Job Shadowing

What Exactly is Job Shadowing?

Job Shadowing is part of career exploration activities in late middle school and early high school. A student follows an employee on the job for one or more days to learn about an occupation.

Job Shadowing can be done by a single student or can be used as a class assignment.

Students of all grade levels can participate in the Job Shadowing Program.

The Conneaut, Crawford Central and PENNCREST School Districts all offer a Job Shadowing Program. The Crawford County K-12 Career Education Alliance program helps the school districts coordinate the Job Shadowing Program with area businesses and agencies. Job Shadowing Guidelines packets are available for the Crawford County A.V.T.S, Crawford Central and PENNCREST school districts. Thurston House participants can also download a Job Shadowing guideline packet. Conneaut School District Job Shadowing guideline packets are available through the high school guidance office.

A Job Shadowing experience is just one part of the career exploration opportunities that are offered by the Crawford County K-12 Career Education Alliance Partnership, and your school district.

Job Shadowing in the Classroom:

Teachers are encouraged to have their class participate in their school districts Job Shadowing Program.

There is flexibility for the classroom teacher in the specific goal of the visit.
The type of assignment delivered by the teacher determines the focus of the visit.
A Teacher Guidelines for Student Job Shadow Visit packet is available.

The K-12 Career Education Alliance Office provides classroom teachers with their school districts Student Job Shadow Visit Guidelines and Forms packet that includes the goals and requirements of the program. The K-12 Career Education Alliance Coordinator will help to encourage students to make their own contacts for visits and be available to offer assistance as needed.

The K-12 Career Education Alliance Coordinator is available to present a Job Shadowing Orientation for the classroom teacher. The Orientation reviews the focus of the visits and explains liability and confidentiality issues.

Give your class some real-world, real-work experience. Motivate them to learn more about the careers that interest them. Help them take that first step in career exploration!

Benefits:

"Experience real working conditions, demands, satisfactions, and skills of a particular profession." Students see first hand how what they learn in school applies to the workplace.
Students gain a better understanding of a specific career path and develop a plan to obtain the necessary training for their future.
Students interact with a diverse group of individuals that are different in cultures, ethnicity and age.
The student will acquire an understanding and appreciation of persons belonging to social, cultural, ethnic and age groups different from their own.
Students find out if the work involved with a particular career is what they thought it would be and if they want to continue in that career field.
Students gain self-confidence from the shadow experience and interacting with adults.

Requirements:

The Student must be committed to participating fully and cooperatively in the role as a shadow partner.
The Student is responsible for their own transportation. If transportation to a shadow site is an issue please contact the K-12 Career Education Alliance office for assistance.
The Student must complete their school districts application packet before a Job Shadowing visit can take place.
During the Job Shadow visit the student must complete the Student Record of Job Shadow Visit form and send a copy to the K-12 Career Education Alliance Office.
The student will reflect on their experience and will write a "Thank You" note to their host following their visit.
The Student is required to notify the Job Shadow host if they are not able to attend the scheduled visit.
The student must dress according to the work environment they will be shadowing.

Contact Information:

For more info about Job Shadowing opportunities contact the Crawford County K-12 Career Education Alliance office at:

Mail:
Crawford County K-12 Career Education Alliance
860 Thurston Road
Meadville, PA 16335

Phone: (814) 337-8202
Fax: (814) 337-0602
Email: tlarson@ccvts.org