5 Tips for Finding a Solar Job in a Tight Market
April 26, 2026
Article by Catherine Lane
Getting a job in 2026 is hard. Between expiring tax credits, a hostile political climate, and a strained economy, it seems like getting a job in solar in 2026 is near impossible. The task can look even more insurmountable for women, who make up just 22% of solar construction and installation jobs globally.
Despite this, the solar industry still has huge potential as a workforce power house, especially in the face of skyrocketing energy demand, when energy needs to be deployed quickly and cheaply. Getting your foot in the door can set you up with a rewarding and dynamic career, but where should you even begin trying to land a job in solar when the market is competitive?
Solar for Women hosted an informative webinar tackling this very topic with an incredible panel of hosts, including:
Erika Symmonds, Advisor for Solar for Women
Janet Gomez, Director of Talent Acquisition at Freedom Forever
Kate Collardson, Co-Founder of Solar Service of Colorado
Let’s take a look at the top 5 recommendations these expert panelists gave for navigating the 2026 solar job market. (Spoiler alert: you can still get a job in solar!)
Watch the full Finding a Job, Networking, and Diversifying webinar at the links in the buttons below:
Networking is critical
One of the most crucial steps in finding a job is networking. Forging relationships with those already in the solar industry can have significant payoffs when seeking out new opportunities. In fact, those connections can give you a leg up before an opportunity even hits the job boards.
Janet Gomez, who has over seven years of hiring experience within solar, highlighted the importance of the hidden job market:
“There are instances where we don’t even post jobs because we have such a network of individuals who reach out to us, that stay in contact with us [...] and they stay in our minds. They stick out.”
But trying to make these contacts, especially when entering a new industry, can be difficult. “Networking’s scary. Do it anyhow.” was the catch phrase from Erika Symmonds, one of the advisors for Solar for Women. Attending trade shows, signing up for green happy hours, joining online solar-focused communities and groups, and initiating coffee chats with professionals you admire are excellent ways to expand your rolodex.
But not all networking is created equal. Symmonds went on to highlight an often overlooked part of effective networking – follow up, and not just about work. Anyone can send a LinkedIn request. Differentiate by asking questions, showing interest, and bringing your authentic self to the table, even when you aren’t looking for a job.
2. Solar-specific training and certifications can set you apart
One of the biggest benefits of entering the solar trades is that degrees aren’t always required, and some companies even offer on-the-job training. But, solar-specific training courses and certifications do exist, and they can help get you ahead of the competition in the job market.
Some of the most popular sources for solar industry courses include:
Manufacturer-specific trainings
Solar for Women hosted an in-depth webinar taking a closer look at this very topic on April 16th, 2026: Smart Investments: Certifications and Licenses That Pay Off, which you can watch via the links below.
Several of these organizations offer online courses, but gaining hands-on experience is even better. Location can be a limiting factor when looking for in-person solar training. But there are alternatives. Erika Symmonds pointed out that carpentry, electrical, and general trade programs can be incredibly beneficial in getting a solar industry job, and they’re generally easier to access.
That real experience using tools and doing trade labor can easily transfer to solar field work, especially when coupled with online solar courses. Even something like project management certifications can be a resume stand-out, as applicants focus mostly on the trade experience of solar installation, and not the much-needed leadership aspects.
3. Understand what you want and what the industry needs
For such a tight-knit community, the solar industry is actually quite broad. From residential installation to commercial engineering, there is more than one avenue to get into the field.
That level of possibility is exciting, but it’s also quite daunting. Kate Collardson emphasized the importance of diversifying your skillset and identifying what parts genuinely interest you to find the perfect fit. The two often go hand-in-hand.
You might begin your career as a commercial installer and discover an interest in engineering or system design. Don’t let that curiosity fall to the wayside, lean into it. Talk to your colleagues, connect with others in the industry working that position, and identify how you can strengthen your skills to potentially find yourself in their shoes.
Staying in tune with what the industry demands is equally as important, especially in a tight market. Even when sections of the industry contract and slow in the face of political and economic change, there’s often growth in other areas if you know where to look.
“A great place to get in right now is O&M [Operations and Maintenance] for PV,” said Collardson. “We can build every rooftop, every field out there with solar, and if those gigawatts don’t produce gigawatt-hours, it all means nothing. And so a lot of companies are now are looking for [O&M talent].”
Understanding both your strengths and where the industry is headed can give you an edge and shape a more resilient career in solar.
4. Optimizing your resume to show your results
You can gather all of the skills necessary, check all of the boxes on a job listing, but if your resume doesn’t reflect your talent, it can easily get lost in a sea of applicants. According to Janet Gomez, those hiring in solar want to see adaptability, impact, reliability, and ownership. One of the best ways to do this is to quantify your results in your resume.
Take a look at these two examples:
“Installed rooftop solar systems”
“Installed 25+ residential solar systems monthly with a 98% inspection pass rate”
Which of these candidates would you have more confidence in? The second one, which includes tangible metrics, increases the applicant’s credibility and provides additional context for the hiring staff. A results-oriented resume can be the difference between landing an interview or getting passed over.
Gomez also pointed out that compliance and safety-oriented candidates were a green flag, and underscoring relevant tool and industry software experience you have is also beneficial. You may have transferable skills from past positions, like doing quality assurance inspections or being OSHA certified, or you can look for possible training opportunities to boost your skills further.
5. Confidence is key
The final tip is easy to overlook, but it’s one of the most important: confidence matters. When you believe in your skills, it comes through in your resume, your interviews, and your networking conversations. Even if you’re still figuring out your path, presenting yourself authentically can open more doors than you might expect.
For women, especially those looking to get into a male-dominated space like solar, this can be challenging. There may be moments where you feel singled out or underestimated because of your gender identity, and that’s discouraging. But if you lay your foundation on your self-belief, you’ll be hard to shake.
Surround yourself with people who support and elevate you, and make a point to show up for yourself as well. That can carry you further than you might think.
Unlock the solar industry
Breaking into the solar market can undoubtedly feel uncertain, especially with the job landscape as competitive as it is. But it’s far from impossible. Solar continues to evolve, and so do the opportunities.
A willingness to learn, a focus on building the right skills, and the confidence to take chances are often enough to show you new doors. You just need to believe that you’re the one who belongs in that room.
Join us for the third and final webinar in the Spring 2026 series
Upcoming Webinar: Ace the Interview, Know Your Value, and Negotiate Like a Pro
Our spring webinar series is focused on Making Yourself Indispensable in a Tight Job Market. The third and final webinar in the series is focused on what you do once you have landed an interview and need to prepare and what to consider after you have a job or job offer and need to negotiate your salary. This webinar will feature three experts in the field to share their wisdom, and we hope you’ll join us.
