The answer is fairly easy. With solid accounting experience working for a packaging company, for example, you could transfer or adapt your skills to qualify as a candidate for an accountant position in an environmental architectural firm. Same skill sets. Same occupational function. But that’s the easy part. You need to take it one step further. What makes you a good candidate with a favorable chance of being hired is the challenge.

What sets you apart from the competition might be the time and effort you invest in learning something about the green building industry and the particular architectural firm or company you’re interested in before you approach them for a job. You may not need to take a L.E.E.D. certification course or claim expertise in designing efficient building and mechanical systems, but you have to know enough about the firm’s business and how they operate to spin some green market value into your accounting skills and experience portfolio.

You make the connection – presenting your transferable skills and demonstrating your industry knowledge – to help the prospective employer see you as a match for the job. Of course, there’s always the chance you’ll interview with the employer who’s just looking for talented people with a passion for sustainability.