For the lazy and technically inept, it follows here too:
Alice Wignall
Saturday May 17, 2008
The Guardian
"I knew when I applied for my degree that was the kind of thing I wanted to do," she says. "I've always been very into environmental stuff and in thinking about creative ways of living so you can have a more sustainable and ethical life."
She opted for a fairly broad degree. "I didn't have a strong enough interest in pure science subjects," she says, "and the degree I did had creative aspects and a broad spectrum." She focused her studies on modules that related to the environment with a future career in mind. "Eventually I'd like to be supporting and encouraging business to make their processes more sustainable."
We asked Gary Parke, executive director of Evolve Energy, to mock interview Fowler for an entry-level job. "Our job is to deliver energy and carbon emissions savings," he says. "We generally work with large corporations with energy bills of over £1m." He explains that his company's work is motivated by both business interests and environmental concerns. "First of all, we did see a gap in the market," he says, "but the environmental factor is also a driver. Our clients want to see the evidence that we can save energy and cut costs. They are financially motivated but they also are drawn to the environmental message. It's part of our message that there is so much that can be done that both reduces energy use and saves money."
Similarly, Parke says his company is looking for people with a range of skills and interests. "Most importantly we're looking for people who are capable of problem solving, who are creative and innovative; who can sit down with our clients and figure out what the issue is for them and how we can solve it."
He also notes that the growth of "green" industries presents an immediate problem of a skills shortage which graduates can take advantage of. "There's an absolutely huge opportunity for people who are interested in this area," he says. "Nina is a classic example of someone with the right background in terms of a formal education who can see the opportunities in the job market. She's a fresh thinker and can bring a different perspective to a company."
Parke thought that Fowler has the right combination of conviction and practicality to make a success of a career in the environmental sector. "She's very honest, very open with her ideas," he says. "She's got very strong ideas and beliefs and she is able to communicate them, but she's not naive or arrogant about them. She would be a great person to work with clients, who can often be quite overwhelmed by the range of messages they're getting about sustainability, to talk to them, figure out what they're after and how we can deliver it for them."
He suggests that she could do more research into exactly what role she is interested in. "She will come across more clearly in interviews if she has a firm idea about that," he says. "But right now if you asked me if she was good raw material, I would say 'absolutely'."
Fowler says that she enjoyed the interview. "It was really good to meet Gary," she says. "He is obviously really passionate about what he does. From the point of view of the personal satisfaction he obviously gets from it, it's the kind of job I'd love to be doing." She also felt quite confident with the interview process. "I don't mind interviews too much," she says, "because I try to take time to answer the questions. I hope I came across well - I tried!"
Questions asked
· What are your qualities that you feel would best contribute to Evolve?
· Give an example of when you influenced the work of others. How did you achieve it? What were the outcomes?
· What are the main drivers for climate change?
· Which companies are exemplars in promoting sustainability? And why?
Scorecard
Appearance 8/10
Preparation 6/10
Employability 8/10
· If you are an undergraduate or recent graduate in need of a career blind date, send your CV to graduate@guardian.co.uk
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