Job Shadow

This assignment will take you longer to set up than to complete! Basically, you need to go to work with someone for 4 hours. During that time you will "shadow" them to learn what the real day-to-day activities are for someone in that line of work. Review the careers that came up in Ram Prep 10, WOIS and ASVAB. You should shadow a career that you might be interested in some day; in other words, if you hate science classes, don't job shadow a nurse.

After coming up with one or two careers you'd like to observe you need to find someone that has that career. Talk to your parents and get them to use their network or friends and co-workers. Ask your teachers if they know anyone who knows anyone who is a... In other words, start networking to find a connection.

Now you use your skills to talk this person into letting you job shadow them. Think of using your resume, writing a cover letter, having an adult who knows them introduce you in person, etc. Be flexible and respectful of their schedule. But remember, you are ultimately flattering them - you are basically saying "Hey, I think you have a cool job and I'd like to learn from you, the wise master."

When you have a job shadow set up, provide this information to your teacher (typed):

1. Your Name
2. Job Shadow Location - business name
3. Job Shadow person & how you found them
4. Job Shadow contact phone number (teacher will call to check that you went)
5. Job Shadow date and time you have arranged

Now go to the Job Shadow. While there try to do as many of the following as possible:

1. get a job application
2. ask for tips on getting into that field or career
3. help if you can
4. get a business card (reference for later)
5. pick up any literature (flyers, brochures) on what the company does
6. ask good questions - about the job - but also about life, surviving HS, etc.
7. try to decide if this career still interests you

When you return from the Job Shadow you need to do these things to get credit:

1. Type a formal thank you letter. After teacher OK, send it.
2. Organize any material you collected at the job shadow.
3. Type your Reflection Paper, including at least the following information:
   • describe, in detail, what you got to do
   • anything you expected to do, but didn't?
   • what surprised you about this career?
   • share some of the tips or insights you learned
   • explain why this career still does or does not interest you
4. Keep all of this information in your Ram Prep folder.

Keep in mind that you could choose to do a more extensive Job Shadow for your Senior Project - after this experience do you think that might be a good project idea for you? Could your Job Shadow contact be of use to you again? Did you leave a good impression?