During the meeting • Be on time. • Wear appropriate clothing for the setting. • Bring your questions and something to take notes with. • Let the person speak; do more asking and listening than sharing. • Complete your interview in the allotted time. • Ask for their contact information before you leave the meeting. • Be sure to say thank you! After the meeting • Send the person an email or handwritten note thanking them for their time and information (see sample note below). • Follow-through (in a timely manner) on any leads that they share with you or advice they give you.
Closing thoughts •
Most professionals are happy to sit down with students who aspire to work in the same field. Be polite, curious, respectful, and express gratitude for their time, perspective, and advice.
2.2b Job Shadowing
CandidCareer video - Career Exploration 101
Sample thank you note
Dear. Ms. Spruce, Thank you for spending time with me and answering my questions about county forestry work! It was especially helpful for me to hear about the different types of people you work with – loggers and contractors, local landowners, County Board Members and everyone else. I hadn’t thought about that aspect of this field. I did what you recommended and found some students at UWSP who had worked out West during the summer doing conservation work and I’ve been talking with them about their experience. I’m planning to apply for those positions for next summer so that I can gain experience in the field and have a stronger resume. I really appreciate that you took time to meet with me and offer advice and recommendations. Thanks again, Stephanie Pointer (715)123-4567
What is Job Shadowing? Job shadowing can be a great way to learn whether a career is right for you. By observing a snapshot of a day in the life of an in-field professional, you’ll get a sense of what that job is really like. This knowledge can help you decide whether you would enjoy working in that career field and environment. A job shadow experience can also help you decide if your skills match that career field and how your education and past experiences might translate to similar types of positions. Job shadowing also provides opportunities to network with professionals. Job shadowing for a day only allows you a small window of opportunity, so make the most of your time! Remember these 7 tips to gain the maximum benefit from job shadowing: I. Connect with professionals • Make a list of potential companies where you would like to job shadow and see if anyone in your network works at those companies. Check with your family, faculty, Career Coach , or Alumni Office. • If you don’t have a personal contact at the company, call or email someone in the Human Resources Department or a contact in the department you are interested in. • Some large organizations and governmental agencies offer job shadowing programs, so check out their website first. • Prepare a professional email or phone script that explains you are a student interested in that career field and would love to shadow someone who is working within the same field within their company.
Sample questions to ask • What do you enjoy about your current position? What are some of your challenges? • What are the common misconceptions people have about working in this field? • What does a typical day or week look like? • How would you describe the work environment/climate? • How can I best prepare for this field of work? • What do you look for when you hire an intern or new employee? • What skills or qualities are essential for this type of work? Who is a good fit? • What trends do you anticipate in this field? Will jobs be available when I finish school? • What suggestions do you have for me as I select courses and explore summer jobs? • Can you suggest people I can contact for more information or a different perspective? May I use your name when contacting them? • What companies, trends, or organizations guide or influence the work you do and/or the work your company focuses on?
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