Cloverly on How to Hire Passionate Talent & Build Sustainability-Focused Teams

It’s no longer enough for a company to list ‘sustainability’ as a core value on paper while making minimal contribution to the aggressive fight against climate change. Today, organizations that are serious about going green must demonstrate their commitment through actionable activities, strategic investments, and measurable results. To make meaningful progress, it has become imperative for companies - small and large, to accelerate the adoption of green practices across decision-making processes, and in doing so, they are also recognizing the enormous opportunity to positively impact people, our planet, and their company’s profit. 

These changes start with having a stellar, mission-driven team in place who is truly passionate about transforming businesses to protect our future.  

As one of the earliest climate tech companies in the market, Cloverly is leading the way in helping companies effectively take steps toward change. Cloverly, an API-first marketplace for carbon offsets, uses technology to help businesses, organizations, and individuals reduce their carbon footprints. Cloverly’s technology makes climate action by businesses and consumers easy and can be used by a variety of businesses from financial institutions to logistics providers.  They offer businesses ready-to-use applications and custom API integrations - making it easier for companies to go greener. 

On their mission to help make it easier for individuals and businesses to achieve carbon neutrality, Cloverly is constantly focused on finding and hiring the right talent who believe in the company’s mission to fight climate change through technology. 

5 signs to help identify and hire passionate talent 

In order for companies to efficiently adopt sustainability practices, they need people who are committed to making the change with them. “We are seeing a new breed of talent exploding - one that is passionate about what we do,” said Jason Rubottom, CEO of Cloverly. “Our team is eco-obsessed, and when we’re looking for talent, we have become good at identifying the right people who will fit and boost our culture.” 

As Cloverly continues to rapidly grow, they consider these 5 important signals when determining if a candidate is truly aligned with their mission: 

1. The candidate exudes genuine excitement about sustainability - or the mission at hand. Their enthusiasm is conveyed through positive reactions, including body language and enthusiasm in their voice.  
2. Their lifestyle and the choices they make outside of work reflect sustainable practices.  
3. They express urgency around the emergency climate change reality, and the importance of discovering new solutions to accelerate efforts.
4. When asked about the types of content they consume such as books, podcasts, groups, Slack channels, etc., the list includes sources for learning and generating awareness for sustainability. 
5. Their network includes like-minded people who work or care about climate and sustainability  
   
   

Sustainability credentials are influencing and drawing top talent 

As we experience the most competitive hiring market in history, candidates are also holding companies to higher standards - taking a much closer look at values, culture, and mission, plus the ways a company is working to uphold and improve on these areas of focus. At the same time, the rise of climate tech solutions and startups is attracting strong investor interest, creating even more competition in an already tight talent market. According to the State of Climate Tech 2021, during the first six months of 2021 alone, climate tech startups saw a 210% surge in funds exceeding $60 billion in raised funding. 

This shift has placed the power in candidates’ hands, making it ever more important for companies to demonstrate their commitment to building and retaining sustainable teams. 

Sustainability credentials are increasingly influencing the recruitment process, falling in line or above consideration of compensation packages, flexible work, upskilling opportunities, and other traditional incentives. According to a recent IBM report, two out of three professionals say they are 67% more willing to apply for and accept a job from organizations they consider to be environmentally sustainable. For people who are particularly passionate about climate change, this statistic increases to 80%. In addition, one in three accepted a job offer for a role where they can directly influence environmentally sustainable outcomes.

According to Cloverly, companies looking to adopt sustainability best practices can start with these 5 steps: 

1. Invest in platforms and solutions that enable your organization to commit and act on carbon reduction/decarbonization.
2. Create consistent awareness and promote climate-friendly behavior among employees, partners and customers.
3. Identify measurable ways to reduce your impact on the environment, including water, plastic, waste, and energy. 
4. Choose renewable energy sources for brick and mortar spaces, finding ways to generate power from solar and wind when possible. 
5. Don’t just talk about what you are doing, find ways to naturally demonstrate and communicate your actions to attract and engage like-minded customers and partners. 

Looking to make a positive impact? Start with building the right team.

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