Look Before You Leap: Job Shadowing
Offers a Realistic Preview of Careers

Whether a student interested in a particular career or an adult contemplating a career change, the best advice is "Look before you leap." Job shadowing is an ideal way to do this. Informed career decisions are the best decisions.

What is job shadowing?
A job shadowing experience is literally spending time "in the shadow" of a person doing his or her job. It is typically a day-long workplace visit with an individual working in a job, career or industry in which you are interested. You gain a realistic preview that helps you make a more informed decision. It is a little like stepping onto a stage set so you can more easily visualize yourself in the job. This activity helps you answer the questions: Can I see myself doing these kinds of tasks? Working with these kinds of people? Working in this kind of environment?

Job shadowing is a best practice of Career Literacy™; and part of the "backwards planning" strategy Career Vision promotes: Before making your career choice and creating your plan, go to the source to find out about the job and evaluate how well it fits for you. Job shadowing is more frequently done by students, yet it is an excellent activity for adults considering a job or career change. It can even be done within a company when you are considering a future move to another position or department. Sometimes employees get a chance to temporarily cover another employee's job while that person is on a medical leave; this provides a longer opportunity to job shadow and "try on" a job.

What happens during a job shadow?
It is best if the day is somewhat structured, and expectations are discussed. A tour of the workplace, a discussion about job responsibilities, and anything a professional can "show and tell" in the workplace is a good start. Attending meetings and a short debrief at the end of the day to reflect on the experience are also common practices. For example, an architect arranged for a high school student to meet with each of the five other employees in the office to learn about their jobs and how they contributed to the firm's projects. He also showed the student the design software, 3-dimensional models of the building projects, and presentation boards with samples of flooring, upholstery, and paint colors selected by the interior designers. This made for a rich experience for the student, and a rewarding one for the architect.

Whom should I shadow?
A person who is working in the job you want to learn more about is the ideal choice. Students may find that it's easier to identify with a younger professional to shadow, someone still near the beginning of their career. Our recommendation would be to shadow several individuals in a particular career, in different work environments, so you can compare and contrast your experiences and learnings.

How do I find someone to shadow?
High school students, check to see if your school has a job shadowing program, or if a school counselor or teacher can assist you. In most cases, parents are key to orchestrating the process.

Colleges and universities also may offer formal job shadowing experiences, such as the program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center designed for both students and adults exploring a career change. A college's Career Services staff, with their connections to employers, may suggest individuals or organizations to contact. Alumni may be also a source of possible hosts, so contact the alumni relations staff on campus.

Finally, most careers have professional associations. These organizations promote their field, often have local chapters, and can connect you with someone in your geographic area who you could approach. For example the Massachusetts Bar Association periodically coordinates job shadowing programs. If the organization doesn't have a formal program, you can still ask to set up a job shadow for yourself, which shows your initiative.

An important step is to talk to others about what kinds of professionals you are looking to job shadow. Parents or mid-career adults may know someone who works in a particular career, or perhaps a related company or industry; these individuals can lead you to the appropriate contact. If adults cannot identify someone through their network (including social networking sites like LinkedIn), tapping the generosity and expertise of officers or committee chairs of a local professional organization can yield productive results. These members are typically committed and engaged in their careers, and often more likely to be open to requests of this kind. Create your own opportunities and respect their time!

How do I set up a job shadow experience?
Send a letter or e-mail to the person, stating your request, your goals, a little information about yourself, and provide several dates for when you would like to set up a job shadow. Give the person several weeks of lead time. Follow up on your letter or email a week later with a phone call to introduce yourself, make your request, and schedule a date. Discuss what you would like to get out of the experience, and listen to what activities your host suggests might be included in the day.

How can I make the job shadowing experience successful?

• Research the company and its industry ahead of time; you should have already done some reading about the career itself before making the initial contact. Prepare a list of questions you want to ask and bring it with you.

• As a courtesy, invite your host to lunch.

• Students, prepare a brief 30-second introduction about yourself and why you are doing the job shadowing that you can easily share when introduced to others, and practice a firm handshake.

• Dress appropriately for the workplace; you may want to ask your host what is appropriate to wear. Err on the conservative side.

• Arrive about 5-10 minutes early. Come ready to observe everything - interactions between people, the layout and look of the workplace, the range of jobs employees hold - and take lots of notes.

• Write down the names, job titles, and email or mailing addresses of everyone who takes the time to talk with you - and send thank you notes or emails within 24 hours of your visit.

For additional tips - and a sample thank you letter -the Career Center at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville has a helpful resource.

Once you learn how to plan a job shadowing experience, you can use this Career Literacy competency to your advantage throughout your career. Job shadowing is a great way for individuals to get a realistic preview of a job and workplace. You can begin to meet professionals who may ultimately become mentors advising you about a career choice or change, or advancement in your career. One of the best reactions to a job shadow experience was voiced by a high school senior to his parents: "I can't believe I could get paid for doing that!"

Related articles:
The Power of Informational Interviews
Trends and Resources: Informational Interviews

© Copyright 2010, Career Vision. Article may be reprinted with permission.

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