Career Change Can do a World of Good

As questions about the economy and employment remain unresolved, the Northern New Jersey chapter of the American Society for Training and Development seeks to help prepare tomorrow's job seekers, the "21st century workforce."

On Thursday at the Cedar Hill Christian Reformed Church, the chapter offered a workshop on "green" jobs offered by Jeana Wirtenberg, where dozens of people gathered to pass out their business cards and learn about jobs of the future.

"The 'green' industry is growing by leaps and bounds," Wirtenberg said. 

Wirtenberg is the co-founder and director of the Institute for Sustainable Enterprise in the Silberman College of Business at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her work focuses on bringing people together to learn how to develop and lead thriving, sustainable enterprises that don't have a negative impact on the general ecology.

She said one of the points she zeroes in on at such job seminars is the "transferability" of jobs from one industry into the "green" industry. 

"If you were a CEO for one company, you could be a CEO for an environmentally friendly company," said Wirtenberg. "If you were a lawyer that specialized in one industry, you can specialize in environmental law."  

Wirtenberg pointed to her website which explained, "The emerging 'Green Economy' is a megatrend that reaches into today's world of business, nonprofits, government and education. It presents a wealth of opportunities waiting to be discovered and created. This interactive presentation and conversation provides you with information, strategies, inspiration and motivation to help you navigate this seismic shift to position and market yourself for sustainable success."

"I have a folder here which lists hundreds of green jobs," she said.  

Alicja Lisnow, a member of the Northern New Jersey chapter of the American Society for Training and Development,, said she was grateful for the Cedar Hill Christian Reformed Church for providing the room.  

"I had been at other events here, and this is a lovely place," Lisnow said.  

She believes that such informational and networking events offer hope for both the unemployed as well as those looking for new opportunities.

"Our group is about careers in transition," said Lisnow. "It may not be people transitioning from one career to another, but there is always a change."  

Lisnow encouraged people looking to make a change to focus on meeting key people.  

"Networking opportunities can be beneficial to anyone," she said. "That is why we provide them." 

For more information, visit the Northern New Jersey chapter of the American Society for Training and Development at www.NNJASTD.com.