7 Tips for Zig-Zagging Your Way to a Successful Career In Solar

When you work in solar, Earth Day becomes a particularly special holiday. Not only is it a chance to personally reflect on our climate impact, both good and bad, over the past year, but it’s also an opportunity to welcome new people into the industry. After all, what’s better than having even more mission-driven colleagues and friends to help us tackle climate change?

One curious thing I noticed is that many newcomers to solar are surprised to learn that solar professionals come from all across the spectrum and that most of us did not begin our careers in solar. Solar wasn’t plan A or plan B. It was more like plan Z. We somehow fell into the industry by happy accident and then fell in love with the technology and community.

Earth Day is important to so many of us in the solar industry. Hear from more solar experts here.

Then one day, I was listening to my kid’s favorite song “Electric Car” by They Might be Giants and thought to myself, “What am I doing? How did I get here?”

So, I charted a different course, one that aligned with my original motivation to tackle climate change. The difference this time — I understood better the energy landscape and the opportunities that were available to me. I also now had a professional network to help support me.

As a first step, I published an analysis of the income distribution of solar in Austin. Then I founded Bodhi. What I love most is talking and collaborating with other solar professionals. That’s how I realized this was the industry for me.

My unconventional career trajectory is proof that you don’t have to have a strong background in renewable energy in order to succeed. Instead, there are just a few things you need to keep in mind. Below, I’m sharing my top tips for a successful career in solar.

Tip #1: Just get in

You do not necessarily need to land your dream job in solar right at the outset — especially because you might not even know what it is yet! Instead, just focus on getting your foot in the door. One woman I know, Sarah Matchett, literally got her start on people’s rooftops. She knew she wanted to break into solar but didn’t know how. So, she approached a local installer and was able to intern on residential projects for a summer. Three years later, she’s now the business development manager at DWS Energy, a major solar EPC.

At the beginning of your career, don’t give too much thought to where in the industry is the optimal job. In solar, there’s so much to do that even if you come in doing one thing and one role, as long as you’re motivated, you can easily learn the skills and grow into a different role. Focus on finding an entry point, learning the industry’s jargon, and the rest will follow suit.

Tip #2: Results speak louder than degrees

This is an industry that doesn’t care what you majored in or what titles you held in your pre-solar career. What it does care about is the ability to get things done. For example, Jenna Neumann, the president of iVee League Solar was first a fifth grade teacher. How did she make the switch? “I focused on my transferable skills: An ability to manage chaotic situations, stay organized even in complex work environments, and work with people from all different backgrounds.”

That sounds just like what the day in the life of a solar professional is like, and that’s why her first job in solar as the general manager of a solar installation company was so successful.

If you’re coming from a wildly different career, zoom out and ask yourself what skills you’ve developed that might be beneficial to a solar company. Are you great with numbers? Great with people? Great at project management? Once you’ve defined your talents, figure out the best stories and associated metrics that you can use on your resume and in interviews. And even if you’re already in renewable energy, remember that a relevant title or pursuing an MBA won’t guarantee you your next job. Learning on the job and staying results-oriented are the best ways to have a meaningful and successful solar career.

Tip #3: Find your cheerleader

Once you’ve found your first solar job, it’s incredibly important to find your cheerleader within the company. This is someone who is more than just a mentor. This person isn’t just there to offer you advice — they’re there to open doors and invest in you. My first cheerleader was Harold Vinegar, the Chief Scientist of Shell. I was just a year out of school, but he gave me opportunities to present the status of major initiatives to the leadership team at Shell. He also advocated for my promotion, well ahead of the normal timeline.

If no one in your organization has naturally stepped up to fill this role, don’t be afraid to ask. Choose someone who has the role you want or is part of the team you dream of joining. Tell them that you’d like to have a career similar to theirs. This will flattered them, and they will most likely want to help. Many folks in the solar industry want to bolster new employees. They just may need a little nudge.

Tip #4: The less you talk, the more effective you’ll be

If you’ve spent any time around sales people, you may have heard the old adage: The best way to sell is to not talk. It’s a tip that many sales experts swear by, but the truth is that it’s relevant for far more than just the sales team. No matter what department you work in, or which part of the value chain you represent in solar, the less that you talk, the more you listen, and the more effective you’ll be.

Chances are that if you approach conversations looking to speak only 20% of the time and listen the other 80%, the person you’re talking to will say, “I really enjoyed talking to you.” And with that, you’ve just made yourself a friend, supporter, or a champion.

Furthermore, there is so much to learn and so many things changing in this industry, that the best thing you can do is listen. Use your voice strategically, so that when you speak it’s because you’ve truly understood everyone in the room and can address them in the most effective way.

“Do yourself the favor of doing great work now, and you’ll never have to worry about taking that big leap into the unknown.”

Tip #6: If you’re stuck, choose the option with the best anecdotal value

There are also going to be times in your career when you have no idea what to do. Multiple options may seem like the correct path, and your boss or your team will have no opinion to sway you one way or another. In these moments, choose the option that has the best anecdotal value.

This may sound glib, but I promise it’s one of the best tips I can pass on. After all, the best leaders have a strong sense of narrative. They have many tales in their toolbox so that they can better sway audiences. By picking the option with the best anecdotal value, you ensure that, even if you fail, you’ll have a great story to tell your grandkids or simply to use to hold the room at the next solar party. (Ask me about treasure hunting in the Judean desert next time we talk 😀)

Tip #7: Have a north star

Finally, once you’re in solar, you’ll realize that the industry offers infinite possibilities for motivated and passionate employees. You’ll have the opportunity to choose between big and small companies, dozens of different kinds of roles, and countless different visions of how to accelerate the adoption of solar. All of this choice can be overwhelming if you don’t have a strong sense of what you ultimately want from your career.

That’s why, no matter how much you zig-zagged to get into the industry, once you’re firmly in solar, it’s important to have a north star that will help guide you in each career decision. Take the time to reflect on this personal philosophy and stay true to it. It will make your time in solar all the more rich and fulfilling.