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Job shadow: An experience which allows a student to gain comprehensive knowledge about what an employee who holds a particular job does every day.
Informational Interview: A 30-60 minute conversation during which an employee describes their work to an interested student.
Informational interviews and job shadows serve very similar purposes, and both can provide you with a great overview of potential career paths you might like to take. However, job shadowing provides a far richer experience than reading a job description or doing an informational interview.
How to ...
How to ...
Land and Succeed at a Job Shadow*
Land and Succeed at a Job Shadow*
1. Research companies. Whether you know what career you want or you’re trying to decide between 10 different fields, you should begin by researching careers that interest you. Next, look for companies in your area that have these opportunities. Check out Companies.
2. Contact the company about job shadowing. Start with companies that you know of, specifically those at which you know someone personally. Reach out to those individuals first and ask about job shadowing opportunities. If you don’t know anyone at the company, don’t be afraid to call or email someone in the Human Resources department. You can also search for the position on their company's LinkedIN page. Finally, if you can’t reach someone in HR, contact someone directly in the department with which you’re interested.
3. Know what to ask. Explain that you’re a student interested in that particular career or field and would love to spend some time following someone in the company for a period of time – whatever works for the company.
4. Talk logistics. Once you get the go ahead, discuss when and for how long you can job shadow. In some instances, the company will let you visit throughout the summer. However, don’t be discouraged if all you can squeeze in is an interview. Any face time is time well spent. Once you’ve established a date, it’s time to prepare for your actual job shadowing experience.
5. Research even further. Your initial search may have been enough to get your foot into the door, but you need to know more about the company and their role in the industry to last a full day on the job. Doing your research beforehand will give you context for conversations, processes and meetings you see, experience and attend throughout the day. This follow-up research is crucial.
6. Show up on time, and keep your appointment. A job shadow is a lot looser than a part-time job or internship. With that, you may feel that it’s ok to blow off your appointment. Showing up late or having to reschedule won’t look good, and these impressions matter. This company cannot only serve as a reference for you down the line, but they may also offer you a job or internship in the near future - don't burn that bridge!
7. Dress professionally. Guys, if you don’t own a suit, a button up shirt with a tie will work just fine. Ladies, dress business casual and avoid lots of jewelry. Wear comfortable shoes.
8. Speak up and ask questions. The day of, don’t act like a legitimate shadow. Soak up meetings in silence, but when you have one-on-one time with the professional you’re shadowing, ask questions and use this time to talk about your academic and career paths.
9. Say thank you. Follow up the day with a thank you note or email to the person you shadowed as well as the individual or department that got you in the door. It’s important to not only make a great first impression but to leave a lasting impression as well.
How To...
How To...
Set Up an Informational Interview*
Set Up an Informational Interview*
An informational interview is a meeting to learn about the real-life experience of someone working in a field or company that interests you. It's not a job interview, so it's important to keep focused on getting information, not a job offer.
How do you set up an informational interview?
How do you set up an informational interview?
Find contacts. Ask people in your network for contacts in a field, company or job that interests you. The Business Finder can also help you find contacts in an industry.
Make contact. Either call,e-mail, or connect on LinkedIN to make contact. The introduction could be: "Mrs. Smith, Brad Johnson suggested I speak with you. My name is Steven Olson and I am interested in the ________ field. I could use advice from someone who is in this field. Do you have time in the next two weeks to meet for about 20 minutes? I would really like to learn more about your company and the ________ field from someone like you."
Hold the meeting (either in person, on the phone, or over chat). After introductions, give a brief summary of your career goal, or what you want to learn from them. Prepare plenty of questions to make good use of the time. Respect their time.
What are some questions I can ask?
What are some questions I can ask?
- What is a typical day like in your job?
- What do you like most / least about this career?
- Is your job typical of others in this field?
- What are current job prospects like?
- Are there related fields I might want to look into?
- What makes a resume impressive in your field?
- Is my resume appropriate for this occupation?
- How do you stay current in your knowledge?
- What are employers looking for in this career (skills, education, experience)?
- What's the best way to find out about jobs in this field?
- What is the career ladder for this position?
- What would you recommend I do at this point to get into this field?
- What are the future trends for this field?
- Is there anyone else you would recommend I talk to in this field?
To learn more about a specific company, ask questions like these:
- What's the corporate culture like here?
- How do you normally hire for this occupation?
- What is the average turnover in this type of job?
- Which firms do you think are your toughest competitors, and how do they differ from your company?
What else do I need to know?
What else do I need to know?
Make a good impression. This person may provide additional referrals that could lead to a job.
Keep it short. Limit your initial interview to 15 to 30 minutes based on how the conversation is going.
End the interview with stating any follow up actions you will take based on their recommendations.
Thank them for their time and information, and send a thank-you note/email/LinkedIN message after your interview.
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