When I first enrolled in my degree, I had vague visions about how to contribute to the planet and the society —something between tree planting, climate protests, and maybe working for the UN. Sustainability isn’t just about the environment and the flora & fauna, it’s about systems, people, and creating a future that actually works for everyone. That shift in understanding has carried me through my studies and now into the world beyond academia.
Slowly approaching my graduation feels like standing at the edge of a vast and slightly chaotic forest. A forest full of green buzzwords, overlapping job titles, and paths that didn’t always seem well signposted. It is both exciting and overwhelming. But if studying sustainability taught me anything, it’s how to navigate complexity and how to stay curious while doing it.
My own path post-university is anything but linear. One of the most formative experiences is my internship at Duurzamejobs.nl, a platform connecting sustainability talent with forward-thinking companies and organisations. I wasn’t just learning about job markets or ethical recruitment processes, I was immersed in the ecosystem of sustainability work across the Netherlands and Europe. I mapped stakeholders, created content, reached out to companies, and saw firsthand how diverse the sustainability sector truly is.
Through that experience, I got a clearer view of where a sustainability degree can actually take you. There were roles in policy, communications, data, and design. People were working on renewable energy innovation, circular business models, biodiversity, and urban planning. Others were focused on social equity, diversity in the green transition, or sustainable finance. And the fun part? Everyone brought their own academic background into it, whether they started in economics, engineering, social sciences, or even the arts.
One of the most eye-opening realizations for me was that sustainability is not a “one-size-fits-all” job category. Instead, it’s a lens you bring to whatever you’re passionate about. It made me realize that our degree doesn’t prepare us for just one career but it prepares us to be translators between systems, sectors, and people.
The human-centered side of sustainability became more important to me the further I got into the field. I used to think it was all about emissions, energy, and efficiency. But sustainability, when done well, is just as much about inclusion, justice, and cultural change. It’s about making sure the energy transition doesn’t leave communities behind. Now that I’m moving beyond the student phase, I can see how those human-centered values guide my career decisions. I don’t just want a job that looks good on paper, I want to feel like my work contributes to something meaningful. That might mean joining a mission-driven organization, supporting grassroots innovation, or helping build the next generation of tools and spaces that support a fairer society.
I won’t pretend I have it all figured out but I do know that the skills I’ve gained—systems thinking, ethical awareness, interdisciplinary collaboration—are powerful tools in a world that urgently needs them.
If you’re a student wondering where your sustainability degree might take you, I’ll say this: your path might not look like anyone else’s, and that’s the point. And when you find yourself contributing to a project, campaign, or policy that brings the world just a little closer to balance, you’ll feel it. That quiet sense of impact, that’s when you feel the “clicks”.
And if you’re looking for inspiration or your next step, platforms like Duurzamejobs.nl can help you see just how many directions there really are. Trust the process. Sustainability isn’t just a field, it’s a movement. And you’re already part of it.
