How do I show passion for an environmental or climate job in an interview?

Written By Evelyn "Evie" Quehl:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/evelyn-quehl-b27311232/

Read this twice: you will not get the role no matter how qualified you are if you do not stand out in the interest, passion, and gratitude departments. So if that is the case, how can you demonstrate this to hiring managers? 

Job interviews can be stressful. Everyone tries to give you advice before it, but all of it follows the same principle: make sure they know you are interested and passionate. But, what does that even mean? You already bothered applying so doesn’t that imply that they already know you are passionate about the opportunity? 

That’s not exactly the case. Most people use a shotgun approach (quantity over quality) to applying which leaves hiring managers understandably wary of applicants until they can talk to them. When it comes to job interviews, they are testing you to see if you would be a good fit for the role and if you’re not quite qualified, if you’re boiling over with enthusiasm for the opportunity. Here are a few tips to make sure hiring managers see your potential. 

How to Prepare Before the Interview

Before the interview, do research about the company. Make sure you know what they do and their main goals as an organization, as well as new projects you might get to work on, awards they would be flattered you know about, etc.. Also, take a few minutes to go over the job description again. Look over your resume to be able to connect the responsibilities in the job description to what you have done - they won’t make these connections for you. Reviewing your resume may seem obvious because you know what you have done, but sometimes in interviews, you may blank on certain experiences. Reviewing your resume ensures you have a better idea of what you specifically did potentially years ago. 

Be prepared to talk yourself up. Interviews typically start with introducing yourself, so create a short “elevator pitch” to give. This will include your education and relevant experience that display your being qualified for the position- including the ever important WHY you got into this work. Nothing states your purpose more clearly than a great WHY statement. 

What to Do During the Interview 

Stay engaged with the conversation and be able to provide specific examples of what excites you about the role. Don’t just say that you are passionate about the role, explain why. Do the same with when you are describing your experience. Explain the experience and what you learned from and how you grew from it. 

Come prepared with general questions to ask. Questions along the lines of “What opportunities for growth are there,” “What is the work culture like,” and “What are possible challenges I will face in this role?” As well as asking these questions, make sure you are coming up with questions during the interview. Don’t be afraid to take notes during the interview to make sure you remember the questions you think of.  

And my number one pro tip here - smile. Act like you’re happy to be there even if you’re nervous as all get out. It will not only make you more endearing to them, it translates to confidence and will make you feel more calm. They may even smile back.

My second pro tip - Believe in yourself! If you don't, how can they? It goes a long way to hiring managers. Remember that genuine curiosity about the role often translates into the kind of passion employers want to work with.

How to Follow Up After the Interview

No matter how you felt the interview went, send an email to the hiring managers thanking them for the opportunity. Provide specifics on what you enjoyed learning and talking about. State you look forward to hearing from them and that you are happy to provide any additional info they might need. All of your actions are being judged, including if you are a helpful considerate person. If you don’t think the position is right for you, there is no harm in telling them that you may not be interested in the position, but still thank them for the interview. The environmental professional world is a small one - reputation matters. 

Overall, the combination of demonstrating interest, asking strategic questions, and expressing gratitude just for the chance to talk about yourself comes across as confidence, the number one factor in getting selected. With this advice, you should be more prepared in interviews and increase your chances of landing the position. 

Good luck with your future interviews! You got this!