a plan, a YOU Plan! Don’t go into 2011 just winging it!

Cheers to 2011!

Dr. Woody

THE FACTS ON GREEN JOBS

The Pew Charitable Trusts stated in a 2009 report that “clean energy economy jobs” grew by 9.1% between 1998 and 2007, compared to a growth of 3.7% for all jobs, a fact that points to the sustainability of an industry that is all about… well… sustainability.

As further support, the number of job postings including the term “green” on Indeed.com, which searches thousands of job sites, has grown 120% since 2005. And job postings with the term “environmental” have grown more than 50%. This shows a clear rise in interest in this industry.

What’s more, on CNN Money’s list of the “100 Best Jobs in America” (in terms of pay, growth and quality of life), environmental engineering ranked #5 with a projected growth of 31% over the next 10 years. This is a great example of a “green collar” job.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, our go-to source for job trends, received funding this year to collect data on green jobs, which shows the growing presence of the industry. The BLS is still compiling all of the statistics and profiling for the field, but the information on careers in wind energy is now up.

HOT POSITIONS

The Bureau of Labor Statistics breaks green jobs down into two categories: positions in which workers create green goods or provide green services and positions where employees are there to make their company more environmentally friendly. Here are some great options in both categories:

• Sustainability coordinators
• Carbon brokers
• Environmental educators
• Eco tour guides
• Urban/land-use planner
• Environmental Engineer
• Interface designer
• Interior/exterior designer (LEED standards)
• Construction of solar thermal plants
• Forester
• Solar panel installer
• Wind turbine fabricator

HOT SPOTS

Here are some green-only job boards and resources:

• Grist
• Sustainable Business
• Idealist
• GreenBiz
• Clean Economy Network

HOT TIP

The credentials for green jobs are still being developed and debated, but familiarize yourself with the various certifications and requirements that currently exist. Not all green jobs require them, but they could set you apart.

Key green credentials:

• USGBC LEED Certifications
• BPI Individual Building Certification
• NABCEP Solar Thermal Installation Certification
• RESNET Certified Energy Auditor or Rater
• AEE Energy Certifications
• Green Advantage Certified Practitioners

CONCLUSION

If green is your color, consider going green in your job search for a stable, rewarding career. Why not help the environment while making a good living?

Dr. Woody is author of The YOU Plan and is an executive coach trained in organizational psychology.