Imagine this...
You’re pitching yourself for a role in sustainability or climate work — and your CV ticks all the boxes. But they still choose someone else. Why?

💬 “We just didn’t get a sense of how you work.”
💬 “Impressive background, but hard to see the fit.”
💬 “Wish we had an example of how you solve problems.”

If you’re applying for climate or sustainability roles, a strong CV and good intentions are no longer enough. Hiring managers want evidence. In this post, you’ll discover how to create a proof project — a visible, valuable piece of work that shows how you solve problems and think like someone already in the room. Whether you’re pivoting from corporate life or rebranding your existing experience, these practical tips and real examples will help you demonstrate credibility, not just claim it. If you want to land climate jobs faster and with more confidence, this is your next step.

How to Show Not Tell

Talking a good game isn’t enough anymore.

In this job market, people want proof. Not polished perfection — just something that shows you’re already thinking like someone in the room. Whether you’re a designer, data scientist, or director of strategy, the same rule applies:

👉🏽 Don’t just say you can solve the problem. Show them how you would.

⚙️ The Science Section:

You know it feels intuitively right. But you also know by now that that isn’t good enough for us here at The Positive Career Coach.

So here is your proof, of the importance of proof so to speak:

Research by Sumers, Ho, and Griffiths (2020) shows that “demonstration-based teaching is more robust to changes in shared perception than explanation-based teaching.”

Let’s keep it simple, and lean into school essay writing basics by starting with a definition

Proof = “An example that offers irrefutable evidence of the quality, importance, or uniqueness of something.”

And a proof project is a self-initiated piece of work that shows how you think, how you solve, and what you value. It doesn’t need to be perfect or paid — just visible, valuable, and intentional.

✨ 7 Real-World Examples of Proof Projects (and How to Start Yours)

Here are 7 practical ideas that others have used (and you can remix):

Residential Hydro Scheme Volunteer
Got involved in a local renewable energy project, leading on stakeholder engagement and ops. (Reading Hydro scheme)
Result: Used as a project story in interviews.
Mini Industry Report
Compared the public commitments of 10 B Corps — and identified gaps and standouts.
Result: Shared as part of networking outreach.
Website Re-Write
Took a nonprofit’s site and rewrote the homepage to improve storytelling.
Result: Shared online as a “what I’d do differently” piece.
UX Walkthrough
Screen-shared a short critique of a sustainability app — with actionable suggestions.
Result: Caught the attention of a hiring competitor.
Climate 101 for Early Job Seekers
Ran a free workshop helping recent grad navigate the climate landscape - target role as an educator within Universities
Result: Network growth, visiblity and a reusable format
Plain English Cheat Sheet
Created a visual glossary of climate finance terms.
Result: Shared across three communities.
Slack Contributor
Regularly responded to Qs in a niche Slack — showing up with value, not self-promo.
Result: Invited to speak at an event.

🎯 Pick Smart: How to Choose Your Proof Project

The key to making this work?

Don’t start with a long list of ideas.

That’s how people lose hours Googling and building nothing.

Start with criteria, not content.

Here are 4 essential qualities of a good proof project:

📦 DISCRETE – It has a clear beginning and end
🔍 VISIBLE – It produces something tangible to point to
💡 VALUABLE – It’s interesting or useful to someone already in the field
🧭 PERSONAL – It links to your trajectory, interests and goals

OK, with that in mind, let your ‘ideation begin’ but time box that and force yourself to commit to one within an hour.

📢 For Senior Professionals: Yes, You Can Do This

Proof projects aren’t just for designers and mid-career folks. In fact, they’re even more powerful at the senior level. They just go by a different name: thought leadership. (Surprise?!)

I have seen the following work well:

Opportunity Audit Slide Deck
Create a short deck analysing where a sector or organisation is missing climate opportunities — and share it as an opinion piece.

Climate Strategy Mini-Playbook
Write a brief guide that outlines how companies like your previous employer could integrate sustainability into operations or strategy.

Leadership Roundtable (Even if it’s 3 people)
Host a virtual chat with 2–3 professionals to explore what climate leadership means today. Publish the insights as a short summary.

Org Design for Impact
Propose a re-org or team structure to help a hypothetical or real org deliver on their sustainability goals more effectively.

Executive Briefing Note
Turn your research or thoughts into a 2-pager titled: “What C-Suite Leaders Need to Know About [Insert Climate Topic Here].” Share it in relevant communities or directly in DMs.

You’ve got decades of pattern recognition. Now use that to make your thinking visible.

📦 Channel First: Where Will You Share It?

This isn’t a portfolio buried in a folder. This is proof on display — so think strategically.

Ask yourself:

💬 Where are your future colleagues, collaborators or co-founders hanging out?
→ LinkedIn? Slack groups? Medium? A climate niche forum?

Choose the right channel, and keep your proof project small enough to share this month, not "someday".

💡 Tips for Making It Work

Don’t overthink it. Small wins beat big intentions.
Show it in the right channel. Where are your future collaborators hanging out — LinkedIn? Reddit? A niche Slack or forum?
Make it part of your practice. This isn’t a one-time thing. The most compelling candidates keep creating. (Even when they are in the ‘new’ role).
Think portfolio, not perfection. Even rough cuts build trust.
Start with your niche. What do you care about solving? Focus there first.

This is about building credibility before you get the job offer.
It’s how you stop waiting for permission — and start leading with value.

Dont forget your network. If you want help in making those first connections or re-engaging your contacts use this guide Informational Interviews: The Career Hack Hiding in Plain Sight

Let’s re-cap with what you can do THIS week to help with that

Here is the checklist of actionable advice:

✅ Write down 3-5 problem topics you are wanting to work on

✅ Use the 4 criteria to pick one to focus on

✅ Decide where it will live (LinkedIn, blog, Notion, etc.)

✅ Create the first tiny version (even a post counts)

✅ Share it publicly, and make a note of what you learned

This isn’t a one-and-done thing. It’s a new career habit — and it just might open doors you didn’t even know were there.

📞 Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re ready to take action and are curious about the help a coach might provide — let’s talk.

Sometimes a short call is all it takes to unlock a whole new approach.

Book a call with me here → [FIND A TIME THAT WORKS FOR YOU]

How to Prove Your Value in Climate Job Applications (Without Waiting for a Job)