Which Natural Energy Career is Right for You?

We’ve broken the natural energy jobs discussed in this JobMonkey section into four main categories in order to make it simpler for you to pinpoint where your interests might lie.

In the “Construction” category, we’ve included jobs that are more hands-on, where you will be involved with the actual building and installing of natural energy structures like wind turbines, solar panels and dams. In the “Management” category, we’ve included jobs that are more supervisory, which involve overseeing operations of natural energy structures and developments, like working as an operator at a power plant or helping to manage natural energy installations as a project manager. In the “Development” category, you will find jobs that are essential to the implementation of natural energy structures and organizations, like resource analysts who help determine if an area’s natural energy resources (like wind) are adequate for the creation of a natural energy structure (like a wind turbine farm). Finally, in the “Assessment and Awareness” category, you’ll find jobs that deal with the maintenance of ongoing operations of natural energy structures and organizations, like safety specialists and NGO professionals.

Would You Prefer a Hands-On Job or a Desk Job?

Since there is such a broad spectrum of natural energy jobs out there, it’s best to start with the really basic questions when you are trying to figure out which natural energy job is best for you.

Are you interested in hands-on work, like construction, where you will be physically active and likely will be spending a lot of time outdoors? Or are you interested in more technical hands-on work, like working as a scientist in a lab? Or would you prefer to wear a suit and work the standard nine-to-five desk job? You will find more hands-on jobs in the “Construction” and “Management” categories, while jobs in the “Development” and “Assessment and Awareness” categories will likely allow you to spend more time in an office building.

How Much Time and Money Do You Want to Give to Education?

Some of the jobs listed here require significantly more in terms of educational requirements than others. If you are looking for work as an engineer, for example, you will need a bachelor’s degree at the least. On the other hand, if you want to work as a construction worker, you will need little more than a high school education, if that. Determining the amount of time and money you are willing and able to give to your education will help you narrow down the field to find the right natural energy job for you.

What Skills Can You Bring to the Table?

Take a moment to consider what skills and assets you already possess which might be useful in the natural energy field. If you’re extremely skilled at math, engineering might interest you. If you have a knack for organizing and overseeing projects, you might be interested in becoming a project supervisor. If you’re a people person and are interested in fields like advertising or public relations, consider working for a natural energy NGO.

What Are Your Interests?

Ultimately one of the most important things to consider when choosing which natural energy career you want to pursue is your personal interests. Is there a certain field of natural energy that you find particularly exciting? Maybe the thought of being part of operations at an enormous hydroelectric dam sparks your interest, or maybe you find the idea of working on rooftops to install solar panels appealing. Determining your interests is essential. There are loads of job options in the natural energy field and demand for qualified workers will be high in all sectors, so if you find a field you are particularly interested in and make the effort to fulfill the educational and training requirements, odds are you will end up getting your dream job.