Employers
Solar sales representatives and assessors work for dealers and manufacturers of solar energy systems and equipment. They may sell components such as solar panels or other products to solar retailers and installation companies, and they sell customized solar energy systems to residential and commercial customers. Manufacturers of solar power components and equipment are located throughout the United States. Large plants are located in California, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin. There are nearly 250,000 people employed in the U.S. solar energy industry.
Starting Out
Many solar sales representatives and assessors find entry-level jobs through on-campus recruitment and job fairs. They also get their start by participating in an internship or taking a part-time job in a solar energy company while in school. Ask your school's career services office for help with finding internship and job listings. Professional associations also offer helpful resources for career development. For example, the Solar Energy Industries Association offers a company membership directory at https://www.seia.org/directory. Review the list of solar energy companies and read the descriptions to learn more about potential employers. Visit the companies' Web sites and search their career sections for current job postings.
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- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
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- Biomass Power Plant Managers
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- Environmental Engineers
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- Fuel Cell Technicians
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- Futurists
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- Geothermal Production Managers
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- Materials Engineers
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- Renewable Energy Engineers
- Renewable Energy Site Assessors
- Roustabouts
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- Solar Energy Installation Managers
- Solar Engineers
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians
- Surveyors
- Wind Energy Engineers
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- Wind Energy Project Managers