Working corporate social responsibility has become at the center of businesses and professions. As a growing area of priority for companies, it’s not easy to break into the world of CSR, especially if you’re switching engineering careers or starting a new related position. So how can you stand out in the unique and sometimes limited number of CSR roles especially if you come from an engineering background and not a non-profit?
Keep on reading for some of the best tips for a career in corporate social responsibility
Know What You’re Getting Yourself Into
Many organizations and businesses use the term “corporate social responsibility” to denote the number of relevant activities. Coming from an engineering background, you need to be familiar with its different extensions, for instance, CSR can relate to a company’s sustainability activities (such as reducing its environmental footprint), investment in community programs, staff volunteerism, or management of corporate foundations, or the effort can be invested in consulting or advising businesses on their CSR initiatives and their community well-being contributions.
This being said, this also means becoming more familiar and comfortable with the CSR language.
If you want to work as a coordinator or even a project manager, you must be able to communicate in the language of sustainability. To walk the walk, you must first talk the talk. Because CSR can be a cross-sectoral field, it will become increasingly vital to comprehend corporate, non-profit, and public policy language. Here’s a primer on CSR terminology for those who are new to it.
Work on Your Skills
As a CSR coordinator, companies will be interested in what you can accomplish for them and how your particular skill set will benefit them directly, and society directly and indirectly too. Knowing how to communicate effectively and turn ideas and data into compelling cases in presentations, articles, and conversations is essential in CSR. There must always be a pragmatic reason for why things should be done, and in the case of working with a small budget allocated to CSR programs, you must be inventive and proactive and develop a specific set of skills to help you manage all aspects of your job.
Get Intrapreneurial
Although it might not always be easy to get a CSR job from the getgo, there are ways to make any employment more meaningful. Bring your favorite cause/charity to the forefront, organize a volunteer program, assist in the planning of a sustainability program for your organization, or collaborate with other departments to develop a project that not only has an internal impact but also external and perhaps global.
A strong way to get a head start? An Engineer’s degree (diplôme d’ingénieur) with a major in Energy & Sustainable Cities in a French CTI-accredited engineering school
This major trains engineers in the design, development and governance of energy systems, smart buildings and sustainable cities
The pillars of this programme are not only technical but also vocational, with a bigger mission. The Energy and Sustainable Cities major offers a chance to get involved in major sustainable development projects. By transforming the way we use digital technology, students combine innovation and technologies with a view to an ethical career centered on making our society more sustainable.
Join this master’s if you’re an engineer on your way to change the world for the better!