About
The Career Development Center is proud of our annual Job Shadow Program which is offered to all undergraduate and graduate students. A job-shadowing experience is a one-day opportunity for students to gain understanding of a business, industry, and/or job function, to ask questions, and to observe day to day business operations. It also encourages students, alumni, and organizations to forge strong and valuable connections. The Job Shadow Program is not for academic credit and students are not compensated, but the experience is beneficial to both students and hosts.
Typical Job Shadow Activities
- Sit in on company staff meetings
- Complete office tasks or assist with projects
- Conduct informational interviews of both professional and administrative staff
- Observe client interactions
- Observe functions and duties of a particular career
- Tour the facilities
- Review organization’s mission/vision statement and organizational charts
- Understand office policies and procedures
- Review current trends in the profession
- Explore potential career paths within the organization and the profession
- Meet with key players of the organization
- What are the major divisions of your organization?
- Where does your division fit in?
- What do you do during a typical work week/day?
- What skills/abilities/attributes are most important in your work?
- How did you enter this field?
- What preparations (college major, training, other work experiences) would you suggest for someone interested in entering this field?
- What other career areas are related to your work?
- What are the areas of growth and decline in this career field?
- What are the most significant problems you face in your specific job, department, or organization? To respond to these problems, what attributes do you seek in people you hire?
- What is the average beginning salary for a person entering this career field?
- Do employees have the opportunity for advancement within your organization? If so, how often is typical?
- How much flexibility does one typically have regarding: innovation, self-expression, hours of work, lifestyle, decision making (authority), and feedback? Do employees regularly work overtime?
- What percentage of time do you spend in interaction with people (staff and clients)? Working independently? Working with a team?
- Must someone in your field expect to be moved about often during his/her career (within the company and geographically)?
- Can you name any relevant magazines, journals, or publications that you would recommend I review?
- Do you have any advice for me?
Selection Criteria
Student Criteria for Selection and Participation
The Career Development Center’s goal is to provide a Job Shadow experience for all interested students. However, due to the limited number of opportunities available, we may not be able to place you. Students will be selected on the basis of the quality of their resume, their answers to qualifying questions and the criteria of the hosting organization.
Students need not show expertise or experience in the field of the job shadow for which they apply, but they must show sincere interest and curiosity about the field as a possible career option. If you are not placed in the first time around, please be sure to apply for future opportunities.
Check back for Job Shadow Program updates.