Information About Job Shadowing

 

Part of the mentoring experience is showing students what it is like in the real world of work.  Job shadowing is a very effective way to do this.

 

In order to help you plan a successful job shadow experience, we have included a list of things that both mentors and students should consider doing in preparation for the day. As usual, planning is the key to success. You and your mentor partner are responsible for planning and executing your day. Have fun!

 

 

Mentor’s Role

1. Decide what day will work for you for the both of you.

2. Discuss the time frame of the visit (full day, half day, a couple hours).

3. Brainstorm with your student what kinds of experiences they would find most useful.

4. Obtain appropriate clearance for the visit if necessary.

5. Inform your supervisor that a University of Minnesota student will be shadowing you if necessary.

6. Schedule the day’s activities (See list of suggested activities).

7. Provide your student with a set of your organizations promotional materials and general recruitment materials.

8. Provide your student with directions to your office.

 

Student’s Role

1. It is your job to prepare yourself prior to your site visit. First impressions are important!

2. Research your mentor’s organization by searching the internet or by visiting the library or your college’s career services office. (See information below)

3. Identify the mission and vision of the organization by using the materials you found or that your mentor provided to you.

4. Identify your interests to your mentor.

5. Prepare a list of questions to ask your mentor and other’s that you will be meeting throughout the day. (See the suggested list below)

6. Ask your mentor what would be appropriate for you to wear during the site visit.

7. Arrange your transportation to and from the site visit.

8. Ask your mentor for directions and for advice on parking.

9. Arrange your schedule so that you are able to stay on site for the duration of the visit.

10. Do not cancel! Your mentor has put a lot of effort into scheduling an informative day.

11. Write a thank you letter to your mentor and to others that you met within the organization.

  

Suggested Activities

This list is designed to get you started on brainstorming. Please be creative and honest with each other about what activities will be meaningful and realistic. These are activities the mentor and student can do together or that the mentor can schedule for the student.

 

1. Take a tour of the organization. Show workstations, labs, computer equipment, and production area….

2. Watch a sample of the organizations marketing and training videos.

3. Review the organizational chart of the organization.

4. Meet with the President, CEO, head of the department, or other individuals that can give a broad perspective of the organization.

5. Visit the Human Resource department. Possibly set up a meeting with a HR representative to learn about future job opportunities within the organization and to review the student’s resume.

6. Attend a few representative meetings with your mentor so that you better understand what they do in a typical day.

7. Set up an informal lunch with colleagues in order to informally teach the student more about the organization and provide an opportunity to network.

8. Conduct an informational interview with the mentor or others that the mentor decides would be appropriate.

9. Spend time observing your mentor’s day-to-day activities.

10. Conduct an informational interview with a first year employee to get a realistic view of the first year on the job.

 The key to business casual is that the outfit you wear does not have to be a suit, but should still project a professional demeanor. One of the nice things about the trend towards business casual dress standards at work is that they are a lot more gender equal. By this, I mean that a button-down shirt, khakis and dress shoes are just as appropriate for women as they are for men. Women can also wear a blouse or dressy sweater with those same khakis and flats, heels or loafers, and still look professional. Skirts and dress slacks with coordinating tops are also considered to be business casual for women. A lot depends on the culture of the company you will be working or interviewing for. Some are more or less casual than others, and many actually have guidelines on what they consider to be business casual. Talk to someone you know who works for the company or look for images of employees on the organizations web site, as a start to learning what is right for that particular company.

Researching Employers

 

There are two basic reasons to research employers: 1) to aid you in your job search and 2) to help prepare you for a formal or informational interview.

Researching an employer during your job search can help you determine more about that organization and your potential place in it. Some important information to look for includes what activities the employer carries out, how financially stable the employer is, and what types of jobs exist with the employer. Using available resources, you can gain a better understanding of what career potential exists with a particular employer. One approach to finding a job is to use a hierarchical strategy:

 

1. Find industries that meet your needs.

2. Locate employers within your targeted industries.

3. Research information on executives.

 

Where Do You Find Information on Employers?

Preparing for an interview is essential for success! Before meeting your potential employer it is essential to know what they do; how they do it; the financial state (if they are expanding or downsizing); expectations of potential employees in terms of skill, education, and previous experience; and what you can offer them.

 

The following types of resources should prove useful in your research.

 

Annual Reports - These reports and other materials are available from an organization's public relations/information office. Most large organizations produce a report, which presents an outline of the organization's successes, growth, history, goals, and financial status. Note: companies prepare two public reports: one for stockholders (Annual Report) and one for the Securities and Exchange.

Commission (10-K Report) - A 10-K report has less narrative but contains more comprehensive financial reporting.

Directories - These are geographic, business, occupational, professional, industry, and financial status directories available in your library. These directories may provide information about an organization's products or services, number of employees, principal executives, and location(s).

Trade Associations - These organizations produce membership directories, journals (which provide information about trends and issues in the field), and information briefs. They also hold annual conferences for your networking, information gathering, and professional development purposes. Remember, almost every type of field or industry that exists has a trade association affiliation (e.g., American Society of Interpreters, Museum Store Association, National Mental Health Association).

Newspapers - The business section of most papers contain numerous articles about local companies and their executives. Articles about non-profit organizations often appear in a newspaper's local interest section.

Fellow Professionals - Other professionals in the field can provide "word-of-mouth" information about organizations of interest.

Competitors - Often an organization's competitors offer excellent insight about the inner working of that organization.

Public Documents - Government and quasi-government organizations have records that must be made available to the public.

Computer Databases - Special sources for researching companies and organizations such as "Dialogue," "BRS," and "ABI Inform" may be available in your library.

The Organization’s Web Site – Surf the home page for a particular organization to find detailed information about products and employment opportunities.

 

How to Explore Careers through Informational Interviewing

During the course of a given day, you have many opportunities to learn from people about their careers or jobs. You will find most people more than willing to talk about the subject. This process is called informational interviewing.

 

Know what you want to accomplish!

 

The primary objectives of informational interviewing are to:

• Investigate a specific career field.
• Assist in narrowing options.
• Obtain advice on where you might fit in.
• Learn the jargon and important issues in the field.
• Broaden your network of contacts for future reference.
• Create a strategy for entering your field of interest.

 

Conducting the Informational Interview

 

Before the Interview:

• Learn as much as you can about the organization.
• Write down the questions that you wish to ask.
• If possible, learn something about the person with whom you will be interviewing.
• Dress professionally.
• Bring copies of your resume. (Distribute only upon request.)
• Arrive 10-15 minutes before your appointment.

 

What to Ask:

• Make a list of questions you would like answered about a career field or organization. Your questions will yield the most information if you use open-ended questions to engage your contact in conversation. Listed below are sample questions to help you prepare for your interview.
  • Questions about the career field:
    • What types of positions are most often found in this career field?
    • What general skills are needed to perform the responsibilities (e.g., organizing, supervising, writing)?
    • What specific skills are needed to do the job (e.g., academic, experiential)?
    • Do you have recommendations for training or education required to perform this kind of work?
    • What are the negative aspects of this field? For example, "What would you change if you could?" or "If you had it to do over again, how would you have done it differently?"
    • Describe a typical entry-level position in the field.
    • What is your perception of the outlook for entry-level professionals?
    • What are some alternative methods to gain entrance to the field (e.g., part-time, mid-career change, volunteer work or other kinds of training)?
    • How do you perceive the future of this field in terms of new and expanding opportunities?
    • Is there other information that may be helpful (e.g., critique of resume, job-seeking tactics, names of other professionals in the field)?
  • Questions about the organization:
    • What are the short and long-term goals of the organization such as growth, new products or services, and expansion of facilities?
    • Describe the philosophy of the organization and types of training programs available.
    • Describe the various positions you have held between entry-level and present job in this organization.
    • Describe your current job (as defined in the job description as well as what is done beyond the job description).
    • What is the typical career path from entry-level to top management?

 During the Interview:

• Restate your purpose and why you are talking with this particular person.
• Be prepared to initiate the conversation, since you are the interviewer.
• Adhere to the original time request of 20-30 minutes.
• Ask for referrals to other appropriate individuals in the field or in related organizations.
• Keep in mind that this is an information-gathering and advice-seeking interview, not an employment interview.
• Let the individual you are interviewing bring up the discussion of specific job vacancies.