The Five Critical Steps for Ensuring a Successful Career in the Solar Business

The rapid growth of the solar industry is undeniable, and along with growth and expansion comes more competition. For aspiring solar professionals and entrepreneurs, increasing competitiveness raises the importance of specialization, focus, and training when it comes to getting on the right career path. It’s never too early to begin taking a few important steps to ensure that you are heading in the right direction from the get-go.

Sales and marketing jobs are common entry-level positions that can lead to a long and successful career in solar, but there are other positions for the uninitiated in the solar industry that may be worth considering. For example, entry-level jobs installing solar can lead to more opportunities on the operations side of the business—such as engineering and project management—which are quite different than sales and marketing.

Getting a job in sales and transitioning to the operations side of things is also an option, but choosing the right entry point won’t just shorten the path to a more fitting job, it can speed up your skill development, put you on a more direct path to promotions and upward mobility, and contribute to your overall happiness and wellbeing. When you are happier in your position, your performance is certain to improve.

A growing industry depends on a qualified workforce, which means that your first step to a successful career in solar is becoming qualified. By reading Selling Solar, you are taking the first step towards becoming informed and educated about solar. The book contains important knowledge and helpful strategies for a successful career in solar, and in this bonus article, you will learn how to maximize your potential and build a more successful career.

Rule #1: Do Your Research 

There are many solar companies in markets across the country, from California and Colorado to Hawaii and Puerto Rico—which means you have many choices when deciding where you want to apply yourself. No matter which market you’re in or which direction you’re headed, it is important to research and identify companies that have the right products and culture and align with your values. To maximize your career potential, do your research and find the best company for you.

You may start your search by researching local solar businesses—you can search businesses registered in your state, or use solar review websites, such as www.solarreviews.com and www.energysage.com. You can easily find a list of companies that install solar in your area and from there, you can read customer reviews, explore the company’s website to find out more about their values and services, and inquire about job openings.

Look for companies with high customer ratings and local business awards that have been in business for a long time—the largest and most successful solar companies will often have branches in many locations. If you are flexible with where you are searching for work you can apply for positions in multiple cities, or request an informational interview with a hiring manager and ask them, “Where do you need people the most?” 

Nowadays, working remotely is practically the norm. You may not be restricted to a specific market or region based on where you live—and there are even opportunities to sell solar in multiple markets across the country. For instance, Powur PBC (powur.com) is the world's first virtual solar energy platform that allows you to build your own solar organization—or sell solar individually—anywhere you want, when you want, and with all the support you need to fulfill solar projects for your customers. Whether you’re new to solar or a veteran in the industry, the Powur platform is a chance to develop a career in solar at any level.

New markets often have a higher demand for employees and greater opportunities for promotions and upward mobility. Keep an eye out for reports about solar market forecasts and solar-friendly policies through websites like www.seia.org and www.dsireusa.org that can help you identify the up-and-coming markets where growth potential is highest.

No matter where you apply for a job, remember that accepting a position as a solar sales professional at a company that wants to hire you is not a tell-tale sign that you’re making the right choice. Before accepting any job, make sure that it is a company you want to work for. Sometimes it is best to pass on a job offer if you aren’t 100 percent committed to the company and the mission that they are on.

Rule #2: Understand Who You Really Are

Learning more about yourself is often overlooked as one of the most important steps in finding the right career path—the right job for you. Luckily, there are a growing number of ways to get to know yourself better, both independently and through the help of others like career coaches, counselors, or mentors. Even if you think you already know yourself well enough, you may be surprised by what you learn when you take a closer look. To maximize your career potential, take some time to figure out where your experience, skills, and personality will fit best.

Getting to know yourself better leads to stronger personal development and establishing your personal values can be vital when choosing which jobs to apply to and which to accept. As you sure up your identity and gain clarity about your strengths and weaknesses, you are more likely to identify the right career path for your unique self.

Career counselors, job coaches, and “life coaches” make their living helping people discover themselves and maximize their potential. These services are particularly helpful when you are considering a major career pivot, for example, if you’re looking to change industries and start a new career in solar. You can start with your college’s career services department or check out websites like www.themuse.com that provide a number of career coaching services.

If hiring a coach or counselor is not your thing, you can also look to those you admire and consider seeking them out as a mentor. Simply listening to the stories of others can shed light on your own situation and give you context for your own professional journey.

Getting to know yourself is also possible without the help of others and there are many personality tests and online resources that can help you understand yourself and even determine the best professions for your personality type. There are free versions of the popular Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator and Career Assessment available online, which is often used by sales team leadership to help employees understand their strengths and weaknesses.

This information is not only helpful for you to understand yourself better but can also add additional color to your résumé and CV when applying for jobs. The better you understand yourself, the more likely your résumé will reflect your unique skillset, strengths, and weaknesses, and capture your personality. The more a company can get to know you from your application, the more likely you are to be invited for an interview, especially if your résumé and personality reflect the job you’re applying for. 

Rule #3: Know What Your Dream Job Is

Once you have gotten to know yourself better, whether it is through a career coach or from free online career assessments, you should have a better idea of two things: what you are good at, and what you want to do. To maximize your career potential, figure out what your dream job is and begin working on a plan to get yourself there.

The first step to identifying your dream job is to create a list of things you want to do. Begin by writing down all of the things you enjoy about your current job or past jobs, what you feel is missing from your current position, and things you see others doing that appeal to you. This includes the kind of work-life balance you want and the kind of company culture you want to be a part of. Would you rather be in a larger company that has the perks of corporate financing (a break room with ping pong tables and bottomless snacks) or will you be happier in a smaller company with a more close-knit culture and stronger relationships?

When you feel your list is complete, write your “Dream Job Description” and make it as realistic as possible: give it an attractive title, write a detailed summary of a company that is aligned with your values and goals, and go into detail about the skills and experience that are required for the position. You may not be qualified for your dream job right away but gaining clarity about what you need to get there is the first step to working towards it.

At the very least, writing your dream job description will give you something to strive for, helping you identify what skills to develop and what strengths and weaknesses to focus on. Sometimes you’ll need to seek out a job at another company, make a lateral move, or even accept a position beneath your current level to develop the résumé and skillset you need for your dream job. Having the clarity and determination to make these moves almost guarantees you will stand out among your colleagues and other job applicants.

Rule #4: Never Stop Job Hunting.

Chances are that until you get your dream job there will continue to be more opportunities for growth and improvement, whether through training and development opportunities or by taking on a new position. To maximize your career potential, always remain on the lookout for new opportunities and ways to grow.

There will always be a better job than the one you currently have, and for the most part, it is good to always be striving for the next level. It is important to note that being on the lookout for the next step in your career should not come at the expense of your current position. In other words, don’t miss out on learning opportunities or let your performance suffer because you’re busy looking for your next job. Furthermore, keeping your eyes out for the next career step doesn’t have to mean taking a job at a different company, sometimes the best opportunity is at the company you are already working for, and even within your department.

Remember that it is okay to turn down a position if there are red flags or things don’t line up for you. If you take a job with the mindset of, “I’m just going to do this until I can find a better job,” chances are you won’t get much out of it. Accepting a job and then marketing yourself as “available for new opportunities” will not win you much favor from your superiors. 

Instead, stay visible to recruiters by maintaining your social networks and keeping your eye out for recruiters who are active in the space you’re interested in. It’s better to reach out to a few recruiters and let them know you’re open to new challenges and opportunities than to plainly market yourself as available. Also, by proactively developing relationships with recruiters you’re more likely to stand out and be at the top of their list when the right opportunity presents itself.

If you’re clear on your dream job and know what skills you need to develop, keeping your options open is more about being ready to take the next step than looking for more pay and less work. It is essential that no matter how open you are to new opportunities you remain committed to your current position.

Rule #5: Build a Strong Network

Networking is often touted as a critical part of professional development, and for good reason because the relationships you build throughout your career can make or break your success. However, networking isn’t just about going to events and chatting with other professionals. To maximize your career potential, develop a strong social network and get involved with communities and groups both in person and online.

The first things that come to mind when the subject of networking comes up are industry happy hours and conferences. In the fast-growing solar industry, there are plenty of opportunities to attend events and conferences that can be a great way to expand your network, but developing a successful career is not just about meeting as many people as you can, but meeting the right people. In other words, it can be more fruitful to deepen your relationships than to develop more. Furthermore, social relationships are just as important as professional ones, because the people who know you as “the solar expert” are more likely to think of you whenever they hear of something related to your field of work.

The solar industry is relatively young, and for this reason, it can be a small and tight-knit community. Getting involved with the groups and organizations in the solar community is an essential strategy for increasing your recognition among your peers. Networking is also moving online, and there are a growing number of online communities, groups, and forums where solar professionals can keep up with trends and even interact with customers and people curious about the solar industry.

When it comes to networking the bottom line is, to put yourself in places where solar industry professionals go, and you will increase your chances of success. Many jobs are not marketed because they are filled internally or by recruiters. The more involved you are within the network of solar energy professionals, the more visible you will be to hiring managers and recruiters.

Conclusion:

Getting a job in solar is the first step towards a career in the solar energy industry, but it is by no means an indication of success. Building a successful career is earned by focus, determination, and by following the rules outlined in this article. If you are able to ensure that you’re working for the right company and performing the right daily tasks—those that align with your skills and values—you are significantly more likely to perform better and earn more promotions and responsibilities.

Knowing that you’re working for the right company and feeling committed to the organization you represent will improve your chances of a long and successful career. Putting yourself in the right position that maximizes your strengths and personal abilities gives you an edge over your competition. Setting clear goals for yourself ensures that you’ll always know what you’re working for and what you need to do to succeed. Keeping your eyes open for the right opportunity will shorten your path to success. Knowing the right people ensures that you’ll never be overlooked for a promotion or a new challenge.

In order to maximize your career potential, take these steps and your success will follow.