Case Study

I was seeking employment for my placement year in the penultimate year of my studies.

The course was very comprehensive. Technical information about legislation and governmental guidance was helpful for me, and definitely the thing I was least knowledgeable about. Even if I was familiar with the course content, the course leader would almost always provide extra information and helped us learn something new.

The leaders were the highlight of the course every time. Every single week, despite what was going on in their own lives, they joined, remembered us and what we’d spoken about previously, checked up on us mentally & seemed to honestly care about our progress. They far exceeded my expectations in a way I am so grateful for.

I definitely felt as if I had a gap in my technical knowledge and wasn’t applying for jobs that seemed to centre around these legislative & governmental side. After the bootcamp though, I feel much more well-versed & as if I’d be able to confidently communicate about these topics that seemed so new to me beforehand.

I also got the chance to speak to everyone in my cohort in breakout rooms & together with the leaders. Breakout rooms often seemed too short with the amount of conversation, discussion & comments we were making. This meant we all really had to take initiative & believe in ourselves, which I think has helped me in my workplace assertiveness, something I lacked before.

Did the knowledge gained during Skills Bootcamp help during the interview process?

I think the confidence boost of people building on my own points, valuing my anecdotes & engaging in meaningful conversations with me helped me with my interview, especially as they both took place online. If you’d asked me during the bootcamp, how I felt about having my camera on, I would definitely dismiss it as something to be avoided at all costs. Now, however, I feel I can more effectively communicate on Zoom & Google Meet calls, with less anxiety. I still prefer an email, but I have definitely gained confidence.

What are you doing now and how has the course supported that? How has it changed or improved your life? Has it helped you meet your life or career goals?

I’m a Network Coordinator for the Environmental Data Network. We work to connect users & producers of environmental data in the UK, for innovative initiatives and collaborations across the nation. I had applied for this before the Skills Bootcamp started but received both an initial and a follow-up interview during the Skills Bootcamp. As I mentioned, my video calling confidence was definitely a skill I needed for the interview process and was definitely improved by this course.

It was also really nice to hear people congratulating me about my new role when I got it. I think there was a sense of community in our cohort.

Have you been given the opportunity to use knowledge from the Skills Bootcamp in your new role?

Initially in my role, I had a meeting with my boss every Monday – Friday, which has now been dropped down to twice a week. I think this shows I’ve been able to prove my knowledge is advanced enough to not require supervision, and I’ve been free to have more autonomy, really making the role my own.

Did you move to a new sector upon completion of bootcamp?

This is my first ‘real’ job, and definitely the first one that’s used any of my sustainability knowledge. I’m part way through my geography degree and feel that the knowledge I already had gave me a boost in the course and also set me up for using that knowledge in more spaces. I didn’t exactly move to a new sector, but it helped me with the transition from full-time education to employment.

Would you recommend other people doing the course?

Yes. It feels so worth it, especially becoming Carbon Literate. Don’t be put off by making a commitment, it’s definitely worth it in the end.

What would your advice be to others seeking a green job?

It’s not what I would’ve wanted to hear but keep pushing. I only secured my current role as I chased up my interviewer. Don’t be afraid to reach out to potential employers. If you thought you did well in an interview, but didn’t secure the role, ask why. There’s often feedback available, you just have to ask. Never compromise your core values. I caught myself about to apply for ‘sustainability manager’ in companies that obviously weren’t prepared to make any genuine commitments to the environment, using exploitative labour practices & pumping out fossil fuels. I realised I was in the privileged position of knowing I’d rather have no job than one that disagreed with me so badly. How could I have bought any passion to that?

I realise that’s a lot of advice, but the real point is no one really knows. Everyone’s journey is different, and from what I’ve experienced, you don’t always need to find the right path, sometimes, somehow, it’ll find you.