By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent
I know it seems like we just did this, but that’s because as you get older, time speeds up exponentially.
So when you receive your notification from The Solar Foundation that it’s time to fill out their National Jobs Survey again, don’t think it’s a mistake; it really is that time of year again.
It should be obvious, but every year I hear people ask why they should fill it out. How does it help them?
To which I say, are you crazy?
It’s a 15-minute survey, but the effects of it are felt throughout the entire year. A good showing in the Jobs Census means positive coverage of the solar industry for at least a month after the survey comes out. Then there’s all the follow-up coverage that cite the statistics gleaned from the survey.
Then there’s the fact that the industry continues to show its strength as an economic driver, which translates into real political power. After all, where else can you find the number of solar workers in states down the Congressional district? Nowhere else, that’s where.
The most ridiculous argument I’ve heard people use for not filling out the survey is that it takes too much time. Really? You can’t find 15 minutes in your day to answer a series of questions that ultimately will show your strength and the strength of your industry to the public at large? This. Is. Important. It’s completely worth your time and effort.
As a matter of public record, I fill out the survey every year for my own company, Narrative Solutions. Why? Because the majority of my clients are in the solar industry. So my firm, though it is not exclusively a solar firm, is part of the solar industry. I have a vested interest in seeing all of you succeed. And if my one job adds to the incredible numbers the rest of you put up, well, then so much the better.
Filling out the National Job Survey from The Solar Foundation is your obligation to yourself and to the industry you serve. Take the 15 minutes necessary to fill it out – let’s defy expectations and tell the general public that despite attempts to shut us down (with tariffs), we are a growing, thriving and exciting industry of which to be a part. You can start your survey here – and thank you for your service.