Do you want to work for a company that you are really passionate about? A company hat convinces you and that you speak of with pride? You’re in good company!
Socio-ecological employers have an advantage in the war for talent
There are various studies (for example from youngcapital or unternehmer.de) that show that the culture of a company is becoming increasingly important to employees. Job seekers are no longer only concerned with having a regular salary in their bank account, but they want to feel good about their day to day work, to be able to achieve something, to be recognised – and last but not least, they are looking for a meaning in their work – after all, we spend a large part of our day at work. Millenials and Generation Y in particular consider it important to pursue socially responsible work, even if it comes with a smaller paycheck.
Companies that are socially and sustainably committed have a clear advantage in the war for talent. It is not only salary and benefits such as holidays, home office and the like that employees look at. They also look for a positive work culture, the opportunity to develop and, above all, how the company positions itself on the issues of the environment and social commitment. The problems of this world such as climate change and poverty are constantly present due to globalisation and digital media and we feel increasingly responsible. Work is perceived as more fulfilling when we identify with the company’s goals, and employee loyalty is significantly higher at socially and ecologically committed employers.
Many small and big companies have incorporated social or ecological corporate goals
When we think of companies with social and/or ecological corporate goals, the first thing that comes to mind is companies whose products or services deal with these issues at their core: NGOs such as UNICEF or Greenpeace, or companies with sustainable products such as RINGANA or Alnatura. However, these are by no means the only companies that are committed in this regard. Many large and small employers contribute their share to a cleaner or fairer world and also like to talk about it. There, too, you may be able to find a job that is directly related to sustainability or social commitment, for example as a sustainability officer.
On the websites of most companies you can read about their commitment and corporate goals and find out whether the employer’s values match your own. Even many companies that we would rather rate as “environmental sinners” present themselves as benefactors who are committed to ecological causes – whether this always corresponds to the truth and how big the damage-benefit calculation of these companies is remains to be seen.
How to find socio-ecological companies and jobs?
If you have decided that you would like to change to a meaningful activity, what is the best way to proceed? There are job portals that have specialised specifically in this niche; for Germany, for example, these are GoodJobs, Jobverde.de or Nachhaltigejobs.de. The recruitment agency Talents4Good is also an interesting alternative for Germany. If you want to search worldwide, you should look at Greenjobs, Devex, Greenbiz, Netimpact or Skollworldforum. In Spain, Diarioresponsable is worth mentioning. However, you can also find what you are looking for by searching conventional portals such as Stepstone with terms like “sustainable” or “non-profit”.
If you are looking for a green job in Spain, it is worth pointing out that in its economic stimulus package to combat the Corona crisis, the Spanish government has declared the energy transition to be one of the four major pillars into which aid money is to flow, which should generate additional jobs in this area.
Does an ethical job necessarily mean cutting back on salary?
In her article published in Die Zeit Anne Walzer explores this question and finds out: Not necessarily. There are ethical companies that come close to some of the big corporates in terms of salary. Is this the majority? Probably not. However, it is important to know that you do not necessarily have to accept being paid at the level of an intern if you want to pursue meaningful work.
All that glitters is not gold
By no means should you blindly believe everything that some employers want to sell you. There are also black sheep among socially or sustainably oriented companies. In the end, it may turn out that the company sells its commitment very well on paper, but does not actually live up to it.
In the case of large companies, a glance at the headlines often helps. It is also helpful to look at the opinions of employees on Kununu or Glassdoor, for example. However, start-ups or very small employers are usually not represented here. In these cases, it can help to get an impression during the job interview by asking a few questions about the topic and – if the opportunity arises – asking the employees or future team colleagues about it during a tour.
The other alternative
And what if there is nothing that convinces you?
If you have an idea, why don’t you create your business plan and found your own start-up? Otherwise, there is always the possibility of volunteering in your spare time. Or, if the change to a sustainable employer should ultimately fail because of the salary, a compromise could be to reduce the hours in your current job somewhat and to accept additional freelance assignments that really fulfil you.
If you would like to work with an ethical and sustainable company and are keen to join an international team on freelance basis, check out the RINGANA Fresh Partner system here.
