Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Market Share • Proxy Statement • Competitive Advantage

ESG

Term from Corporate Leadership industry explained for recruiters

ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance - it's a way companies show they're doing business responsibly. Think of it as a report card for how well a company takes care of the environment, treats people (employees, customers, and communities), and runs its business honestly. Companies focus on ESG because investors and customers care about these issues, and good ESG practices often mean lower risks and better long-term success. Similar terms you might see are "Corporate Sustainability," "Corporate Responsibility," or "Sustainable Business Practices."

Examples in Resumes

Led company-wide ESG initiatives resulting in 30% carbon footprint reduction

Developed and implemented ESG reporting framework aligned with global standards

Created ESG scorecard and sustainability metrics for executive dashboard

Managed Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance and reporting

Typical job title: "ESG Managers"

Also try searching for:

Sustainability Manager ESG Director Corporate Responsibility Manager Sustainability Director ESG Specialist ESG Consultant Head of ESG Chief Sustainability Officer

Where to Find ESG Managers

Professional Organizations

Online Communities

Job Resources

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you develop and implement an ESG strategy for a large organization?

Expected Answer: Should discuss stakeholder engagement, materiality assessment, goal setting, data collection systems, reporting frameworks (like GRI or SASB), and change management approaches. Should emphasize importance of executive buy-in and cross-departmental collaboration.

Q: How do you measure the ROI of ESG initiatives?

Expected Answer: Should explain both quantitative metrics (energy savings, waste reduction costs, employee retention rates) and qualitative benefits (brand reputation, customer loyalty, risk management). Should mention specific measurement tools and frameworks.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What are the key components of an ESG report?

Expected Answer: Should mention environmental metrics (carbon emissions, water usage, waste), social factors (diversity statistics, community impact, labor practices), and governance elements (board composition, ethics policies, compliance). Should know major reporting standards.

Q: How do you engage stakeholders in ESG initiatives?

Expected Answer: Should discuss methods of identifying key stakeholders, communication strategies, gathering feedback, and incorporating input into ESG programs. Should mention specific engagement tools and techniques.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What does ESG stand for and why is it important?

Expected Answer: Should explain Environmental, Social, and Governance clearly and provide basic examples of each component. Should understand why businesses care about ESG and its basic business benefits.

Q: What are some common ESG metrics companies track?

Expected Answer: Should list basic metrics like carbon emissions, energy use, workforce diversity, employee satisfaction, board independence, and be able to explain why they matter to businesses.