Career Resources

Are you interested in pursuing a career in sustainability, corporate social responsibility, international development, socially responsible investing, nonprofit management, social entrepreneurship or other emerging fields?

The center works closely with the Office of Career Services to connect students to the resources, opportunities and contacts they need to be successful.

Job Outlook

As more businesses begin to recognize the importance of incorporating sustainable and socially responsible practices into their core strategies--and the economic benefits of doing so--job opportunities in these types of fields will continue to grow. Likewise, opportunities to work in and with nonprofits and government, applying business solutions and models to address global issues, will continue to increase.

• For a snapshot of the current corporate sustainability job landscape, visit consultant Ellen Weinreib's database of yearly job reports.
• Boston College publishes an annual Profile of the Profession report that details jobs in corporate citizenship.

Tips for Job Seekers

Jobs in these types of fields usually don't follow the typical on-campus recruitment path that so many others do, so job seekers must be creative, proactive and START EARLY.

1. Build your knowledge base and stay current on trends in your chosen industry and field. Read everything you can get your hands on, including books, articles, research reports and blogs. The center maintains a resource library with many of the leading books and publications in these fields, and can refer interested job seekers to numerous other resources as well. See Key Resources below.
2. Join clubs. Build your networks and gain valuable leadership opportunities. View the list of clubs affiliated with the center.
3. Attend conferences. These provide invaluable networking opportunities. Many students end up with informational, internship and/or job interviews after meeting professionals at conferences. The center hosts the Social Enterprise Symposium each spring, bringing to campus a number of organizations and individuals from across sectors and industries. Other conferences include:
   • Net Impact National Conference
   • Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) Annual Conference
   • Sustainable Brands Conference
   • Global Corporate Citizenship Conference, hosted by the U.S. Chamber's BCLC
   • Investors' Circle Conference
   • Social Enterprise Alliance Summit
4. Utilize online job boards and social networking. Sites like JustMeans and LinkedIn are great places to connect with individuals and organizations you'd like to work for.
5. Get hands-on experience and add to your resume while still in school. The center offers a number of experiential learning opportunities that allow students to explore their interests, including the Social Venture Consulting Program, global field projects, the Global Challenge, the Terp Changemaker team and more.

For more helpful job-seeking tips, pick up a copy of Profession and Purpose: A Resource Guide for MBA Careers in Sustainability, by Katie Kross.

Key Resources

Also, consider Net Impact's Corporate Careers That Make a Difference, a comprehensive guide to help students and young professionals chart their careers in corporate responsibility and sustainability. The guide is free to Net Impact members. Members can download the guide from their website.

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