1. Job Shadowing & Internships
Career management – objective 2.02

2. Key terms
Internship - an assistant or trainee working to gain practical experience in an occupation
Job Shadowing- short-term experience that allows the student to follow an experienced worker and see the day-to-day activities of a particular career.

3. Benefits of job shadowing for adults
Job shadowing lets you try out a career for a day to see if you're really interested. You might like the idea of a job, but not like the day-to-day rhythms and challenges of it.  And liking a job's "typical day" is going to mean greater success for you down the road.  It is very important that you ask questions about the job, what the person likes and dislikes about it, what's a good career path look like, and what more you need to do to get your foot in the door.
Job shadowing is a great way to build your network in that area of the woods. You have just started with your mentor for the day.  But you're going to be asking questions, finding out who's who, and meeting people.
Job shadowing helps you get critical keywords for your resume. Sure, you're going to play up your transferable skills when you're angling for a new career area.  Along with that, you can use the job shadowing experience to give you the buzz words that HR's computer systems are looking for when they scan for interview possibilities.  Giving that experience a spot on your resume also shows that you're a person who's creative, enthusiastic, willing to learn, and willing to go the extra mile for success.
Job shadowing helps you have a better interview. If you get called in for the interview, your job shadowing experience is going to give you more "meat" to talk about.  You're going to have more understanding of a typical day on the job and what the challenges and issues will be.  That's going to help you speak more intelligently about what you can bring to the table, and why it is going to be a good idea to hire you.  it is also going to help tremendously in creating your 30/60/90 day plan--which is vital to your interview success when transitioning careers.

4. Why do organizations need to provide job shadowing for on-the-job training
job shadowing, as a form of on-the-job training, is an effective method for helping employees develop their knowledge, skills, and experience. Use it to accomplish these goals.
Job shadowing:
is an essential component of onboarding new employees;
helps employees absorb the values, norms, and standards of an organization because the employee sees them in everyday action and application in the work environment;
allows an employee to see and then, demonstrate and practice job skills in action;
helps an employee develop relationships with current employees, customers, and vendors;
allows current employees to gain broader and deeper knowledge about a variety of jobs and functions in the company. 
provides an alternative when lateral moves, transfers, and promotions are not currently available to assist in employee development.
serves as a trial when an employee is unsure about whether to accept a transfer or promotion.
gives an employee insight into the challenges offered by different jobs. This insight and knowledge helps the employee explore potential career paths within the company.

5. Job Shadowing Options in the Workplace
Job shadowing is an essential component of your workplace on-the-job training. As such, it deserves time and attention.
As a critical component in onboarding, its purpose, goals and content should be planned as part of the onboarding process. The role of the buddy, mentor, or other significant employees who participate in job shadowing needs to be carefully thought out and designed with the above purposes in mind.
As a component of your organization's on-the-job training and career exploration offerings, job shadowing should also be planned with the above purposes in mind.
Some organizations hold career exploration days of opportunities during which current employees are matched with or select another employee to learn about their job. This job shadowing can involve following the employee around for a day or engaging in job shadowing at particular events over several days or weeks.

6. How long is a Job Shadow Experience?
The length of time for a job Shadow experience, depends on the nature of the job.
It is usually a day long.
You make arrangements with the coordinator or the employer, to come in and observe when the work is being done.

7. What kind of workplaces are open to job Shadow experiences?
The most likely workplaces to be open to these job Shadowing experiences are socially-oriented or helping jobs, like teachers, ministers, entertainers, the fitness and recreation industry, hospitality industry, and so on, especially, if they are looking for potential volunteers, new recruits, or special talent.
That being said, many other workplaces are opening up to being seen by interested members of the public.
Newspaper Newsrooms, courtrooms, marketing firms, real estate agencies. These workplaces may also have their own agendas.
When calling around, you can ask: “How do you see these Job Shadow experiences as benefiting you? They should be frank and forthright as to what they are looking for, by allowing these arrangements.

8. How are Job Shadows arranged?
Sometimes these experiences are better arranged through a third party.
For example: a high school if you are still in school, or your college if you are in college, or through instructors in adult training programs.
Career Counselors in private practice can also arrange these for their clients, who simply want to experience a particular career opportunity.

9. Can I arrange job Shadowing Opportunities myself?
Yes, you can. The best way is through Informational Interviews: It is possible at the end of an Informational Interview – if you feel that you have established a comfortable rapport with your interviewee - to mention that it would be helpful, if you could Job Shadow someone in the company, doing that particular job. At that point, they may feel they know you, enough to determine if they can trust you.
Through Mutual Acquaintances – if you know someone who knows someone often that is enough to just call up and say you are interested, and ask if they know of someone who’d be open to this arrangement. This is using The Referral Method. Or, better still, have your mutual acquaintance arrange the Job Shadow for you. They will have to vouch for you anyway.
You may need to be creative about this. Watch for opportunities to ask about Job Shadowing at Career Fairs, Open Houses, Job Information Interviews.

10. Why would I need to Job Shadow?
Job Shadowing – is mainly for those who feel they really need this kind of experience, to be sure that this is the work for them. Maybe they have narrowed their options down to two jobs, and they aren’t sure which one they should choose. This is one of the best ways to confirm a fit for you. This kind of research, however, is not for everyone.
Shadowing would be one of the last steps in the research process, after you have done everything else. This is an optional arrangement. You would choose it if you are pretty sure that this is the work you want to do, and you just want to confirm it is right for you.
If you live in a small community where everyone, pretty well, knows everyone else, you have a much better chance of arranging one of these yourself, because they know you, your father or mother, or your grandparents. In that case, look around your community for opportunities to Job Shadow.

11. What is the difference between an internship and job shadowing?
An internship is a course jointly sponsored by the College and a public or private agency in which a student is able to earn college credit by participating in some active capacity as an assistant, aide, or apprentice.   For a one-unit 4-semester hour internship, at least 10 hours per week must be spent in agency duties.
Job shadowing is a career exploration activity which carries no academic credit. Students participate in a job shadowing experience to make more informed career decisions by gaining early exposure to careers, industries, and the networking experience. 

12. Why internships are important
Many organizations use internships as a way to assess and train potential candidates for jobs.
Internships are an excellent way to gain experience in a career field of interest as well as an opportunity to try out one or more careers by getting a behind the scenes look at what it is actually like working in the field.
Students will often do several internships to give them exposure to a variety of related jobs or even to check out various careers of interest.

13. When Is a Good Time to Begin Looking for Internships?
The answer to this question is as soon as possible.
It is important to allow enough time to locate and apply for good internships.
For internships in finance, government, publishing, etc., many of the deadlines to apply for summer internships can be as early as November.
Internships are becoming more popular for students still in high school as well.
Students who begin doing internships after their first year of college are able to complete several different internships which ultimately provides them with a wide range of experiences and makes them more appealing to employers.

14. Where Is a Good Place to Find Internships?
Working with a career counselor, speaking with faculty and/or college alumni, reviewing career resources, checking out the classified ads to prospect for potential employers, and conducting Informational Interviews with alumni or professionals in the field are all excellent places to start finding what internships are available.
There are many internships offered online through internship sites such as monstertrak, internships usa, interships.com, etc.
Check with your Career Center to see if they subscribe to any of these resources.
Completing a thorough self-assessment will also help to identify key knowledge, skills, interests, and personality traits that are relevant to a particular internship or job.

15. What Kinds of Internships are Available?
Internships are available in a wide variety of fields from both the private and Nonprofit sectors of the job market.
Internships may be paid or unpaid, for credit or not-for-credit, and may be pursued spring, summer, or fall.

16. What Is the Benefit of Doing an Internship for Credit?
There are many rewarding and worthwhile internships available and some of these can be linked directly with college coursework.
Working directly with an onsite supervisor and a faculty sponsor can provide a rich learning experience that includes additional reading, writing, etc., on the subject in addition to the experiential learning that takes place each day on the internship.
It is not necessary to do an internship for credit in order to get a valuable internship experience.

17. What Is the Difference Between an Internship for Credit and One That's Not?
To receive credit for an internship, students will need to complete a certain number of hours at the internship site depending on the internship guidelines of the college.
It is important to check out a college’s guidelines prior to doing an internship for credit.
Usually colleges require additional work be completed and students must meet specific criteria designated by a faculty member who will also act as the internship sponsor.
Internships not completed for credit are basically an agreement between the employer and the student.
There is no formal contract in place and there Is more room for flexibility.
There also is no minimum number of hours to be completed for the internship.

18. 5 internship myths
Internships Must be Completed for Credit in Order to Count
Unpaid Internships or Volunteer Experiences Can Not Be Included on a Resume
All Internships Completed for Credit Must be Unpaid
There is No Difference Between Fall, Spring, or Summer Internships
There is No Difference Between a Summer Internship or a Summer Job

19. Internships Must be Completed for Credit in Order to Count
Although it is true that internships for credit are included on a college transcript and are often graded (at least a pass/fail), employers are looking for candidates who possess the relevant skills and experiences to do the job and who have already gained exposure to the field.
When including an internship on a resume, it is not necessary to designate if the internship was completed for credit or not.

20. Unpaid Internships or Volunteer Experiences Can Not Be Included on a Resume
All experiences related to a particular internship or job can be included on a resume.
As a student, relevant coursework; co-curricular activities; community service; volunteer experience; and previous internships and/or jobs can all be included.
Again, it is the relevant skills and experience that employers are looking for when evaluating potential interns or job applicants.

21. All Internships Completed for Credit Must be Unpaid
College credit is granted by the academic institution and it does not prohibit employers from paying interns a fair wage or stipend.
Colleges generally encourage and support employers to pay for work completed regardless of whether it is being done for credit or not.
Students interested in receiving credit for an internship will often do one or more internships for credit during fall and/or spring semester and then do a not-for-credit internship during summer break since additional college tuition is usually required when completing an internship for credit during the summer.

22. There is No Difference Between Fall, Spring, or Summer Internships
Usually colleges require that students pay additional tuition for summer internships for credit.
The amount students will have to pay will depend on the number of credits received and the cost associated with credit at a particular college.
The credits for internships completed during fall or spring semester are generally rolled into regular college tuition.

23. There is No Difference Between a Summer Internship or a Summer Job
Ultimately internships should include some form of training along with direct supervision of the work involved. The purpose of an internship is to introduce and train for a particular job and to provide an opportunity to gain relevant work experience in a particular career field.
Summer jobs are done mainly for compensation and usually include more of an entry-level position such as cashier, lifeguard, ride attendant, camp counselor, or working at a retail store, restaurant or summer resort.

24. References
Heathfield, s. (2014). Why Do Organizations Need to Provide Job Shadowing for On-the-Job Training. Retrieved October 29, 2014, from Training/f/Why-Organizations-Need-To-Provide-Job-Shadowing.htm
Internship faqs. (2014). Lycoming college. Retrieved October 29, 2014, from
Loretta, p. (2014). Five internship myths. Retrieved October 29, 2014 from
Loretta, p. (2014). Internship faqs and myths. Retrieved October 29, 2014, retrieved October 29, 2014, from
Mckee, peggy. (2009). 4 Great benefits of job shadowing for grownups. Retrieved October 29, 2014, from ups/
What is job shadowing. (2014). Best career match. Retrieved October 29, 2014, from