Job Shadow What is a job shadow? Why is a job shadow important to me? How do I make a job shadow happen? What do I take to a job shadow?

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1 Job Shadow What is a job shadow? A job shadow is a learning experience that takes place at a business or your choice in your community and/or in surrounding communities. The experience is typically 2-4 hours in length. During a job shadow, you will follow a worker during a typical day at work. You will observe and ask questions about his/her duties. Why is a job shadow important to me? Job shadows give you an opportunity to: Begin to identify career interests by observing the daily routines of workers. Learn about the academic, technical, and personal skills required by particular jobs. Understand the connection between school, work, and your goals for the future. Develop the skills required to secure future employment. Network with professionals so that they could provide letters of recommendation for future scholarship applications or for future internship. How do I make a job shadow happen? The first step is to make contact with a business. A student script is included in this packet to help you make that connection. This needs to be done a minimum of three weeks prior to the date you want to job shadow. Some hospitals/businesses may require more notice than that. Plan early where you will want to go. What do I take to a job shadow? Pen and paper for note-taking money to cover drinks, snacks, lunch, or any other personal expenses Questions you have developed ahead of time to ask your sponsor (sample questions are included in this packet) What should I expect while job shadowing? Your role in shadowing is to learn what it may be like to work in your sponsor s career field, the requirements for working in that field, and possible ways of entering the field. Show honesty, punctuality courtesy, a cooperative attitude, appropriate dress, and willingness to learn the job. Whenever you have a question or need for clarification on a point, feel free to ask it. The sponsor s role is to not only show you what it might be like to work in that career field, but to also answer all of your questions. Act natural and be yourself! It is quite common to feel slightly anxious about job shadowing, but relax and enjoy! You are expected to behave in an ethical and professional manner at all times. Remember to show your appreciation. Thank the sponsor at the end of the day and be sure to send him/her a thank you letter.

2 Tips for Success in the Workplace Proper Behavior at the Workplace Be reliable and prompt. Be honest. Have a positive attitude--be friendly, courteous, polite, and cooperative with workers and clients. Notify the sponsor if you are going to be late or absent. If you do not understand something, ask questions or ask for help. Grooming Students are expected to be well groomed and to wear appropriate attire for job shadowing experiences. Below are some guidelines, be sure to ask your sponsor about their dress code as well. Be reliable and prompt Clean hair, neatly styled Teeth and nails clean Showered or bathed Minimal jewelry Light fragrance--if at all No hats, unless outdoor work requires it Remove alternative ear and body piercing Wear appropriate shirt and either black pants or khaki Wear comfortable shoes Remember, you are representing yourself and your school.

3 Making a Contact When contacting the business, be sure to contact them at a convenient time. For example, do not call a restaurant during meal hours. 1. Introduce yourself and your purpose for calling. Hello, my name is. I am a student at High School. I am interested in job shadowing at your company. Can you tell me who I should talk to about this? I would like to do a job shadow that would give me the opportunity to spend 2-4 hours in your business setting. I would like to observe the workplace and interview an employee to learn more about (specific occupation). Here is some information you will want to get before you hang up: Date of the job shadow: Beginning and ending time of the job shadow: Name of the business you are shadowing: Name of the person(s) being observed and their title(s): Address of the job shadow: Parking location: Do you need to bring your lunch? Phone and address: Dress code/appropriate dress example: Be prepared to answer questions about yourself, your experience(s), and why you have chosen this career field.

4 Job Shadowing Questions to ask Qualifications Did you have to interview, take any tests, and complete an internship or apprenticeship for this position? What career path did you take to get where you are? What kind of experience was required for this job? What personality traits are important for this job? What kind of technical knowledge is required for this job? Are there any physical demands involved with this job? Duties What kinds of things are you required to do as part of your job? Are you required to supervise other employees as part of the job? Do you take work home? Do you work a shift? What choices do you have in making your work schedule? Salary and Benefits Please ask only for salary ranges! What are the salary ranges for different levels in this field? What types of benefits are offered to you for your job? Health, dental, or life insurance, bonuses, paid vacation, overtime, 401 K, sick leave, profit sharing etc How are raises earned? What is the opportunity for advancement in this area? Personal Satisfaction What are the job opportunities for this area of work? Why did you decide to do this type of work? What do you like most about your job? What do you like least about your job? Miscellaneous What advice would you give a student interested in this career? What kinds of experience would you suggest that someone pursue to make them more marketable in this field? Do you ever utilize interns in this office? If so, what is the nature of the responsibility of the interns? Are there current openings? Are there any additional questions you might ask?

5 Sample Thank You Letter Your name Address City, State, Zip (3 spaces) Date of Letter (4 spaces) Mr./Mrs./Dr. Contact s name Company Address City, State, Zip Code (2 spaces) Dear Mr./Mrs./Dr. Contact s last name: (2 spaces) Introduction paragraph: Thank your host for the opportunity to do the job shadow. Thank you for allowing me to job shadow with you on (date). I enjoyed myself and learned a lot about being a. Everyone in your office was very helpful and friendly. Body paragraph: Describe some of the things you learned as a result of the job shadow and the effect it has had on your future goals and/or career and education plans. I learned so much about what radiology technologists do in a normal work day. I especially enjoyed learning about the X ray machine and the ultrasound. I never knew the impact that a radiology tech would have on the whole surgery process and the importance of this position when working with doctors. This experience has made me realize the many opportunities that are available to someone with these skills and training. Conclusion paragraph: Add any additional comments you have and thank them again for the opportunity. Thank you again for the opportunity to spend time at your business and helping me learn more about this career option. Sincerely, (2 spaces) Sign your name here (4 spaces) Type your first and last name here