Cooperative Living October 2018 - 26

CloserLook | by Paul Wesslund, Contributing Writer
Four Reasons Co-op Careers Are Unique
T
he search for a purposeful career
can begin and end at your local
electric cooperative.
Those aren't just words or wishes.
Working toward a greater purpose is at the
heart of the co-op business model.
Electric co-ops are community-focused
organizations that deliver safe, reliable and
affordable energy to the consumer-members
they serve. This is an exciting time to be a
part of the energy industry. Technology is
continuously advancing, and consumers
want more say in the way they manage their
energy use. That means electric co-ops need a
1. Member Led
Because consumer-members lead and own the
organization, co-op employees can take comfort knowing
that the loyalty of their employer is with those served by the
cooperative.
" If you work for an investor-owned business, you might
be helping people in your community, but more likely you're
helping stockholders who could live anywhere in the world, "
says Adam Schwartz, founder of the consulting firm The
Cooperative Way. " Co-ops, with the services they provide,
can have a great impact on the quality of life in the local
community. "
2. Locally Owned
The best thing about an electric utility owned by its
consumer-members is that its focus will always be its local
community. And that makes a difference to an employee,
says Michelle Rinn, senior vice president of human
resources at the National Rural Electric Cooperative
Association.
" People want to feel like they're doing work that matters,
like they're contributing to the world at large, " she says. " For
co-ops, that comes from a connection to the community and
the fact that the folks you're taking care of really are your
neighbors, the people you go to church with or you see at
the grocery store every day. "
Rinn says that when it comes to a job that provides
electricity, " That's work that matters. Especially when there's
a storm and the lights go out. "
Both Rinn and Schwartz agree that electric co-ops also
achieve a larger employment goal by providing jobs in
smaller communities where they're typically located. As
long as people will need electricity, electric co-ops will help
the local economy with a strong, stable business.
variety of skill sets to develop new
technologies and infrastructure, keep the
electric grid secure, and power the lives
and economy of our local communities.
Here are four reasons why electric
cooperative careers offer a unique
opportunity to make a difference:
3. Variety of Jobs
The more than 900 electric co-ops in 47 states require a lot
of different skill sets to keep the lights on. That means potential
employment seekers could find work in construction,
electrical equipment operation, engineering, customer service,
communications and public relations, employee benefits
coordination, software analysis and vehicle maintenance, to
name a few.
Schwartz says another high-tech co-op career is emerging
as local economic development efforts begin to ask electric
co-ops for help in providing high-speed broadband service for
their communities.
Rinn sees different advantages for employees depending on the
size of their co-op. In larger cooperatives, a variety of professions
are available. At smaller cooperatives, employees have the
opportunity to flex multiple professional muscles in a single role.
" At a really small co-op, people have to wear multiple
hats, " she says. " You don't come in and you're just the
accountant, or you're just the receptionist, or you're just the
executive assistant. There's the opportunity to work on a lot
of different things and build a broad range of skills. "
4. Guided by Co-op Principles
The first modern co-op was formed in 1844 and developed
a set of principles that guides co-ops today. Those include
voluntary, open membership; democratic control by the
membership; members' economic participation; autonomy
and independence; education and training; cooperation
among cooperatives; and concern for community.
America's electric cooperatives are looking for individuals
to lead the charge in meeting our nation's energy needs.
Together, we can create a brighter future for all.
To learn more about electric co-op career opportunities,
visit electric.coop/careers.
Paul Wesslund writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National
Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association
representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing
24 | Cooperative Living | October 2018
suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of
economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the
nation's landscape. 
co-opliving.com
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Cooperative Living October 2018

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