What is Job Shadowing & How Can it Benefit You? was originally published on Forage.
The job search is exciting because there are so many options for what you can do — but for the same reason, it can also be overwhelming. How can you figure out what you want to do if you don’t know what the job will be like? That’s where job shadowing comes in.
Job shadowing is when you follow someone at work to understand a typical day in their role. It’s a generally quick way to learn more about a career, build your network, and get something extra to add to your resume.
Yet you likely won’t be able to find a “job shadowing” jobs board — instead, you’ll have to be a bit more strategic to land these opportunities. Here’s your ultimate guide.
What is Job Shadowing?
Job shadowing is observing a day in the life of someone else’s role. You may watch them complete their day-to-day tasks, attend meetings with them, and follow other vital parts of their work routine.
During a typical day of job shadowing, you might:
- Observe how the person uses particular software or technology
- Sit in on client meetings
- Attend team meetings
- Assist with minor, sometimes administrative tasks
- Tour an office
- Review project or other work materials
Besides observing the tasks and routine of the person you’re shadowing, you may also:
- Ask the person questions about their career
- Network with other colleagues
- Take notes about questions or ideas you have
Job Shadowing vs. Internships vs. Externships
Internships and externships are also valuable ways to get experiential learning experiences in a real work environment. However, there are some critical differences between these experiences and job shadowing in terms of responsibilities, length, benefits, and more.
Internships are work-based learning experiences where you perform entry-level tasks for a company. These programs typically last multiple months and give you some work experience in the field. Many companies hold internship programs as a way to recruit entry-level employees.
Externships are experiential learning opportunities where you follow a professional to understand their daily work life. Similar to job shadowing, externships are more about observing a professional rather than performing entry-level tasks. However, depending on the externship, you may be expected to do some administrative work or help on some tasks or projects.
Let’s try an analogy:
- Internships are like being a junior chef in a kitchen, helping out with the basics of the kitchen’s dishes.
- Externships are like following a chef in a kitchen and helping them prep for dinner.
- Job shadowing is like following a chef in a kitchen and watching what they do.
While each experience can help you understand the role better and learn about different work environments, each opportunity varies in the degree of involvement and role you play within the company.
Is Job Shadowing Worth It?
Job shadowing may not be as involved as other experiential learning opportunities, but there are still many benefits — including the fact that it’s not as involved as other opportunities!
Shadowing someone can be a quick, lower-effort way to understand a role. Other benefits include:
- Learning the day-to-day responsibilities of a job
- Understanding specific software or technical tools someone needs to do their role
- Gaining insight into what meetings are like in the role
- Discovering a company’s culture
- Identifying skills you need to learn or training you need
- Networking with a professional and other people in the company
- Gaining experience to discuss in interviews or put on your resume
When Should You Job Shadow?
There’s no right or wrong time to job shadow! However, one of the primary purposes (and benefits!) of job shadowing is getting a better understanding of a role — often in a quick, low-stress environment. So, the best time to job shadow is early in your career search before applying for entry-level roles. Partaking in this opportunity during in your freshman and sophomore years can give you insight into what types of internships you want to apply to and provide you with something to add to your application as you apply to those internships.
Can You Add Job Shadowing to Your Resume?
Yes, you can add job shadowing to your resume, and you should! Job shadowing signals to employers that you are interested in the field and willing to learn — which can make you stand out, especially as an entry-level candidate. You can put your job shadowing experience in a specific “job shadowing” or “volunteer experience” on your resume. If you did administrative work during the experience or had any specific achievements, you can include it under “work experience.”
Can You Get Hired From Job Shadowing?
Yes, you can get hired from job shadowing, but often not directly. Job shadowing differs from internships in that you’re not doing the entry-level work you would do in a role at the company. Instead, you’re mostly observing, so the company doesn’t know that you can do the work at the level they’re looking for. This means you’re much less likely to get an offer for a role just from a day or a couple weeks of job shadowing.
However, job shadowing can get you hired through networking and demonstrating your willingness to learn.
- Networking: Job shadowing connects you with people at a specific company, which can make you stand out in the application process if you apply to that company.
- Willingness to learn: If you don’t end up applying to the company you job shadow at, you’re still increasing your chances of getting hired by showing your dedication and curiosity! These initial meetings can turn into lasting professional relationships and show that you are proactive about your career. People remember those who take charge of their learning and career path, which can ultimately lead to more opportunities.
How to Get a Job Shadowing Opportunity
Convinced that job shadowing is right for you? Job shadowing opportunities typically aren’t offered online, so you have to be strategic about how you find and land them.
Tap Into Your Network
Ask your friends and family or use LinkedIn as it’s a great tool to see who your connections are also connected to. If you find someone of interest who is a second or third connection to someone you know, you could either ask for an introduction or you could reach out to this person and let them know about your common connection. After you’ve connected, you can discuss job shadowing. Some people might not even be familiar with the term — that’s OK! Politely ask if you could observe a day in their work life.
Remember that the Villanova Alumni network is an amazing place to make connections – even if you don’t have a personal relationship. Villanova IS your connection. You can use LinkedIn or Villanova’s networking platform, Nova Network (novanetwork.villanova.edu) to identify professionals to speak with. Nova Network even lets you filter professionals by those who have indicated a willingness to provide job shadowing opportunities for students.
Job Shadowing: The Bottom Line
Job shadowing is an experiential learning experience in which you go to someone’s workplace and observe a day in the life of their role. This opportunity can be a quick way to learn more about a specific job, career path, and company while helping you build your network.
If you’re looking for a job shadowing opportunity, tap into your network or contact professionals you admire. It can’t hurt to ask — and the opportunity is worth it, not just for something to add to your resume, but to get firsthand insights into careers that you can’t get anywhere else.
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The post What is Job Shadowing? Definition, Benefits, and How to Set It Up appeared first on Forage.
