What are effective ways to discuss your experience with sustainability reporting?

1 Know your audience

Before you go to an interview, research the company and its sustainability performance. Find out what kind of sustainability reporting standards they use, what are their main ESG goals and challenges, and how they communicate their impacts to their stakeholders. This will help you tailor your answers to their expectations and show that you are familiar with their context and priorities. You can also use this information to ask relevant questions and express your interest in their sustainability initiatives.

2 Showcase your skills and achievements

When you talk about your experience with sustainability reporting, focus on the skills and achievements that are relevant to the role and the company. For example, you can mention how you collected, analyzed, and verified data for sustainability indicators, how you prepared and presented reports according to different frameworks, or how you engaged with internal and external stakeholders to ensure accuracy and credibility. You can also highlight how your work contributed to the organization's ESG performance, strategy, or reputation. Use specific examples and quantify your results whenever possible.

3 Demonstrate your passion and values

Sustainability reporting is not only a technical task, but also a reflection of your passion and values for CSR and ESG. Therefore, you should also discuss why you enjoy and care about sustainability reporting, what are the benefits and challenges of doing it, and what are the best practices and trends in the field. You can also share your personal or professional goals related to sustainability reporting, such as learning new skills, pursuing certifications, or joining professional networks. This will show that you are enthusiastic, committed, and knowledgeable about sustainability reporting.

5 Prepare and practice

Before a sustainability reporting interview, it's best to prepare and practice your answers. Utilizing the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method can help you structure your examples concisely and coherently. Additionally, review questions you may be asked such as: how do you ensure data quality and reliability; what sustainability reporting standards or frameworks have you used or are familiar with; how do you communicate or present reports to different audiences; how do you stay up-to-date on latest developments in sustainability reporting; and how do you handle feedback or criticism? Practicing your answers with a friend, mentor, or coach can be beneficial and recording yourself can help identify areas that need improvement. Preparing and practicing will give you the confidence needed to discuss your experience with sustainability reporting in the interview.