Job Shadowing

Whether you are a participating employer, educator, or volunteer host, participating in job shadowing is easy and fun.  Job shadowing immerses each student in the world of work, where they can get first-hand information about job skills and careers.  By bringing students into the workplace to see a marketing professional, a health care technician, or other professionals at work, very real and tangible options come alive for them.  Job shadowing provides exciting reasons why students should stay in school.  It creates a critical link between education and success. Job shadowing is a popular work-based learning activity because it provides students with opportunities to gather information on a wide variety of career possibilities before deciding where they want to focus their attention. 

Job shadows involve student visits to a variety of workplaces during which time students observe and ask questions of individual workers.  Job shadows are designed so students play an active role in learning.  Classroom exercises conducted prior to and following the job shadow experience are designed to help students connect their experience to their course work and relate the visits directly to career pathways, related skill requirements, and postsecondary educational options. 

Goals 

• Demonstrate the connections between academics and careers and helps students learn by making their class work more relevant
• Builds community partnerships between schools and businesses that enhance the educational experience of all students.
• Introduces students to the requirements of professions and industries to help them prepare to join the workforce of the 21st  century
• Encourages an ongoing relationship between young people and caring adults.