The Insider’s Guide to a Career in Solar Energy - Part 1
How to Get Your First Job in the Solar Industry
Introduction
If you're looking to break into the solar industry, you're in luck. The solar sector is booming, and opportunities are abundant for those with talent and drive. I've seen many solar novices advance from “getting coffee” to six-figure salaries with mid-level responsibility in less than three years. If you have talent and drive, the industry won’t deny you the ability to rise through the ranks. In the U.S., solar has doubled in size in 10 years and is still growing like gangbusters. There simply aren’t enough experienced people to go around, and so companies are highly willing to promote inexperienced but driven and talented folks. All that means there are basically infinite opportunities to earn your stripes, take charge of your path, and find your particular gift to the world in the solar industry.
The challenge is getting your first job in the solar industry, whether entry-level or intern. That part is much less easy.
So in this post, we’re going to begin unveiling the secrets of how to get your first job in solar, the key that unlocks your future stratospheric rise through the ranks in a world-saving solar career.
Four Primary Paths to a Solar Career
We estimate that 90% of full-time salaried solar pros came through one of these four tracks:
1) Install Solar (50%)
Approximately 50% of solar professionals start here. This often involves installing solar on local roofs or potentially traveling the country to work on solar farms as an apprentice electricians, solar technician, laborer, or heavy equipment operator.
2) Sell Solar (30%)
About 30% begin in sales, often canvassing or cold calling.
3) Mid-Career Transition (5%)
Around 5% have existing career success in an adjacent industry and then usually take a pay cut, at least temporarily, to transition to the solar industry.
4) Specialized Internships (5%)
Another 5% start in highly competitive specialized internships (policy, marketing, project management, finance, etc.).
In this series of blog posts, we’re going to talk about each of these paths. But I want to point something out here first:
The Surest Paths Toward Getting a Career in the Solar Industry:
Construction and Sales
BY FAR, the surest paths toward building a successful career in the solar industry are entry-level jobs in install or sales. And even if you believe you are “overqualified,” we generally urge early career folks to consider these tried and true paths if they want to succeed long-term.
Sales and field construction jobs are where 80% of today’s managers, specialists, and executives start. But even more importantly, that’s where 90% of the entry-level job postings are. And on top of that, that’s where you’ll find 99% of the jobs that you can succeed in with little more than a good attitude and work ethic.
Yet, we encounter people ALL THE TIME who are unwilling to get their hands dirty (literally or figuratively) by considering these tracks. Particularly if you have a college degree, you may be resistant to the idea of taking a job that doesn’t make use of your extensive (cough, expensive) education.
But while these tracks don’t often require a college degree, gaining sales and install experience is not just about paying your dues - it’s about building your competencies. These positions build important skills that a college career likely didn’t provide, and that you are absolutely sure to use, whether you stay in the solar industry or not.
They also are great professional tracks in and of themselves. Many people choose to stay in install or sales careers and reach six figures of income, with benefits and career stability for decades.
Why I Took Sales and Install Positions with a Master’s
I’m speaking out of experience - I have a master’s degree in a sustainability-related field, was valedictorian of my university, became a Fulbright Scholar, had started and sold businesses, and after ALL THAT I still worked in BOTH solar sales AND solar install jobs BEFORE I advanced into a management position! These jobs didn’t pay as much as other options at first. And they didn’t make use of my education or skills at first. But I don’t regret that time in the school of hard knocks one bit. I learned much faster as a result of gaining experience directly in solar sales and solar install positions. And the skills I learned supercharged my later career as a solar business executive, allowing to me to lead companies much more effectively, because I understood the realities on the ground.
Which Solar Career Path is For You
While at Generation Solar primarily work directly with solar companies as a consultant and training platform provider, we decided to create this blog series for early stage career learners. As our free solar training courses at Generation Academy grow, we are asked more and more often for things that are more in the “advice” category than training per se. We get it. The solar industry is still kind of mysterious from the outside. So in this series, we’ll answer the questions:
Tips for finding a great solar company
Tips for finding true entry-level solar jobs
How to land and prepare for interviews
How to gain certifications that prepare you to land the job AND rise quickly through the ranks
But before we get there, let’s talk about why, for most people who want to break into the industry,
we recommend looking for entry level jobs in solar sales or solar install for 90% of job seekers
even if they might be able to hold out for a slightly higher position if you send out a million resumes.
Why Get a Job in Solar Sales? Because Everything is Sales
Working with others well is what separates top performers from the pack. Period. No matter your specialty, collaboration is key. The more AI becomes capable of doing “knowledge work,” the more in-demand “social skills” will become.
So while we offer solar technical training at Generation Academy, most of our focus for solar education is on training two in-demand abilities that most professionals have shockingly never been taught:
How to build stronger relationships
How to guide others toward making better decisions
These two abilities are a package deal. They go by different names. If you’re in charge, we call that package “leadership.” When you’re focused on getting a job done, we refer to it as project management. And when a professional relationship is brand new, we refer to it as sales.
But it’s the same two abilities. If you can master them, the world is your oyster, and they’re both entirely trainable. There are dozens of specific concepts and skills that anyone can learn that support and improve those abilities. You just have to put in the time.
So if you want to improve your career, sales gives you an excuse and an opportunity to do so. You’ll learn about psychology. You’ll learn and practice skills like active listening, building rapport, framing decisions, asking great questions, and authentically communicating who you are and what you stand for. That’s not only the way to get ahead today, and set yourself up for whatever’s in store tomorrow, but it’s also a sure way to have a more fulfilling professional life, with less unnecessary conflict, and with more opportunities to learn and collaborate with others.
A solar sales job gives you an opportunity to master the skills that enable you to be effective at any collaboration.
And because all solar sales consultants have to be masters of technical sales, you’ll also gain a working knowledge of all of the key technical elements of how solar works.
All of this creates an incredible foundation for whatever you want to do next - policy, management, leadership, marketing, or any other type of position in the industry. Here are some specific skills you’ll learn in sales.
Speak Well, Listen Even Better
Effective Communication
Working in sales hones your ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people. You’ll learn how to convey complex information in a simple, understandable manner, a skill that is invaluable in any career.
Active Listening:
Successful salespeople excel at active listening, a skill that involves truly understanding the customer’s needs and concerns. This competency is crucial in roles that require negotiation, team collaboration, and customer service.
Negotiate and Decide
Negotiation:
Sales roles require strong negotiation skills. You’ll learn how to find common ground, handle objections, and reach mutually beneficial agreements. These skills are essential for managerial roles, project management, and any position involving stakeholder engagement.
Make Better Decisions:
Making better decisions is at the heart of sales. You’ll develop the ability to influence others, build rapport, and create compelling arguments. This skill is highly useful in marketing, leadership, and even technical roles where you need to advocate for your ideas.
Problem-Solving and Adaptability
Problem-Solving:
Sales often involve addressing customer concerns and finding solutions to their problems. This fosters a strong problem-solving mindset, which is crucial in any career. You’ll learn to think on your feet, adapt to new situations, and develop creative solutions.
Adaptability:
The dynamic nature of sales requires adaptability. You’ll become skilled at adjusting your strategies based on customer feedback, market conditions, and new information. This adaptability is beneficial in fast-paced environments and industries undergoing rapid change.
Relationship Building and Networking
Relationship Building:
Sales positions emphasize building and maintaining relationships. You’ll learn how to establish trust, nurture client relationships, and manage long-term customer satisfaction. These skills are invaluable in any role that involves working with people, from HR to partnership development.
Networking:
Working in sales provides ample opportunities to expand your professional network. You’ll connect with industry professionals, potential clients, and other key stakeholders. A strong network can open doors to new opportunities, mentorship, and career growth.
Sales Trains Resilience and Self-Motivation
Resilience:
Sales can be challenging, with frequent rejections and setbacks. Developing resilience in the face of these challenges is crucial. This ability to bounce back and stay motivated is beneficial in any career, helping you to handle stress and maintain a positive attitude.
Self-Motivation:
Sales roles often involve setting and achieving personal goals. You’ll develop a strong sense of self-motivation and discipline, which are essential for success in any career. These traits will help you take initiative, stay focused, and achieve your professional objectives.
Convinced? Skip over to our article on how to get a job in solar sales or learn what it takes to succeed and what a career in solar sales looks like when it comes to salary and opportunities for career advancement.
Why Get a Job in Solar Construction?
Because Building Something is Building Anything!
Building things every day teaches you how to… build other things well!
Whether you go on to build a team, a software product, a business process, or anything else, having experience in the real, physical world of building matters.
We see a ton of young professionals who’ve never had the opportunity to build real things, things that have to either work or don’t work. You cannot bullshit a complex solar-electrical system the way you can bullshit your way through a paper or design project. If you try, it could be a disaster. In solar, every single day, you have to build something that will last decades, no matter the conditions.
Building tangible projects is not only rewarding, it develops specific skills that you can use in lots of different contexts.
Design
The best engineers and designers of anything are people who have built things themselves. Without that experience, they often get stuck in a “looks good on paper” mentality. Overly complex and confusing products and processes are very common among people who have only ever hopped from computer screen to computer screen. To be great at putting any type of system in place, you need to develop judgment by deeply understanding the potential challenges of implementation.
Problem Solving
Every installation project has quirks that must be taken into account and overcome in the moment. When you work in solar construction, you’re not just installing equipment—you’re creating infrastructure that will benefit clients and communities for decades - if it’s done right. This sense of purpose and contribution helps create real stakes, and often enables people to develop real resourcefulness, succeeding no matter the issue.
Detail-Oriented Organization
In solar construction, organization is critical. Building internal systems that reduce your mental overhead allows you to be efficient. Knowing the steps to keep track of material, quality control, team roles, and resources is the only way to make sure that projects are completed on time and within budget. Staying organized allows you to keep track of multiple tasks, deadlines, and personnel, ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks. And this is a skill you develop much more quickly with the immediate feedback of a project that every day is either on track or off course.
Team Leadership
Almost every solar project is installed by a team. Managing team dynamics is a significant part of solar construction. It involves understanding different personalities, resolving conflicts, and motivating team members to work towards a common goal. Strong team dynamics lead to more efficient and enjoyable work experiences, contributing to overall project success. Many solar install teams are tight-knit bands of close friends. In some cases, install crews will stay together even as they transition companies!
Finding Efficiency
Finding efficiencies in processes and workflows is essential in solar construction. It means optimizing resources, reducing waste, and improving productivity. Finding these efficiencies can lead to cost savings and faster project completion times, making you a valuable asset to any team.
Whatever you do next, your ability to drop into a workflow and see where time and resources are wasted will be invaluable to your employer, and great for your career.
Conclusion
Starting a career in solar sales or solar construction is more than just a great entry point into the solar industry. It’s a foundation for developing a wide range of competencies that will serve you well in any professional path. Whether you stay in the solar industry or transition to another field, the skills you gain from these jobs—effective communication, negotiation, problem-solving, adaptability, relationship building, resilience, and self-motivation—will be invaluable assets throughout your career journey.
But with that extended pitch, we’ll talk about these two primary routes as well as the less common routes toward getting a career in the solar industry.
Next, we’ll talk about
How to get a job in solar sales
And what sales jobs look like day-to-day.
How to get a job in solar construction
And what that construction jobs look like day-to-day.
