Job Shadowing: Get an Inside Look at Your Career

Hang in here with me, guys. This is a long one.

Remember when you followed your mom, dad or guardian to work on "Take Your Child to Work Day"? Yeah, me neither--it was a long time ago. But I bet you didn't know at that time that you were participating in job shadowing--and that shadowing is a powerful career exploration and networking tool.

Because Career Services no longer hosts a structured job shadowing program over the winter break, you are free to seek out job shadowing opportunities on your own at any time during the year.

So read on to learn how to take advantage of this useful career tool:

• What is job shadowing? Job shadowing is, in its simplest form, a visit to the work site of a professional in your field. By "shadowing" a professional while s/he is actually on the job, you get the chance to observe first-hand the work site, the nature of the work you're seeking and the attitudes of the workers you meet.
• Why should I participate in job shadowing? Reasons to seek out job shadowing opportunities include: to get a real-life view of a career's day-to-day duties and activities, industry and work space; to meet professionals in your field and develop your network; to get the "feel" of the working environment and to discover the array of jobs in a given organization or industry.
• How do I find job shadowing opportunities? Your friends, professors, parents and parents' friends--otherwise known as your network--are all great resources when seeking professionals with whom to job shadow. You can also search contacts through Google, LinkedIn and the Career Contact database on Jobs4Cats. Your Career Services college liaison can also help point you to major-specific resources.
  
  When asking someone to host you for shadowing, reach out first by email. In a polite, succinct and grammatically correct note, let your contact know who you are (include your name, major and a brief description of your career goals), how you got their information and that you're looking to shadow. Your note might look something like this:
  

  Ms. Johnson,
  
  Hello! My name is Maria Rodriguez, and I'm currently a sophomore English major at Texas State University. I recently found you through a LinkedIn search for professionals working in the publishing industry, and I was very interested to see that you've not only edited poetry manuscripts at a small press but also obtained experience in the field of educational publishing.
  
  I'm very interested in learning more about the publishing industry as a whole, and I was wondering if we could meet to discuss your experience--or if I could visit your workplace to job shadow some time. I understand that you're busy, and I appreciate your consideration of my request.
  
  Let me know if we can connect. Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.
  
  Sincerely,
  Maria

• What do I do once I've secured a shadowing opportunity? Finalize logistics (time/location/duration of shadow) with your contact via email or phone, and then follow your plans to a "T". On the day of your shadowing experience, arrive 5-10 minutes early in professional dress. Draft questions in advance to ask your host (What do you like/dislike about your job? How many hours a week do you work? Where are most of the job openings in this industry?), and be polite, professional and friendly with everyone you meet. Be ready for anything--some shadowing opportunities will be more like long informational interviews, and during others you'll get your hands dirty working on actual projects and tasks. 
• How do I use my shadowing experience to develop professionally? Use the information that you've gained to help guide you on your career path, and add your host to your professional network by following up with a thoughtful thank you email and keeping in touch--by connecting on LinkedIn, sending an email every few months (interesting industry articles or new career-related questions are a great reason to reach out) or asking them for other contacts within the field.

Contact your college liaison to get started with the shadowing process, or call Career Services at 512.245.2645 to learn more about job shadowing, Jobs4Cats and the networking process.