How do I start a career in solar energy?
Starting any career is exciting, but embarking on one in the solar energy industry promises a cornucopia of both personal and professional benefits.
Not only will a career in solar energy mean you’re contributing to sustaining and improving the future health of the planet, but it’ll also provide plenty of opportunities for career progression and professional fulfilment.
But with so many solar energy career opportunities available, what’s the best way to get your foot in the door?
Starting your Solar Energy Career
According to the International Energy Agency, the renewable energy sector is set to expand by 50% by 2024, meaning there will be approximately 6.3 million jobs in solar energy by 2030. So, if you’re looking to embark on a solar energy career, you’ve picked an excellent time to do so.
When it comes to getting started, you should first consider which area of solar energy you’d like to specialise in. This will then help inform the way in which you kickstart your career.
Some examples of popular solar energy roles are listed below, research each thoroughly and try to decide on which direction you’d like to head:
- Solar Panel Installer
- Solar Project Development
- Solar System Design
- Engineering Technician
- Solar Fleet Manager
- Solar Service Technician
- Electronics Technician
Once you’ve chosen a solar career path that interests you, it’s time to start thinking about how you can fulfil that role.
Solar Energy Skills
As with any area of the renewable energy sector, the skills you’ll need for specific jobs will vary. However, there are a few that will be necessary across almost every solar energy role. These include:
- Strong academic achievement to allow you to contribute effectively to the sector
- Data analysis skills to inform projects and aid understanding of purpose
- Communication skills to allow for effective collaboration across a range of sectors
- Technical knowledge
- STEM knowledge
Combined, these skills will allow you to start your solar energy career successfully. Once you’ve found the right role for you, any additional role-specific skills can be learnt on the job.
Solar Energy Experience
If you think you’ve got the skills necessary to be successful in solar energy, it’s time to start thinking about gaining experience in the field to put you a step ahead of other candidates.
This will be the penultimate step in your solar energy career kickstart process. Find a relevant apprenticeship, take on a postgraduate degree or simply ask around for some informal work experience to really solidify your existing skills. This will give you a huge advantage when it comes to claiming your solar energy role.
Find your Perfect Role
You’ve now decided on a clear career path, have the necessary skills to succeed in solar energy and have experience under your belt to really boost your credentials. Now it’s time to find your perfect solar energy role.
Here at Mackinnon and Partners, we take your skills and experience into consideration to match you to a solar energy role that suits your desires.
So whether you’re looking for a role as a Solar Panel Installer or Solar Project Manager, Engineering Technician or Systems designer, find it with Mackinnon & Partners.
- Engineering Talent Solutions – The Advantages of Working with Industry Experts - September 3, 2024
- The Benefits of Partnering with a Specialized Technical Recruitment Agency - August 28, 2024
- Why Specialized Recruitment Matters in the Renewables Sector - August 19, 2024