Colorado is an energy industry juggernaut – boasting doubled electricity production over the past decade, almost a fourth of the country’s coal bed methane reserves, and ranking as the nation’s fifth-largest producer of natural gas, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
But that’s not all — Colorado has also been a pioneer in the renewable and clean energy sector, with its government being steadfast and proactive about transitioning to 100% renewable energy production, a bold move to resist the effects of climate change. Across the state, there are now nearly 91,000 energy jobs, with a separate report by Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) finding that around 60,000 jobs in Colorado are in the clean energy sector.
As of 2018, the clean energy sector employed 26,000 more workers than the state’s fossil fuel industry. Specifically, the metropolitan Denver area experienced a 4.6% fossil fuel industry growth from 2012 to 2017, compared to 20.5% employment growth in the clean energy sector.
Whether you’re an energy professional who lives in Denver, or are looking to relocate to the area, here’s everything you need to know about finding and landing an energy job in Denver, Colorado.
There is no shortage of job fairs and hiring events posted on sites like JobFairsIn and Eventbrite, where Denver residents or visitors can find events tailored to their profession. At these hiring events, applicants can potentially land an interview on the spot.
Another option is to contact the company you desire to work for directly. You should be able to speak with a supervisor or hiring manager who can provide more information about job opportunities.
However, if attending a job fair or directly contacting the company isn’t possible, you can find thousands of job listings online. Joblist allows you to filter results by keyword, company, distance, date posted, and specific position title, so you don’t have to waste time sifting through unrelated entries.
At a minimum, most energy jobs will require a bachelor’s degree relevant to renewable energy, sustainability, or energy engineering. But a degree isn’t everything – most jobs also require some experience. Make sure you meet the education and experience requirements before applying.
One survey published on LinkedIn estimated that 85% of critical jobs are filled through networking. Fortunately, numerous energy industry nonprofits, chapters, happy hours, and social meetups in Denver are designed to facilitate networking. Groups like Young Professionals in Energy, Solardarity, and the Colorado Renewable Energy Society make finding like-minded associates easier than ever.
You should also ensure that your resume is up to date and free of grammatical errors. Additionally, a succinct cover letter about your interest in the energy sector will be sure to impress potential employers. Just be sure to steer clear of lying, writing too much, and coming off overly confident.
Nailing that first impression is crucial, as it can make or break your chances of getting an offer. You may want to ask family, friends, or a professional resume reviewer for input before hitting submit. But don’t get discouraged if you don’t land the first job you put in an application for. With patience, persistence, and guidance, you’re sure to find the right job for you.
There are thousands of energy jobs in Denver – and with Colorado dedicating resources to renewable energy, the metropolitan area is ripe with job opportunities. That’s where Joblist comes in. Our platform makes it easy to search millions of open positions in various industries across the nation. Plus, we keep you up to date with personalized daily job alerts, so you’ll never miss a high-quality match.
