In order to learn more about a profession, it is important to talk to alumni and other colleagues who are working in your area of interest. To help, we include alumni profiles online and in our alumni magazines.

Alumni Profile for Green Careers

Abby Hahne ’09 MPA (UIS) ’07 ACES (UI) is an Environmental Programs Manager for the American Lung Association in Illinois. In this position, she works with a team of environmental staff to develop indoor and outdoor air quality programming for the Upper Midwest Region through grant opportunities and partnerships with various industry stakeholders. Previously, Ms. Hahne worked at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, as a Sustainability Coordinator, where she developed numerous energy saving, recycling, composting, curricular, and related projects and programs to integrate sustainability into North Central student life.

1. What are your current projects?
I am currently working with a team of environmental staff on various outdoor and indoor air quality outreach and awareness campaigns. Our team utilizes several marketing, business, and environmental management strategies to establish capital for building and promoting alternative fuel infrastructure, reducing diesel emissions, improving home building standards, encouraging the use of “green” products, and many other air quality initiatives.

2. How did you get to this point in your career?
When I began my education, I initially thought I wanted to be in the field focusing on natural resource management. By the time I graduated, I realized I was more drawn to pollution prevention and sustainability practices. My work with North Central College afforded me the opportunity to gain the knowledge and experience to execute the multi-state projects I am currently working on with the American Lung Association in Illinois and the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest.

3. Where are the opportunities for growth in this field? OR What trends are you seeing in your industry?
Over the past several years, focusing on the triple bottom line (people, planet, profit) has aided numerous industries (private corporations, municipalities, higher education institutions, etc.) in developing energy, recycling, composting, and alternative transportation initiatives aimed at reducing costs and overall environmental impact. Many are using the notoriety from “green” project implementation to get the attention of consumers and competitors.

4. What are your suggestions for candidates looking for a “green” career?
There are many different sects within the green industry and it is important to gain a general understanding of the business and policy end of each of these. Becoming educated and networking with other professionals can lead to the niche within the industry that is right for you.

Ms. Hahne graduated with a Master’s of Arts in Environmental Planning and Management from University of Illinois, Springfield, while working at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Federal Site Remediation Section, and received a Bachelor’s of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

Green Careers appear in a wide variety of industries and utilize a broad base of knowledge and skills. You can still register for the June 20 Web-panel to hear from other alumni, "Where Can You Work in the World of Green Careers?"

1871 is a collaborative entrepreneurial technology hub located in the Merchandise Mart with 225 start-ups working out of it. Last year they created 800 jobs of which 173 were full-time, 313 were temporary and 205 were internships. These start-ups plan to hire 1,342 people over the next 12 months with 449 anticipated to be full time and 428 anticipated to be temporary.

1871 offers tremendous opportunities for experienced professionals, young professionals, as well as, recent graduates trying to gain experience. Depending on the start-up’s goals and needs, an experienced professionals, may consider using their strengths or areas of expertise to help the owner further develop and grow their business. For a recent graduate or a new professional who needs to develop skills, a temporary position or internship would be a great way to gain some experience.

Temporary positions or internship can always lead to full-time employment, but more importantly, they provide candidates with the visibility to show their skills, abilities and overall competencies to many entrepreneurs in the 1871 hub who might have a job down the line.
 

Are you in transition or contemplating a career change? Would you like your next job to be related to your interest or passion for making the world "greener" or a more "environmentally safe" place to live? If your response to these questions is yes, join us for a panel of representatives from the Green and Sustainability industries discussing where you can work in the world of green careers on Thursday, June 20 from 7-8 PM, Central time. Panelists will present an overview of their work and critical transferable skills needed for a broad array of positions in their industries. Learn how you can leverage and transfer your skills, knowledge and abilities into one of these industries and overcome the challenges of breaking into a new field.

Guest panelists:

• Ed Choklek ’85 ENG (UI), Director of Business Development at FGM Architects
• Cynthia Klein-Banai, Ph.D. ’10 SPH (UIC), Associate Chancellor for Sustainability at University of Illinois at Chicago
• Ajit Vaidya, P.E. '92 ENG (UI), Section Chief, Remedial Response Section 1, Superfund Division at Environmental Protection Agency Region 5

Registration deadline is Thursday, June 20, at 2 PM Central Time.

Register by:
(1) clicking on the following link to reach the list of current Alumni Career Center webinars, and the registration page: http://www.cvent.com/d/4cqvzm

(2) by calling the Alumni Career Center at 312/575-7830 Monday-Friday between 8:30 AM and 5 PM Central Time, OR

(3) by sending an email to the contact email listed below indicating the program(s) which you would like to attend. Program materials and webinar access information will be emailed to registrants at the end of the business day on Wednesday, June 19.

Alumni Career Center programs are supported in part by Annual and Life Members gifts to the UIAA.

During an interview, employers are trying to find out …

1. Do you have the skills to do the job
2. What is it that motivates you
3. Will you fit within their organization

When exploring cultural fit employers look beyond skills and start to assess whether your personality traits or characteristics, values, attitudes and behaviors on the job etc. are similar or compatible with their organization. For example an organization may value and look for integrity in a candidate and ask, “Tell me about a time when your integrity was challenged. How did you handle it?

Responding to these types of questions honestly is important because, after all, fit will help to determine if you will be happy and successful in that role and at that company. Preparing a response is two-fold and begins with understanding who you are, what you value and what is important to you followed by researching and understanding who the employer is, what the employer values and what is important to them. Aligning or matching your values to those of the employer's and having the stories that support the employer's values is what your response should focus on.

For exercises to help you learn more about yourself visit the "Exploring Career Change and Identifying Transferable Skills" sections under the "Career Choice" tab located in the Virtual Career Center.

During an interview, employers are trying to find out …
1. Do you have the skills to do the job
2. What is it that motivates you
3. Will you fit within their organization

Research has shown that a candidate who likes and is interested in what they do, are more likely to perform better on the job. To find out what motivates a candidate, an employer will ask questions such as, “What did you like or dislike about your previous job?” or “What would you change in your previous job?” These types of questions provide the employer with insight into what the candidate enjoys doing and what the candidate’s preferences are. For example, what is the candidate’s orientation to working in teams, working with numbers, taking on risk, or interacting with people.

Responding to these types of questions honestly is important because, after all, finding a job that you will enjoy and be happy in will ultimately help you to preform better and ultimately be more successful in that role and at that company. Preparing a response is two-fold and begins with understanding what you value and what is important to you followed by reviewing the job description and understanding what is needed for the position. If what is needed for the position matches what is important or valued by the candidate, then the candidate may be a good person for that job.

For exercises to help you learn more about yourself visit the "Exploring Career Change and Identifying Transferable Skills" sections under the "Career Choice" tab located in the Virtual Career Center.