A job shadow is the perfect way to learn about a new career, or one you’ve always dreamed of! Use the resources below to request a job shadow for second semester.
A note about shadows:
The job shadow can take really any form depending on the industry and the contact's availability. I think the ideal session is about 2-3 hours where the student can meet 2-3 people in different roles and have them explain their position, what they do on a daily basis, and the student can spend a bit of time just observing them if possible (we know that a lot of industries involve confidentiality so this might not be possible). On the shorter side, being able to meet with one person for 30 minutes to an hour to learn what they do and ask questions is extremely valuable as well! The biggest benefits are learning the path to entry and different sectors of the field so the student can determine their interest an next steps.
Get Started: Select 2-5 companies and find out who to contact
- Use your mentor’s contacts
- Look up companies via their websites for contact information
- Found a company but no contact? Cold call! Contact the HR department or general contact phone number, explain who you are and your reason for calling, and ask for the contact information of someone in that field who may be willing to help you learn more.
- Hint: small companies and clinics can sometimes be easier to arrange a shadow than large corporations
Contacting Professionals:
- Emailing is a great way to start the conversation
- Subject lines are important! “Willing to host a high school senior for a job shadow?” or something similar will catch their attention.
- Be brief, polite, and straightforward:
- Introduce yourself
- Say why you’re emailing
- Enthusiastically express your interest in what they do
- Ask them if they would be willing to host you for any part of a day so you can learn more about their profession
- Conclude by thanking them for their time
- If you don’t hear back from them within 1-2 weeks, try replying to your original email with a polite follow-up note
Preparing for Your Job Shadow:
- Research the company
- Prepare questions ahead of time (brainstorm with your mentor!) that ask the professional about what they do and their college/career path - what is the education level required, what is a typical day like, what they like/dislike about the career field, etc.
- Email the professional the day before your job shadow to let them know you’re excited for the shadow (also reminds them you’re coming)
- Dress professionally
- Bring a pen and paper with you
- Arrive 10-15 minutes early
Follow Up
- Send an thank you email right away and follow-up with a handwritten thank you note.
- Connect with the professional on LinkedIn
- If you feel like this is somewhere you can work, follow up after your first year of college re-introducing yourself and asking about internship opportunities!