Why Earth Day Is More Than Recycling That Stack of Paper

As we head closer to Earth Day, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, I wanted to update you on all the exciting elements we have planned for the next two weeks. Yes, while we all relate to the significance of the day as consumers who are gradually changing from chemical to natural, synthetic to organic, this Earth Day resonates with us at a much more personal level as informed professionals. With a static national unemployment rate and the economy barely past its recessionary level, we have a new decade of business to get used to. A green decade, that is.

Green jobs

And I say that not only because every expert I have spoken to predicts that the green job market will be responsible for propelling us out of this recession, but also because the few states that have managed to deter the rising unemployment scale are the ones who have taken on renewable and alternative energy projects as their mainstay for job creation. So, whether you are a job seeker, an executive or a professional looking to make a career move within your company or to another, the basics of the needs, demands and specializations the green job market offers will serve you well in your career path.

There is also another aspect that distinguishes Earth Day's 40th anniversary from any other year. It's the fact that CSR as a policy, a strategic choice and as a conversation is finally beginning to make a conscious presence in the office. While there is a long way to go for corporate social responsibility to be immersed in the way business is conducted, the argument and the discussion for its case is finally making the transition from advocacy to active board room contentions.

Corporate Social Responsibility

So this year we wanted to commemorate the day by focusing on two key aspects: 1) That sustainability and the Triple Bottom Line (People, Planet, Profit) as a way of thinking, whether you are strategizing new products and services, or making decisions of what company to work in, is inevitable to pervade our career life; and 2) The green job market, while requiring technical skills for some very specific jobs, remains accessible to all professional backgrounds and skill sets. And if it is going to be the great game changer of the decade for job creation, you might just want to be a part of it.

Celebrating Earth Day

In that spirit, below are some of the interviews and discussions planned for the coming weeks that we hope will provide you with necessary and relevant context for embarking on a talk on inculcating sustainability in your company and/or deciding on a green career.

1) Interview with Chief Sustainability Officer at EMC, Kathrin Winkler

2) Interview with Jeffrey Hollender, co-founder of Seventh Generation and CSR advocate

3) Book Review: The Responsibility Revolution: How the Next Generation of Businesses Will Win

And of course, here are some links to recent discussions and info on green careers, the green job market, peek into typical days in the life of green professionals and much more!

--"Go Green, Get Hired": Interview with Chris Russell, a veteran of the online job search business and founder of green job search engine Greenjobspider.com.

--Seven Reasons on Why Green is the Next Great Job Market: Guest Blog by Chris Russell

--Day in the Life: Chief Sustainability Officer

--Day in the Life: Sustainability Consultant

And of course, don't forget to leave a comment or email In Good Company with suggestions and questions. Or tweet if you will @VaultCSR!