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Three Ways Emerging Industries Can Position Themselves for Recruiting Top Talent

As the world looks for ways to build a more sustainable future, the clean energy industry is seeing incredible levels of growth and innovation.  The U.S. renewable energy market was valued at $269 billion just two years ago. And in 2023 alone, renewable resources accounted for 22 per cent of all power generated in the U.S. (renewable power generation surpassed coal power for the first time in 2022).

With new companies joining the space all the time, and more established organizations looking to scale quickly, knowing how to recruit top talent into emerging, high-growth sectors is a skill that’s in high demand, we believe that our work and partners in this space make us ideally suited to help you and others in the industry.

At DRiWaterstone, our executive search professionals have worked with leading organizations in the climate, sustainability, and clean energy sectors to successfully recruit top leadership talent. Here are three things our experts have learned about recruiting senior talent for emerging industries:

  • Having a clear mission and purpose matters

    This isn’t exclusive to the clean energy industry, but it’s certainly a big factor in why people choose to work with one company over another. Being clear on your company’s purpose, being able to communicate that purpose to internal and external stakeholders, and ensuring your purpose aligns to your mission and impact are all important factors, especially when it comes to recruiting senior team members.

    Clean energy offers an opportunity to shape the future of energy production and contribute to global efforts to combat climate change. It’s a purpose that will connect with a lot of people. When employees genuinely believe in and feel a personal connection to the cause, their motivation, enthusiasm, and commitment soar. This passion translates into heightened productivity, increased engagement, and superior results.
  • Competition for top talent is high

    According to a recent IEA report, demand for workers in the clean energy industry is up world-wide, and “the number of workers pursuing degrees or certifications relevant to energy sector jobs is not keeping pace with growing demand.” Heightened competition for skilled leaders, especially those with direct industry experience, has the potential to not only drive salaries up, but also to increase the need for employers to differentiate themselves with potential hires.

    What’s your unique value proposition? What can you offer senior leaders that sets you apart from others in your area?

    Organizations that are winning the race for talent in this growing industry are also typically not afraid to look outside the box when it comes to finding new team members – focusing on transferable skills, looking at up-and-coming leaders, and more.
  • Be prepared to answer questions around the industry’s stability

    The clean energy sector is by no means new, but it’s rapid growth, changing technology, and dependence (in some cases) on government funding can result in hesitation for some candidates.  The industry also operates within a changing regulatory environment, which can pose challenges for hiring managers. Changes in government policies and incentives can impact the market demand for projects, leading to uneven hiring needs and the need for flexible talent acquisition strategies.

    Overcoming these perceptions requires everyone on the hiring committee to have a solid understanding of your organization’s past, as well as current and future plans so that they can address any questions about forward-looking strategies and highlight the potential for career advancement and innovation.

Recruiting top talent to emerging industries like clean energy comes with unique opportunities and challenges, and hiring managers need to be ready and able to navigate a complex landscape with a strategic mindset and adaptability. That’s where working with an executive search firm like DRiWaterstone can help. In addition to staying on top of what’s happening in the clean energy industry, our team of experts bring depth of knowledge and a network of purpose and mission-driven candidates who are uniquely suited to roles in the nonprofit and social impact sectors to every search we take on.

Schedule a call with our team today to learn more.

*ChatGPT was used in the writing of this article.

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DRiWaterstone is thrilled to announce that it has been named to the Forbes list of America’s Best Recruiting and Temporary Staffing Firms 2024. This prestigious award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider.

This marks the seventh time that DRiWaterstone (formerly Development Resources inc.) has been named to the list.

The list is divided into three major categories:

  • Executive Search – Recruiting firms that place managers in permanent positions with an annual gross income of more than $100,000
  • Professional and Specialist Search – Recruiting firms that place professionals in permanent positions with an annual gross income up to $100,000
  • Temp Staffing – Providers of temporary workers and contract positions, excluding interim management positions

The award ranking is based on an independent survey of peers and clients. In total, more than 36,800 external recruiters and 16,000 HR-managers/hiring managers and candidateswere invited to participate in this year’s survey.

Based on the results of the study, DRiWaterstone is excited to be recognized on the Forbes list of America’s Best Recruiting and Temporary Staffing Firms 2024. Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate in the survey and to vote for DRiWaterstone.

“We are honored to once again be named one of America’s best executive recruiting firms by Forbes. We are privileged to work with some of the finest purpose and mission-driven organizations across the United States – and with some of the top purpose and mission-driven candidates in the industry,” said Jennifer Dunlap, CEO at DRiWaterstone. “DRiWaterstone is thrilled that our work helping nonprofits and social impact organizations achieve their mission, impact, and reputation goals has been successful. We appreciate this honor and are proud to be recognized among so many other great organizations.”

About DRiWaterstone

DRiWaterstone Human Capital is a female-founded nonprofit and social impact executive search firm headquartered in the Washington, DC area. Our team of talent management experts has successfully placed over 1,000 exceptional executives since we opened our doors in 2001. We are committed to connecting purpose and mission-driven clients with outstanding candidates who share their dedication to making a positive impact. 

We can help with your next search – schedule a meeting with our team today.

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Depending on your industry and the role you’re looking to fill, opting for a small or mid-sized executive search firm can offer myriad of advantages – here are three from the nonprofit executive search experts at DRiWaterstone:

  • They are often experts in one industry or area.
    Smaller firms aren’t trying to be all things to all clients. Often, they have a deep understanding of one or two industries or geographies and have worked hard to develop comprehensive candidate networks in those areas. This not only means that they have the specialized knowledge to sell your role and your organization to candidates, but also that you’ll see the best, most relevant candidates for your unique opportunity.
  • They can take advantage of a team approach.
    A smaller team has a lot of advantages! Lean organization structures often result in an all-hands approach that can reap rewards for clients – with senior leaders just as engaged in each search as the junior team members, and an openness to leveraging the networks and expertise of team members across the firm to find the best possible candidates for your role.
  • They can be more agile and cost effective than larger firms.
    Lower overhead and less red tape mean that smaller organizations are often able to try new things and make in-search changes quickly, and without significantly impacting the budget. They may also have more flexibility in their process and approach, meaning that they can quickly adapt and problem solve in a way that’s unique to your needs as a client.

DRiWaterstone is a DC-headquartered executive search firm that specializes in connecting purpose and mission-driven candidates with opportunities at some of the top nonprofit and social impact organizations across the U.S.

Our executive search experts help ensure our clients have the right leaders in place – leaders who align to their purpose, and who can help take the organization and its culture to the next level. We serve a diverse group of clients in the nonprofit, association, foundation, social impact enterprise, and corporate citizenship space who are looking to have a greater impact locally, nationally, and globally. Contact us today to find out how we can help with your next search.

*This article was written with the support of ChatGPT

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