Four Questions Not to Ask Your Green Career Contacts

As you launch your quest for a green career, you'll be asking your network a number of questions.

Unfortunately, a lot of the questions you may be tempted to ask are exactly the wrong ones to ask.

Before I list the questions you should avoid asking, let me explain the problems these questions create. Then I'll show you the questions to avoid and how to frame questions to meet your goals.

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Why You Don't Want to Ask Certain Questions

If you are reading this article, I assume you are talking to your network to find a position that will allow you to make a difference for your community and the planet. I also assume you've built, or are building, a network and you want your network to:

-- Have a positive impression of who you are and what you strive to do.

-- Look out for contacts, opportunities, and openings that match your interests.

-- Pass your name on to others you can talk to about your career goals.

The problem with the questions listed below is that they have the potential to sabotage your network's impression of you and your career plans. You are working too hard and investing too much to undermine your relationships with contacts by asking off-the-cuff questions that demonstrate:

-- You haven't done your own homework

-- You are hoping someone else will give you easy answers to complex questions

-- You are abdicating your power to others

-- You are not committed to making a solid impression

-- You are unwilling to do your own prep work

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Four Questions to Avoid Asking

If you want to demonstrate your professionalism and preparedness to your contacts, avoid asking these questions.

1) "I want a green career. What do you think I can do with my background?"

It's not your contacts' responsibility to help you figure out your career direction. Furthermore, it's nearly impossible for someone outside of yourself to determine where you'll fit in the green economy. It's a multi-faceted question that entails looking at your skills, interests, passions, education, work experience, volunteer experience, and your personality. It's unfair to ask others to answer this question. This is a question you need to ask and ponder yourself.

After you've defined the direction of your green niche, talk to your network to learn about contacts that specialize in that area.

"I'm interesting in getting into x industry/field/profession. Do you know anyone in these fields that would be willing to do an informational interview with me?"

If the person you are talking to knows something about your target industry/field/profession, focus on the following questions:

"I've been investigating the x industry/field/profession. Would you mind if I asked you a couple of questions? I'm looking for the key professional organizations. I've found s and t. Do you know of any other organizations I should be aware of?"

2) "What classes or degree will help me prepare for a green career?"

Your contacts have no way to answer this question. Each green career has its own training requirements. What's appropriate training for one career may not have any relevance for getting into another green career. Before you ask this question you must know your green niche. If you know what you want to do and you've done your own research about your training options, then you a better approach is:

"I want to do x or y. I'm considering these three training opportunities, a, b and c. What are your thoughts about these options? Are there any options I'm missing? From your perspective, what would be the pros and cons of each of these options?"

3) "What are the hot jobs in the green economy?"

What you are really telegraphing with this question is that you want someone else to tell you want to do in the green economy. Your contacts may know the popular jobs in their field, but they aren't likely to know the hot jobs in the entire green economy.

More importantly, even if you knew the hot jobs for the future, how do you know those jobs are a good fit for you, your personality, your needs, and your experience? In some ways this strategy is like throwing a dart at the green economy dart board and taking your chances.

A better approach is to ask:

"I've done some research on __________ (your target industry), and I know about these potential positions. Based on your knowledge of the industry, what positions do you see taking off over the next few years?"

Notice, to make this trends question really work, you need to know your target green industry and reach out to your network to confirm what you've found and to add to your own knowledge.

4) "What green companies are hiring?"

Your contacts aren't a walking job board. They may know of a position or two by chance, but they aren't likely to have a running list of all of the companies that are hiring.

A better approach is to ask:

"I've identified companies j, k and l as local employers who may be interested in hiring someone with my skills. Do you know anyone who works in these companies that would be willing to answer a few questions I have? Can you think of any companies I should add to my list of target companies?"

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Bottom Line:

If you want to show your contacts that you are professional, motivated, and determined, you must come to the meeting with the results from your own homework.

-- You will get far better results from your conversation when you can articulate your niche in a few crisp, clear sentences.

-- You will make a far better impression if you can demonstrate that you've done your own research. As shown in the examples above, articulate what you've found in your own research and then ask for their impressions, thoughts, and additional suggestions. Then your exchange can be a two-way discussion that will provide you with richer, more valuable information.

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