How to build an environmentally conscious career — even when you’re not in a sustainability field.
Interest in environmental careers is on the rise as more people understand the effects of climate change and want to make a difference. According to the Department of Labor Statistics, employment of environmental scientists and specialists is projected to grow about eight percent over the next ten years. And while this is faster than the average for all occupations, not everyone can end up as a scientist or climate change analyst. So, what can you do if you are passionate about the environment, but find yourself working in a completely different field?
Even if you’re not directly working for an environmental nonprofit, a green tech company or the government, you can still make career path choices that align with your dedication to seeing the environment protected and rehabilitated.
We recently interviewed Austin Schofield, a Marina Success Manager at The Wanderlust Group, how he has approached building a career that would also enable him to build a life as a conservationist.
This piece is part of our ongoing interview series with the people behind The Wanderlust Group. You can learn more our company and view open jobs here.
Tell me a bit about how you got into this work. What drew you to working at Wanderlust?
So if you ask anyone who knows me they knew it was only a matter of time before I got a job in the marine industry. I was incredibly fortunate to grow up on the water and raised by my family who is just as crazy about boating as me. After college I took the first job offer I got and locked my way in a big corporate office but still scampered off to the ocean every chance I got. Then after having a bad experience trying to book a transient mooring, I went online looking for a better way and I came across Dockwa, a Wanderlust brand. After meeting the team I knew from that moment, the Wanderlust Group was the only place I wanted to work.
I then proceeded to call and email Matt and Dan [The Wanderlust Group’s sales leaders] every month for two years until they finally offered me a job. I am still not sure if they thought I was a good candidate or just were tired of me calling. Now I am working my dream job with an amazing team. What is better than being paid to talk fishing and boating all day long?!
You’re passionate about conservation. With some clear exceptions, I see a lot of companies pretty much opt-out of that discussion, dismissing it as not really a business issue. What do you think of that argument?
To be frank, I think these companies are just too afraid to step up to the plate and take a leadership role. Climate change is real. It is here, and it is already beginning to affect business across all sectors. Overall maritime industries are the first to feel the impact of this. All marinas rely on healthy ecosystems to survive. If you have polluted waters due to run off or other sources, then boaters are not going to want to spend time on the water.
Fishing is a major driver for traffic at marinas. We have seen a huge shift in the way anglers approach fisheries. One of my favorite fish to catch is the stripe bass (rockfish). Growing up in the 1990s, these fish were so prevalent in bays that you could nearly walk on them. But then a combination of environmental factors and overfishing took a toll on the population. Stocks took a dive, and anglers took notice. Since then there has been more focus around education on conservation in fishing and in how we care for our harbors.
Today, for example, there is a far greater focus on catch and release among anglers with minimal impact on these fish. It’s been so exciting to watch this change. The whole community has begun to focus on the value this fish has to seaside industries. It draws in tourists who travel to try their luck. These fish drive boat sales, boat service, tackle sales. Above all else, it brings people together to share time on the water. Research shows that time on the water and in the outdoors as a whole endears people to the notion of protecting their environment.
Can you share some of the ways you’ve seen marinas and boaters become more conservation focused?
Whether we like it or not, the marine industry is among the first to feel the impact of climate change and other environmental issues. To be honest, it has really been a mixed bag when it comes to how marinas respond to this threat. I’m encouraged though by a growing list of environmentally conscious marinas that have reacted quickly, making changes to practice more environmentally-sound operating and maintenance methods.
Some of the best approaches to conservation come when marinas, boaters, local government and other stakeholders come together to address an issue. One of the most widely known efforts is that of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and its partners to clean up Boston Harbor and the surrounding river system. That immense effort took one of the dirtiest harbors in the country and transformed it into one of the cleanest.
But I also love the story of Captains for Clean Water. This is a nonprofit that started when a couple of fishing guides grew more and more concerned about the deteriorating water quality in south Florida. They have since worked closely with local stakeholders such as marinas, other guides, and recreational boaters to advocate for an overhaul of Florida’s water quality policies. By developing close ties to the affected communities they have been able to amplify their message and start to drive real change. This has really set an example for what modern conservation looks like.
How conscious have you been in your career path about picking companies or roles that align with your interest in conservation?
To be honest at first not very, and I quickly regretted that. I think there was something in my persistence about pursuing a role at The Wanderlust Group that changed that in me.
It’s just energizing to be surrounded by passionate people. Being able to spend time working in a space you care about is invaluable. And it’s more than just the culture. The Wanderlust Group’s four-day work week policy allows me to spend time volunteering with organizations that help protect my local watershed.
How would you advise others who want to choose jobs with environmental conservation in mind? What questions should they ask of hiring companies?
Find your north star, and let it guide you. If you care about environmental impact, make it a steady lens through which find and evaluate opportunities. You may end up with options you didn’t even know existed.
There are so many ways that you can have a career with a positive impact on the environment, and it won’t always be as direct as you think. The Wanderlust Group is not a nonprofit, but its focus on the outdoors puts me in conversation with people experiencing and responding to climate change every day. And through our four-day work-week and unlimited vacation policy, I now have more time to dedicate to conservation without the risk of burning myself out.
When you’re interviewing for a new job, I have found it helpful to ask questions about areas of advocacy that employees are pursuing in and out of the office. Always check to see there are any organizations that the company has a direct relationship with and are helping to support. In the end it’s up to you to decide whether or not a company really cares about these issues or if it is just lip service. The overall passion of the employees can tell you a great deal about the culture.
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