How can you use writing skills to advance your sustainability career?
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— The LinkedIn Team
If you are passionate about sustainability, you might want to pursue a career that aligns with your values and goals. However, you might also face some challenges, such as communicating complex ideas, engaging diverse audiences, and influencing decision-makers. That's why writing skills are essential for any sustainability professional who wants to advance their career. In this article, you will learn how you can use writing skills to showcase your expertise, build your network, and lead change in your field.
One way to use writing skills to advance your sustainability career is to showcase your expertise through various platforms and formats. For example, you can write blog posts, articles, reports, white papers, case studies, or newsletters that demonstrate your knowledge, insights, and solutions on sustainability issues. You can also write a resume, cover letter, or portfolio that highlights your achievements, skills, and impact in your previous or current roles. By writing effectively and professionally, you can establish your credibility, authority, and value as a sustainability expert.
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Donal Daly
Founder @ Future Planet | UN Sustainable Development Goals
I've always used writing to help me process my thoughts. Borrowing from Fran Lebowitz: Think before you speak and read before you think. The same is true about writing. To be able to deliver something of value - which should be the purpose of writing - you need to understand the subject matter. I have had the same experience on my sustainability journey. I spent about 18 months researching the area before I started writing about it. This is one are where there is a huge amount of knowledge available in the public domain, but in many ways the volume of knowledge is part of the problem. I learn from others on LinkedIn and through other sources and then develop my own opinion.Then I write and hopefully add some value.
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Gabriella Lovas 🌱
GRI Certified Sustainability Professional I CFA Certificate in ESG Investing I Ex-Bloomberg Journalist I 🇩🇪 🇪🇸 🇭🇺 I Delivers easy-to-understand content on complex financial topics
I knew that if I wanted to pursue a career in sustainability, I would have to gain a basic understanding of the subject first. As I was doing my research and taking courses, I decided to share my journey and my findings on LinkedIn. I started writing blog posts and articles on various topics related to ESG and sustainability reporting. As a former journalist, I enjoy reaching out to other sustainability professionals and publishing interviews with them on topics, such as how they cope with new regulations and what solutions they find for various sustainability issues. Thus, I am able to showcase not only my expertise but also that of several other sustainability experts through my writing skills.
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Another way to use writing skills to advance your sustainability career is to build your network with other professionals, organizations, and stakeholders in your field. For example, you can write emails, messages, invitations, or introductions that express your interest, appreciation, or collaboration with potential or existing contacts. You can also write comments, reviews, feedback, or endorsements that support, acknowledge, or recommend the work of others. By writing politely and authentically, you can create rapport, trust, and goodwill with your network.
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Carlos Terol
🚀Join a community of changemakers and boost your impact 🌍 | Founder @ Good Ripple | Making sustainability & social impact accessible to everyone | Yoga & meditation lover
In my experience, writing about sustainability and sharing publicly, particularly on LinkedIn, is a powerful way to build your network. I started writing 12 months ago, and I've connected with thousands of people in the sustainability space. I've had hundreds of calls from people in this space from all around the world. What's most important, I've got tons of inspiration from all of them to continue developing my skills, sharing my writing publicly, and inspiring more people.
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Gabriella Lovas 🌱
GRI Certified Sustainability Professional I CFA Certificate in ESG Investing I Ex-Bloomberg Journalist I 🇩🇪 🇪🇸 🇭🇺 I Delivers easy-to-understand content on complex financial topics
After switching from a career as an investment writer to sustainability, I had to build a new professional network almost from scratch. I started by commenting on the posts of sustainability experts and some of the key organizations in this field. I also shared interesting articles with my own thoughts tagging the authors. My favourite way of building a network is interviewing other sustainability professionals and sharing those interviews on my LinkedIn feed. Formerly a financial journalist, I was naturally drawn to this idea. I also like writing invitations to introductory video calls with experts with similar interests and values. Often, people ask me for advice in direct messages. I do my best to reply to everyone.
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A third way to use writing skills to advance your sustainability career is to lead change in your field. For example, you can write proposals, pitches, presentations, or speeches that persuade, inspire, or mobilize others to take action on sustainability goals. You can also write policies, guidelines, standards, or frameworks that shape, influence, or regulate the practices and behaviors of others. By writing clearly and convincingly, you can drive change, innovation, and impact in your field.
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Maria Tsabal
Legal Counsel @ FMO | Project Finance and Sustainable Finance
Words have power. In the realm of sustainability, a well-argued proposal or a compelling speech can be the catalyst for change. Writing is the bridge between an idea and action, turning abstract goals into concrete policies and inspiring others to join the cause with passion and purpose.
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Paul Eder, PhD
TOP, TOP VOICE 🔥 79x LinkedIn Top Voice 🔥 Author of FIRESTARTERS 🔥 I've Generated $20M+ in Consulting Revenue | AI, Data, and Change Champion | Artificial Intelligence | President - High Value, LLC | ENTP
Communication is the centerpiece of any large-scale change process. You must be able to articulate a vision, mission, and call to action in a way the resonates with diverse stakeholders. It is an uphill climb to get a majority of people to care about your sustainability project. Excellent communication can move the needle in powerful ways.
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Of course, to use writing skills to advance your sustainability career, you need to improve your writing skills constantly. For example, you can read widely and critically on sustainability topics and trends, and learn from the best practices and styles of other writers. You can also practice regularly and deliberately on different writing tasks and projects, and seek feedback and improvement from others. You can also use tools and resources that help you with grammar, spelling, vocabulary, structure, or tone. By writing consistently and confidently, you can enhance your writing skills and your career prospects.
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Sarah Wolfe
Communications Consultant
Listen before you write. Not just to experts. Listen to your friends, your family. Listen to the doubter in your life. Learn what makes them act. Learn what makes them mad. By listening first, you'll communicate more effectively. Your writing will move the needle by reaching people where they're at. Don't assume you already understand why people are or aren't doing something. Listen first.
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Maria Tsabal
Legal Counsel @ FMO | Project Finance and Sustainable Finance
Sharpening your writing is an investment with exponential returns in sustainability. Engage with leading voices, dissect their arguments, and emulate their style. Practice makes perfect, and the feedback you receive is gold dust. Remember, the pen is mightier when it's precise, persuasive, and persistently improving.
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A final way to use writing skills to advance your sustainability career is to learn from others who have used writing skills to achieve their goals. For example, you can follow, connect, or interact with sustainability leaders, mentors, or role models who have written books, articles, blogs, or podcasts that share their stories, insights, and advice. You can also join, participate, or contribute to sustainability communities, groups, or networks that offer writing opportunities, support, or guidance. You can also attend, enroll, or sign up for sustainability courses, workshops, or events that teach, train, or coach you on writing skills. By writing with others and for others, you can learn from their experiences and perspectives, and grow your career.
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Faran Arshad Chohan
Sustainability and Environmental Manager | LEED AP® BD+C
Read, Read, and Read. This is my mantra to write effectively. I love reading and if I can do just one thing in the world that will be reading.
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Gabriella Lovas 🌱
GRI Certified Sustainability Professional I CFA Certificate in ESG Investing I Ex-Bloomberg Journalist I 🇩🇪 🇪🇸 🇭🇺 I Delivers easy-to-understand content on complex financial topics
Besides following sustainability leaders, I also follow writing coaches and content creators to improve my writing skills. I use the same approach with podcasts as well. In addition to listening ESG and sustainability podcasts, I also subscribe to podcasts for writers and content creators. Journaling is my favourite method of training my writing skills. In my freewriting practice, I write for a set period of time, such as 20 minutes, without a filter or structure. I'm just letting my thoughts flow onto the pages. Try it, it's fun!
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Faran Arshad Chohan
Sustainability and Environmental Manager | LEED AP® BD+C
From zero to hero; effective writing can take us to the sucess that people can just dream of. There are thought leaders who are making fortune out of writing.
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Elisabeth Graf
Strategic design for Climate Resilience | Founder of IMMA 🇩🇪🇬🇧🇮🇹
Most of my life, I despised writing. But when it came to climate adaptation, I noticed a lack of conversation, and I was determined to change that. Initially, creating a single article took an immense amount of energy, time, and courage—sometimes a whole day. It demanded determination and consistency to endure months of discomfort. If you're just starting out and finding it tough, know that it does get easier, and opportunities will come your way. Keep in mind that visibility varies depending on your sustainability topic. I focus on climate adaptation, a subject people often avoid. So, it's not something they typically engage with willingly. Occasionally, my posts addressing big oil explicitly get blocked by LinkedIn.
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