Introduced in 2009, the Job Shadowing Programme is open to Year 5 and Year 6 IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) students. This programme is unmatched and unique to us. It allows students to work alongside professionals, providing firsthand experience in their desired fields. This initiative offers valuable insights into various professions and industries, aiding students in making informed higher education and career choices.
The programme operates during school holidays in March, June, September, and December. Publicity of job shadowing vacancies are typically sent out via email to students at least 1 month prior to the next run.
Be proactive, check your emails and don’t forget to sign up for Job Shadowing!
“Going for my job shadowing experience made me realise that the job was not for me. Despite not really enjoying it per se, I do not regret going at all as in the end, I still gained experience and learned new things such as understanding what types of companies there are, the intricacies of financial management and how to understand a company's balance sheet. I found it fun to look through different company financial statements and I hadn’t realised how much a company needs to submit each year for their financial statements, even if they are a very small company. Though I do not want to pursue such a career in the future, I do think it was good as my first experience in a company setting. I look forward to the next job shadowing experience and to trying a new industry.” - Melody Lee, Cohort 2025
“This experience was one to remember, because I was able to see concepts of physics and mathematics being applied to real world examples like building structures or electrical systems, so it gave me an idea of where my knowledge now could lead me into in the future. I am extremely honoured to experience this, because it gave me a clearer vision of what I want my future to be like and made my decision of my chosen engineering discipline stronger.” - Yutika Dhar, Cohort 2025
“Spending 5 days at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital was a novel and enriching experience. I enjoyed sitting in during the process of patients’ diagnosis, surgeries in the operating theatre and several endoscopies and colonoscopies. It taught me the importance of teamwork, trust and tenacity in the medical profession, which has made me gain a huge amount of respect for the doctors. By admitting me into their job shadowing programme, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital has given me a wonderful opportunity to delve deeper into my interest in Medicine and gain a complete understanding of what the profession requires.” - Advika Karthik Iyer, Cohort 2024
“Through my Job Shadowing experience, I gained profound insights into the intricate workings of the legal profession. Witnessing first-hand the complexities of drafting wills and analysing cases, I have discovered a newfound appreciation for the dedication and precision required in legal practice. This has led to my consideration of law as a potential future career choice.” - Kaitlyn Chelsea Goh Rui Wen, Cohort 2024
Internships offer a springboard into the professional working world. They aid in bridging the gap between classroom theory and real-world application, allowing you to gain valuable hands-on experience in their field(s) of interest. This experience not only strengthens resumes, making interns more competitive for future jobs but also provides opportunities for you to develop essential soft skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Additionally, you can build professional networks by connecting with mentors and colleagues, gaining valuable insights into the career path that you wish to pursue. You are encouraged to look for an internship opportunity on your own after you complete your IB programme.
How to apply?
Apply directly on the organisation/s websites or via job search (jobstreet, jobsdb, gov.sg, talenttribe, glints etc) websites.
UCAS (UK app portal) has recently launched their collaboration with Springpod which helps to curate and organise Virtual Work Experiences for students. It's a pretty cool portal and we recommend you to check it out. https://www.springpod.com/
Check out Bettr Academy programs, lots of career exploration opportunities ! https://bettr.academy/programmes/schools/work-for-good
• Tailor it: Avoid a generic approach. Change and adapt your CV by highlighting the relevant skills and experiences to the role you are applying.
• Keep it concise: Your CV should not be more than 2 pages.
• Consider a professional summary: A concise overview at the start helps to draw the recruiter's attention to your profile. Based on industry surveys, recruiters take only 6 to 8 seconds to review a CV.
• Focus on achievements: Don't just list down things you have done. Use strong action verbs (like managed, spearheaded, developed etc) to showcase your accomplishments. Remember to quantify your achievements whenever possible (e.g., "Increased sales by 15%").
• Highlight key skills: Include relevant skills (both hard and soft) that match the requirements of the job description.
• Be truthful: Do not exaggerate or fabricate your experiences or skills as organisations do background checks before hiring the candidates.
• Format for readability: Use a professional font, maintain consistent margins, and include white space to allow for easy readability. Consider the use of bullet points and clear headings as well.
• Proofread meticulously: Any spelling and/or grammatical errors create a negative impression. Remember to check your CV thoroughly.
There a also lots of resume builders online which can help you save time. Even on canva too !
https://www.tealhq.com/post/about-me-resume-section
https://www.myperfectresume.com/career-center/resumes/how-to/perfect-work-history
https://joinhandshake.com/blog/students/resume-skills-for-new-grads/
Our job shadowing programme is typically 3-5 days in duration and Internships are much longer spanning between weeks to several months. Job Shadowing Programme is arranged by Higher Ed & Careers Dept whereas Internships are applied for by students individually.