“I’ve been to college job fairs so far, but this is the best so far in terms of approachability, opportunities, and general interactions with companies. It left a good impression as my first professional career fair,” says Seqen, an electrical engineering student who just moved to DC after graduating from Penn State. On November 7, 2017, MDV-SEIA (the regional Solar Energy Industries Association) and GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic (GRID) co-hosted the second annual Solar Focus Job Fair sponsored by the Solar Training Network (STN), and supported by SEIA, and Constellation.
For the second year in a row, the Downtown Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC hosted the job fair in conjunction with MDV-SEIA’s Solar Focus Conference, the premier solar energy conference on the East Coast. 21 employers filled up the job fair space, ranging from job training organizations, to national organizations like Tesla and SEIA, to regional organizations like New Columbia Solar. The job fair was unique in the many activities it had to offer. Attendees were either lining up behind tables handing their resumes, carrying a power tool during the solar mock install demonstrations, receiving one-on-one resume feedback, or smiling behind a camera to update their Linkedin profile with a new professional headshot.
Over 175 individuals attended the job fair including Solar Works DC job trainees, Latin American Youth Center job trainees, students, recent graduates, and those interested in making a career change to the solar industry. “I’m in-between jobs now and I’m looking to move into the solar industry,” says Graham, a musician who uses solar to power his instruments, but wants to do more work in solar design and project management. “It’s interesting to just go around the room and get a read of what the industry is doing and how they are doing it.”
Among the job fair attendees was Jean-Marc, an electrical engineer who from Baltimore. This is his second time going to the Solar Focus Job Fair. “I’m looking into getting in the solar industry from the ground-up, learning about the certifications and meeting entrepreneurs. I can’t wait to volunteer with GRID and apply for the Clean Energy Leadership Institute fellowship.”
According to the 2016 Solar Jobs Census gathered by the Solar Foundation, solar jobs in the U.S. have “increased at least 20 percent per year for the past four years.” In 2016, the solar industry accounted for one out of every 50 new jobs added to the U.S. workforce. GRID, MDV-SEIA, and STN are eager to connect people to these new solar jobs, and hope the Solar Focus Job Fair paves the path to employment for job-seekers in the Mid-Atlantic region. Thanks to all the employers for participating in this year’s job fair, including the Department of Energy and the Environment, the Department of Employment Services, Sunrun, CleanChoice Energy, Vivint Solar, EnterSolar, Ipsun Power, New Columbia Solar, EnerBlu GRID Services, Sigora Solar, Clean Energy Leadership Institute, Tesla, Renewable Energy Corporation, Solar Solutions for All, Legatus6, and Power 52 Foundation. See photos here.