Before Choosing:
Before choosing a group with which you want to participate, even if you want to follow your own proposal, you need to consider what strengths you bring to the table. (Don't focus on your weaknesses... it's a waste of time, and you don't choose projects and passions based on your weaknesses.) And, ultimately, does the project seem to you to be locally grounded and realistically achievable?
Consider your Strengths:
- What kind of project do you want to work on?
- What is your area of RESS expertise and program specialization?
- Do your area(s) of expertise compliment any project specifically?
- What is your current job context, and how can a project either extend from or address specific needs for this context?
- What is your area of expertise and major strength in the RESS portfolio?
- Is this an area of expertise in which you want to get stronger, or are you looking to transition?
- Do you have policy experience/expertise within a given project scope?
- Do you have technical experience/expertise for a specific project?
- Are you more interested in designing for a specific technological solution or for a specific sustainability goal?
Other considerations:
- Does the context of the project fall within a reasonable scope of being able to be changed?
- Does the project seem technically feasible, considering current technologies?
- Can the project connect with enough stakeholders for meaningful interactions?
- Does the project have a chance of being measurable in terms of sustainability?
- Does the project seem reasonably affordable for the client?
Main question for you:
Is there a project that would work to help you achieve some or all of these goals?