Career Coaching and Pathways
Are you ready for the next step in your career?
The global employment market for sustainability professionals is booming and there is a wide variety of jobs at all levels and in all sectors, including business, government, and civil society organizations. Areas of focus range from climate and energy, to food and agriculture, to water and health. These jobs are in large and small organizations located in cities and rural areas worldwide.
See where MNR alums are working
Visit our blog to read about our alums in the field.
CLiGS Career Coaching
All graduate students have access to personal career coaching as soon as you are accepted by the Graduate School, so you don’t have to wait until classes begin to start working with our career advisors and continue to use their services up to two years post graduation.
Even if you have a solid grasp of your values and skills, career coaching can help you:
- Think strategically about your key accomplishments
- See how you can apply your previous experience and expertise in a new field
- Focus your energy on the best next steps
- Develop a career path that leads to the work you really want to do
- Evaluate and expand your professional network
Top Competencies
As the sustainability field matures, employers look for skills beyond technical expertise. The issues and challenges are complex, global, and interconnected. People working on solving these challenges need to have the ability and the training to think strategically and systemically, and work collaboratively across many disciplines. Do you have these skills?
- Engaging with stakeholders
- Planning and developing strategy
- Influence and persuasion
- Conducting research and analysis
- Project management
- Measuring and reporting impact
Salaries and the Value of a Master’s Degree
According to industry reports, the average annual salary of employees in the Environmental, Health, Safety, and Sustainability field is approximately $100,000, with 45% making more than that amount, and there has been an upward trend in recent years. Employees with master’s degrees earn approximately 10% more than those without. The value of a master’s degree accrues over time, becoming increasingly valuable with age, easily exceeding $250,000 over the course of a thirty-year career. Learn more on our blog:
Career and Professional Development Resources
- Resources and services provided by Virginia Tech's Career and Professional Development
- Sustainability career information and networks
- Sustainability job boards and job search tips
Use your VT login to access.