Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is the watchword for those in search of meaning. But be warned, the transition to this field requires a somewhat strategic approach (it would be far too simple otherwise). Here are the 5 keys to a successful transition!
1. Making the link between past professional experience and CSR
Making the leap to CSR doesn't mean abandoning your past skills and experience. On the contrary, it means reusing them strategically.
Leverage your transferable skills: you've got project management experience? Perfect! Use it to steer CSR initiatives. Communication skills? Ideal for raising awareness and mobilizing people around sustainability projects. Data analysis? Invaluable for assessing the impact of CSR actions and adjusting strategies.
2. Understand today's business challenges and position yourself accordingly
Companies are ready to offer jobs or assignments in several key CSR areas (but not all!). Currently, priority topics include employee awareness, CSRD compliance, carbon footprinting and obtaining labels like B Corp. We tell you more:
- Raising awareness with the Fresque du Climat: many companies invest in raising employee awareness through workshops like the Fresque du Climat. Becoming an expert in organizing and running these workshops can help you land your first corporate assignment.
- CSRD compliance: The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires large companies to publish detailed information on their environmental, social and governance impacts. Helping a company comply with these requirements is a highly sought-after skill (and quite rare on the market!).
- Carbon footprinting: measuring and reducing carbon emissions is a growing priority. Knowing how to carry out a carbon assessment and develop strategies to reduce the company's carbon footprint can make you a valuable asset. Beware, however, that carrying out a carbon footprint assessment is a fairly technical undertaking, and requires fairly specialized training. On the other hand, you can steer and coordinate a carbon strategy within the company.
- Obtaining certifications such as B Corp: Companies are also seeking to obtain certifications such as B Corp to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable and responsible practices. Helping a company obtain and maintain these certifications is a skill in high demand.
Be pragmatic and propose adapted offers: given these priorities, it's pragmatic to focus on these areas and propose specific services or offers related to raising awareness, CSRD compliance, carbon footprinting and obtaining labels. By specializing in these areas, you increase your chances of finding interesting opportunities and positioning yourself as a key expert.
3. Accept the diversity of maturity levels
The reality is that not all companies and their employees are at the same level when it comes to CSR. This can be frustrating, but it's an opportunity for you to shine.
- Pedagogical skills: You'll often (to put it mildly) have to explain the basic concepts of sustainability and demonstrate the importance of CSR initiatives. Patience and the ability to communicate clearly are therefore crucial skills.
- Create alliances: identify allies within the organization. Working together can create leverage and encourage other colleagues and departments to adopt CSR.
4. Be prepared to put a lot of effort (and sweat) into driving change internally
Change management is a major component of CSR implementation within a company. It can be a long and demanding process, requiring a significant investment of time, energy and resources. (And yes, it's not easy to get things moving!). You'll have to be patient and accept that not everyone will "switch" at the same time. Here's my advice:
- Involve stakeholders: change cannot be imposed top-down. It's crucial to involve stakeholders at all levels of the organization, from top management to front-line employees. Organizing participative workshops, training and awareness-raising sessions can help create a sense of ownership and encourage buy-in.
- Measure and communicate progress: transparency and communication are essential to maintain the momentum of change. Use performance indicators to measure progress and regularly share these results with the whole organization. This helps celebrate successes, identify obstacles and maintain motivation.
- Demonstrate resilience: finally, as I said earlier, but it's absolutely essential to remember, it's important to remain resilient in the face of challenges... Change management is rarely a linear process; there will be obstacles and moments of discouragement. Maintain your commitment and passion for CSR, and keep looking for innovative solutions to overcome the obstacles!
5. Be curious! (again and again)
Above all, don't hesitate to read the content published by all the players in the sector (Bon Pote, Quantis, ADEME, Carbone 4, etc.), listen to podcasts (Chaleur Humaine, Time to Shift...), make MOOcs or subscribe to the AEF press review because knowledge is accessible! 🥸
For those who want to go even further, Indigo School is offering a 3-month bootcamp to become a "CSR Manager". This 100% online training course is aimed at people wishing to implement and manage a CSR strategy at their organization or customer site, but also to gain legitimacy and access to a network of sustainable development professionals.
So there you have it - all the keys to a new career!