Thank you for your invaluable contribution to our job shadow program. Your mentorship plays a crucial role in guiding our students’ career exploration journey. This page provides practical guidance to ensure a successful shadowing experience. From sharing your career insights to offering hands-on learning opportunities, your involvement is key to shaping future professionals. We appreciate your commitment to the K community and look forward to your impactful mentorship. Thank you for your support.
Who are these students/who is my student?
The CCPD assigns students to alumni hosts based on their stated preferences and interests. The primary goal of job shadows are to provide students with exposure to real-world work environments to help them gain insights into various career paths and make informed decisions about their future careers. Before the program starts, the CCPD will ensure you have contact with your student via email.
What do I do with my student?
Share Your Daily Work Environment: Invite your student to shadow you throughout your normal workday. Explain the tasks you perform, the projects you are involved in, and the overall workflow of your workplace. Encourage them to ask questions and seek clarification on anything they find intriguing or confusing.
Introduce Them to Colleagues: Facilitate introductions to other professionals within your organization, especially those in entry-level roles or K alumni. Encourage students to network and learn from their peers’ experiences and career trajectories.
Share Your Personal Career Journey: Take the opportunity to share your own career journey with your student. Discuss how your K Plan influenced your career decisions and led you to your current role. Personal anecdotes can offer valuable insights and inspiration to students as they navigate their own career paths.
Be Transparent About Career Realities: While it is important to share the highlights of your career, do not shy away from discussing the realities of the profession. Share both the challenges and rewards, including mundane tasks like administrative duties, to provide a well-rounded perspective on the profession.
Allocate Time for Questions and Answers: Set aside dedicated time for your student to ask questions and engage in meaningful discussions. Encourage them to share their thoughts, concerns, and aspirations, and offer guidance and advice based on your experiences.
How do I help my student(s) prepare in advance of a job shadow?
Provide Logistics Information: Provide clear expectations around arrival and departure times each day and information about how to navigate to your location, and anything to expect upon their arrival (i.e. show ID, sign in, etc.)
Provide Information About Your Organization: Share relevant information about your organization with your student. This could include its history, mission, organizational structure, key projects, and any other details that will help them understand the context of their externship. If this information is covered on your employer’s website, share that with the student.
Set Expectations for Workplace Etiquette: Give your extern student guidelines on your specific workplace etiquette, including proper attire. Clarify any specific rules or protocols unique to your workplace that they should be aware of.
Encourage Research: Encourage your extern student to conduct more research about your organization beyond what you provide. This could involve exploring the company website, reading the latest news articles or reports, and familiarizing themselves with your industry.
Clarify Their Role: Clearly outline what your student can expect during their time with you. Discuss the tasks they may be involved in, any projects they might work on, etc.
Here are some ideas for a sample job shadow schedule.
Sample Schedule:
- 9 a.m. – Welcome & Office Tour
- 10 a.m. – Attend a Team Meeting
- 11 a.m. – Resume Review
- 12 p.m. – Lunch
- 1 p.m. – Current Projects Overview
- 2 p.m. – Professional Development Activity
- 3 p.m. – Client Meeting
- 4 p.m. – Debrief & Farewell
Other Ideas:
- Observe a procedure
- Conduct a mock (practice) interview
- Assign a short-term project