Job shadowing is where an individual observes a job that s/he may have in the future. It gives the person some solid insights about the job. Job shadowing can be done inside the organization for employers or for the students who wants to find out how their dream job actually look like. Shadowing senior or expert in a field help the newcomers to develop themselves. If rightly done, job shadowing can be really effective both for students and employers

Generally, anyone can shadow a job. If you have a goal to do a certain job then you must shadow that job before going crazy for it. Job shadowing important for the students and new employees. Students will shadow a job just to see if the job is suitable for him/her. In the US, 8th grade students have a job shadowing day every year. They get to choose a job they like and shadow it for a whole day.

Job shadowing is effective in organization when a new employee comes in. The new employee will be inspired to shadow the job they will have to perform. It works like a training. Job shadowing is also done with the purpose of job rotation. So, for the people who are interested in switching their job will job shadowing highly necessary.

Job shadowing has many potential benefits for what people are seeing a new perspective in it.

1. It can create a strong network with students and organizations.
2. Students get to know what their dream job look like before actually starting to do the job
3. Increases connection among departments if it is done inside and organization
4. It helps the host to get ideas from the shadowee and thus develop
5. Students can test out possible options for their career through job shadowing

It depends on the organization or the individual you want to shadow. You have to approach them with a positive mindset of learning about the job. I must make them feel you care about them and the job. The proposal can be in written or verbal in form. The person agreed to be shadowed may allocate a specific time period for you to shadow him/her. The shadowee will have the opportunity to attend meetings, conferences, visit customers and observe everything that the employee is doing.

If you are to shadow someone in their job, you need take some preparation for it.

1. You need to maintain confidentiality of the information you get from the job shadowing
2. You need to respect the host
3. Provide insight to your host about what you have observed and learned so far.
4. Stay aware of sensitive situations. Your host may get called for a personal meeting, you should maintain distance during that type of situation.
5. Always keep note while shadowing someone. It gives you the ability to re-check what you have learned so far.

Job shadowing is helpful for both the individual and the organization who will host the job shadowing.

Allowing outsiders to shadow an organizations job creates a bond between these two groups. Mostly, the industry-academic relation gets stronger. Here are few benefits that an organization can enjoy by allowing job shadowing.

1. More insights on peoples’ interest for the organization
2. Saves training cost for employees
3. Companies promotion

If taken seriously, shadowing can work like an experience that you can used in your CV. But for that you must learn from there and have a proper way to present that learning.