10 Tips to Finish Your Green Job and Get Set Up for Your Next One

August 10, 2019

As your summer starts to wind down, take a minute and think about how to maximize the benefits of your current Green Job with a plan to say goodbye and stay in touch.

Green Jobs youth across Canada are looking to the fall and the next step in their careers. For many of you, September signals a return to school, the start of a new job or maybe some time to travel to see the rest of Canada and the world. But before you jump feet first into your next chapter, consider these 10 tips for moving on.

1. Say thank you
   
   Seek out the people who took the time to support and train you and thank them. Think of a specific skill you’ve learned over the summer and thank the person who taught it to you. You may also want to consider asking if a person would want to be your mentor. Leaving your early work experiences with a mentor can provide great connections and opportunities for you to build your career.

2. Write your farewells
   
   If your job involved emailing or connecting with people, reach out to them and let them know you are leaving. Give them a new email or phone number where they can reach you and make plans to stay in touch. Make sure you have contact information for the colleagues you want to stay in touch with.

3. Ask for feedback
   
   Ask your supervisor, mentor and coworkers for feedback about what you did well and what you could improve. Ask if they have any suggestions for courses or books to read that may help you to develop those skills.

4. Ask for a reference
   
   Ask your manager if you can use them for a reference or if they could provide a reference letter that you can use for your next career opportunity.

5. Document your experience
   
   Make a list of what you did on the job. Create a running list of your assignments each month so you can document them as concretely as possible.

6. Save work samples
   
   Transfer non-proprietary examples of your work and documents to your home computer or personal email. These examples can be helpful in future jobs. You might want to check in with your boss to see what you are and aren’t allowed to save.

7. Build a network on LinkedIn
   
   Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date and reach out to others to build your network. You might also want to ask people to write a recommendation for you or select the skills you demonstrated to build your online profile. It’s also is a great idea to write recommendations for people that you worked with.

8. Update your resume
   
   Update your resume to highlight the skills you learned in your Green Job—this makes it easier to have your resume updated and ready to go for your next Green Job.

9. Make a smooth hand off
   
   If some of your duties will be covered by others after you leave, make sure people understand what’s required to do your job every day. This may include developing a transition document that outlines the status of projects, where things are saved, and key people to connect with in your absence. You should also ask your company if you should create an out of office that lets people know you are no longer working there—it’s best to check in with your boss to see what is the best approach.

10. Think about your Green Job and your next career step
    
    Whether you’re going back to school, getting a new job or just taking a break, take the time to think about what you learned this summer and how it will help you follow your dreams. Posting a picture of yourself working in your Green Job and tagging it #MyGreenJob is another way to keep those great memories alive.