Environment, Sustainability & Energy

There are a variety of career opportunities in the areas of environment, sustainability and energy. With so many options and industries to choose from, Yale students are encouraged to get involved with coursework and student organizations within their particular area of interest. They can also look for internships to allow them to immerse themselves within the industry over the summer. OCS advisors are available to meet with you individually to discuss the many options. Yale’s Office of Career Strategy participates in the All Ivy Environmental & Sustainability Career Fair which is open to all Yale students served by OCS.  This event occurs every spring at Columbia University and allows our students to engage with recruiters across these industries. Yale College juniors and seniors can use the Professional Development Reimbursement Program to cover their expenses.

 

Environment

Opportunities for a career focusing on the environment are available in the for profit, nonprofit and public sector.

  • Environmental jobs can range from private sector jobs with solar companies, environmental consulting firms, and engineering firms.
  • Nonprofit environmental activists promote environmental causes and work to influence public policy. Careers could involve urban planning, community organizing and communications with various shareholders. An environmental advocate could lobby for environmental legislation, organize protests and events, fundraise for an environmental organization, and work on press releases for the media.
  • Local, state and federal government careers provide a wide variety of positions for those interested in protecting ecosystems. Governments and public universities hire conservation scientists, environmental engineers, and geologists to conduct research, design projects, and shape policy.

Sustainability 

A career in sustainability focuses on reducing environmental and health-related risks while increasing organizational growth. Opportunities exist across sectors and industries.

  • Many for profit companies now consider sustainability to be a major consideration in their business model and therefore have sustainability strategies that need to be developed and implemented. They also hire engineers who use sustainable practices for reducing waste.  
  • There are scientists and researchers such as conservation scientists, microbiologists and atmospheric researchers.
  • Sustainable urban designers and builders have an increasing need as city governments recognize the importance of green architecture and reducing pollution.
  • Sustainable careers can be a part of a nonprofit community outreach team, managing direct services and overseeing educational programs for underserved populations.
  • There are sustainability opportunities in the legal profession, journalism, and policy.

Energy 

The energy industry includes electricity, natural gas, oil, and renewable energy technology. Many career opportunities exist within this industry and it reaches across all three sectors.

  • There are opportunities in engineering and business to join private sector employers, especially large oil or gas companies.
  • The nonprofit and government sectors allow for career paths in policy research or policy making.
  • The U.S. Department of Energy offers positions for a variety of job functions from research, engineering, marketing and finance.
  • Energy engineering focuses on the development and maintenance of technologies which are related to energy efficiency, environmental compliance, and alternative energy technologies. Specialties include:  drilling and petroleum, nuclear power, solar and/or wind energy, or  electrical systems.
  • Energy Economists analyze how new energy technologies entering the market will affect supply and demand in the energy industry. Looking at factors such as the methods and efficiency of energy production, distribution and consumption, economists play an important role in predicting and shaping future energy trends.

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Green Corps Environmental Leadership Training Program

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Explore Job Market InsightsIn partnership withLightcast logo

Search continually updated U.S. market trends to learn about job types (job functions), growth trends, and desired skills. The results will include general information about each job (functional area), employment trends from the past two years and projections for the next 10 years, employers that have that role, desired education level, skills for the position, and more!

TWO WAYS TO SEARCH:

  1. Find Career Data by Selecting Keywords: Enter keywords of various job titles and choose a state or search nationwide to learn more about that job.
  2. Filter by Industry and Occupation: Search by industry and choose among popular occupations/job titles within that industry.

First, choose an industry of interest, then filter for occupation. (If you'd like to see data for a specific location only, filter by state.)

Type in a keyword to select a relevant occupation. (If you'd like to see data for a specific location only, filter by state.)

YC Career Outcomes

The Office of Career Strategy collects information about Yale College graduates. This tool allows users to search outcomes by year and major. Please visit Statistics & Reports for more information on our data collection.

Helpful Tips for the Interactive Tool:

  • There is no Enter or Submit Button, results will appear automatically with your selections
  • The default search setting is ‘All Years’ or ‘All Majors’ and shows results across years and majors
  • You may choose specific years or majors for more granular results. Uncheck the selected major(s) to reset your search.
  • The tool returns results with at least five responses, for small majors, choosing ‘All Years’ is more likely to show results
  • To ensure confidentiality, results are reported in the aggregate and more granular data is not available through this tool.
  • First Destination Summaries are based on the knowledge rate of graduate outcomes six months after graduation according to National Association of Colleges and Employers guidelines.
  • If you require additional information contact the Office of Career Strategy

Most Recent Class Overview

Knowledge Rate Success Rate Mean Starting Salary Top Five Industries
90.3% of those graduating between July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023 94.0% employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation $89,622 among graduates employed full-time in the United States Education, Financial Services, Technology, Consulting, and Healthcare

 

  • First Destination
  • Top Employers
  • Employment Industry and Function
  • Size of the Organization
  • Starting Salary
  • Time of Year Offer Received
  • Internships, Research, and Study Abroad Experiences
  • First Destination Locations
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First Destination

First Destination refers to the postgraduate plans of Yale College graduates six months after graduation. The pursuits of Yale graduates include employment, graduate school, independent research, military service, and more.

CONTACT & LOCATION

Phone
(203) 432-0803
Email
careerstrategy@yale.edu
Website
http://ocs.yale.edu
Address

55 Whitney Avenue, 3rd Fl.
New Haven, CT 06510

SERVICE HOURS

Day of the week
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Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm 8:30am - 4:30pm

The office is closed weekends, holidays, and recess days.