Speculative applications for graduate jobs in the environment sector
Getting a graduate job in the environment sector rarely involves filling in an online application form or attending an assessment centre, as many vacancies are unadvertised. Small and local businesses and voluntary organisations make up a significant proportion of employers offering careers in conservation, ecology, biodiversity and sustainability. They may prefer to avoid the expense of advertising – and there is such a strong interest in the environment sector that they may be able to meet all their recruitment needs from speculative applications. But don’t panic – tapping into the hidden job market is easier than you may think.
Think about where within the environment sector you want to work
The best way to find a graduate environmental role is to send out speculative applications, which means providing your employers with your CV and an enquiry letter rather than applying for specific vacancies. Before you start writing, you need to work out what sort of environmental role you want, then identify organisations that might offer you the right opportunity. Do you want to work for a traditional environment employer such as a conservation charity, or take up a corporate social responsibility (CSR) position within a multinational retail group? Research each individual organisation and make notes on the skills they value, the departments you’d like to work for, and whether they encourage applicants and people with general enquiries to contact them via e-mail or by post. Then assess and analyse your skills and see how they match up. The most important thing to do in a speculative application is show why you’ve got what it takes to fill a graduate vacancy. A graduate environmental engineer will need different skills from an environment education officer or a trainee woodland warden.
Address your speculative environmental application to the right person
Sending out hundreds of two-page letters to ‘Whom it may concern’ begging for a job is not the way to go about securing an interview. It’s important to find a named contact to write to. For example, someone with hiring power within the team you’re interested in is more likely to reply than the company’s human resources manager. You may be able to find the information you need on the organisation’s website, but if not, give them a call. Find out the name of the best person to contact about graduate job opportunities and if you’re feeling brave, ask to be put through to them. If you speak to them before you write, you’ll find out straight away if they’ve got any immediate vacancies and your name should ring a bell when your letter arrives.
Write a concise, specific letter to land a graduate environmental role
There are few structured training programmes for graduates interested in environmental roles, so don’t write as though you are applying for one. Instead, use your research to draft a letter that shows you are the perfect candidate for any junior roles that arise within your chosen specialism. Make sure your CV is full of relevant information and experience – adapt it for different applications if necessary – and write a clear, concise covering letter to accompany it. Proof-read everything carefully, as spelling mistakes or poor grammar and punctuation are likely to mean your application ends up in the bin.
Bear in mind that the company may not be recruiting at the time you write, so ask for your details to be kept on file (most employers will do this for a period of six months). Keep copies of all correspondence so you’ve got something to refer to when – out of the blue – you get a phone call inviting you to an interview. Also ensure you provide contact details that won’t change such as your parents’ address and your email address, rather than just a mobile phone number.
Network your way to a career in the environment sector
It’s never too early to start networking your way to a job offer. The more people there are who know what you want, the more likely you are to get it. Ask your family, friends and past employers if they know anyone who works in an environmental role and have a chat with them about their job. Even if they can’t help you directly, hearing their experiences will be of great value. Your university may have an official alumni network or your careers service may keep a list of past students who are willing to talk about their graduate job hunt.
