Category Archives: Smart Infrastructure

Smart applications to energy, water and other infrastructure

Environmental Jobs: 8 Critical Job Skills You Will Need to Land A Good One

Environmental Jobs are Hot in 2013

Environmental Jobs Are A Knowledge and Relationship Driven Market

Have you heard the saying "It's not what you know but who you know."  In this "new normal" economy, knowledge and relationships as well as strong skills are the keys to acquiring high level environmental jobs. If you are a environmental engineering  or science graduate or experienced environmental professional seeking a new position, here are some important knowledge areas and skills you need to showcase in your resume in 2013 .

  1. Knowledge of Environmental Regulations: New and updated environmental regulations will force companies to find ways to stay in compliance. Environmental professionals will have to translate these changes into solutions  that meet compliance and lessen financial liabilities. Environmental regulations are a key driver for the creation of environmental jobs.
  2. Knowledge of Sustainability Principles: It is important to understand that Sustainability has different definitions and levels of acceptance in different industries. If you are seeking corporate environmental jobs, learning these definitions and how to develop profit streams from them will lead stronger opportunities.
  3. Business Development/Sales : Relationships are a key component of environmental jobs. Environmental professionals must have "relationship capital" ( ie. trust and expertise) with qualified clients, regulators and stakeholders to sell their services and bring in profits over the long term
  4. Technical Skills & Knowledge of New Environmental Technologies: Professionals who can execute the basic technical tasks of their profession using the latest environmental technologies will find it somewhat easier to protect their careers because they can pursue opportunities in consulting, corporate and entrepreneurship. 
  5. Financial Management & Project Funding:  Many new environmental projects will require private investment, alternate funding sources like crowd funding and a higher level of financial accountability. There will many clients who will be dependent on these resources to pay for their projects. Strong environmental consultants will know how to pull these funds together.
  6. Project Management: Environmental professionals will have to be more adept at project management; coaching, motivating and recruiting people as well as interpreting the new domestic and international environmental regulations. All of these areas will have a significant impact on the profitability and delivery of projects.
  7. Knowledge of Cyber Security:  Why would an environmental professional need to know about this? Good question. Certain parts of our country's infrastructure are vulnerable to cyber attacks and could be used create massive disasters, if breached.  Many new environmental jobs in the information technology space will focus on infrastructure cyber security, disaster prevention and recovery.
  8. Political & Legal Savvy:  Environmental and infrastructure projects are often politically charged because of the fight between environmental concerns and  the need to create jobs. Environmental professionals will have to navigate these issues without losing sight of their client's objectives. Further, they will have to learn how to engage the public on complex environmental topics.

Environmental Jobs Will Be Hot For Years to Come. Are You Ready?

In a past articles, we have discussed how much the environmental industry has grown and some of the sectors that growing faster than average.  I will continue this trend but I want to hear from our readers. Here is what I like to know

  1. What areas of the environmental sectors interest you?
  2. What jobs do you want to know more about?

Thanks for reading and your feedback

  

Related Articles

 
Enhanced by Zemanta

Cyber Security Jobs Ramp Up For Future Cyber Attacks

The purpose of this article to alert jobs seekers to potential jobs. It is no way a promotion or endorsement of any type of cyber attack or crime. 

Military Shifts Focus  to Cyber Security Jobs And Warfare

Wall Street Journal reporter Julian Barnes  recently wrote an article titled “ Pentagon Digs In on Cyberwar Front where he talks about how the military and the rest of the federal government is building its cyber security and warfare capabilities. This build up is in response to a number of  recent cyber attacks against the government agencies and critical parts of our country’s infrastructure. It is also a response to the emerging ” Cyber Militias” springing up in countries across the world who are engaging in unsanctioned attacks on other countries. ( See article State of Cyber Warfare Threat).

Why You Should Know This Information

In this era of budget cuts and recessions, fast growing, well paying jobs are important to everyone. Many of us know someone who is unemployed or underemployed who is looking to better their career. These jobs may not be for everyone but the knowledge that they are coming is a good thing. Here is something else you should know:

After the Stuxnet Incident, a US News & World Report article reported that the ”federal government may have to hire up to 10,000 cyber security analysts and the private sector thousands more.” Couple this information with the purported $14 Billion of investment in Smart grid cyber security, the job market for cyber security will be robust for years to come.

 

 Related articles

Enhanced by Zemanta

Natural Gas Cyber Attack Confirms $14 Billion Investment In Cyber Security Jobs

 My goal is to make the job seeking public aware that problems like cyber attacks can  lead  to job opportunities. Links are provided to allow the reader to read the original information.

Cyber Attack : A Real Threat To Infrastructure

In March of 2012 Pike Research, a marketing and research firm issued a report“Smart Grid Cyber Security” where they discussed the $14 Billion investment needed in smart grid cyber security in the utilities sector. Here is a quote from that report that should widen your perspective on why this level of investment is needed:

“As some technologies, such as smart metering, near a decade of thought and deployment, the approach to cyber security has become more thoughtful. One thing, unfortunately, has not changed: cyber security is still way behind the attackers.”- Pike Research Senior Analyst Bob Lockhart

Natural Gas Pipeline Cyber Attack Shows Problems & Opportunity

In May 2012, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)  revealed  that hackers have made a concerted effort to attack natural gas supply controls systems. ABCNews and FOXDC  both reported  the attackers allegedly used social media, e-mail and other websites to target employees and lure them into divulging passwords to critical systems and sensitive information. My regular readers know that I have written about the emergence and importance of cyber security jobs before but now I want to reinforce how these jobs are more critical than ever. Here is why:

  •  It has been widely reported that utility companies may not have all of people and resources needed to avert future cyber attacks. 
  • Hackers are using more sophisticated methods to attack infrastructure related systems.
  • As the smart grid build out continues, security will be a constant need

To get ahead of this threat, government agencies such as the FBI, DOD, technology, utility and energy companies are positioning themselves to hire hundreds (if not thousands) of computer security analysts and engineers. Some major colleges and universities like University of Maryland -Baltimore County (UMBC) have developed specific degree programs which are recognized by top employers.

 What You Need to Do

If you are an IT professional or job seeker here are some tips that could help your career:

  1. Find out more information on the CISSP certification, job skills and training you need to qualify for these opportunities
  2. Find out which colleges and universities offer degrees and classes for this field
  3. Subscribe to credible resources which provide the latest information on industry trends
  4. Attend conferences and networking groups to meet other professionals who can open doors to the “Hidden Job Market”
Thanks for reading. We look forward to your comments.

Related Articles

Enhanced by Zemanta

Water: A Well Spring of Hot New Jobs

Water:  A Source of Jobs

Alabama, Florida and Georgia are in court fighting over it. Western States like Arizona, Colorado and California have a shortage of it. It has caused millions of dollars of damage in the Midwest.  What is it? -Water. Clean water is a hot issue across the US because it is essential life and our economy. Many areas of the US are struggling to find more sources of water to meet the demand of their growing populations. Yet most job seekers are unaware of the potential jobs available in protecting this vital resource. Here are some reasons why job seekers should consider a career in the water industry:

  1. High Number of Job Openings: Like other utility companies, water companies and engineering consultants are faced with a large number of retirements in their engineering, operations and maintenance ranks. This exodus is not just a loss of numbers but also a loss of institutional knowledge (Knowledge Capital). They will need well trained people to step into the open positions.
  2. High Investment Potential: It is well publicized that our country’s water infrastructure needs at least $ 1 trillion dollars of investment to get it modern standards. While this level of investment will not happen at once, governments, water authorities and politicians know the work needs to be done and projects will create well paying jobs. One of the hottest areas of water jobs will be flood and storm water management.
  3. Increased Regulations: Believe or not, increased regulatory standards are good in some cases because they provide standards to protect the water supply from potential threats such as terrorism and pollution. The water industry is also entering into “Smart Grid” technology with the deployment of high tech water meters and quality monitors.
  4. Low numbers of trained professionals: The retirements of “baby boomers” will leave a wealth of job opportunities but a dearth of knowledge in some geographic areas. Trained and experienced water professionals who choose to move into the areas will have good prospects for jobs.

 What You Should Do For Your Water Job

  1. Investigate the water industry for career opportunities on H2Opportunity website especially  water treatment plant operator
  2. Research at the vast array of companies in the water industry across the Internet
  3. Look at the American Water Works Association (AWWA) website
  4. Read the articles below
  5. Subscribe to Hinton Human Capital

Related Articles

Enhanced by Zemanta

Smart Grid Cybersecurity Virtual Conference To Highlight New Technology

Smart Grid Cyber Security is a $10 Billion per year business. Without it, our country’s plans for energy efficiency and security would be hindered by cyber attacks, systems failures and natural disasters (solar storms). This conference will highlight some of the new initiatives and technologies rolling out in the coming years . For those who are looking for potential job opportunities with Smart Grid Technologies, here are some general types of  jobs which should see growth from Cyber Security initiatives.

  • Enterprise Architect
  • Software Engineer
  • Systems Analyst
  • Database Architect
  • Business Analyst
  • Hardware Engineer

Our goal is to make  job seekers aware of the opportunities in this fast growing field.

More Conference Information

Related articles

Enhanced by Zemanta