1. Career planning: Work shadowing
Salla Niittymäki
Project Manager / Pajatso Project
HAMK University of Applied Sciences

2. Work shadowing: objectives
Student…
gets a practical experience in their chosen profession through workshadowing process
gains a deeper and more concrete understanding of the field and the industry by observing a professional at work
gets information about job opportunities in his/her own field
recognizes learning needs from the viewpoint of professional life

3. Work shadowing
The goal of work shadowing is to introduce students to working life in their own field.
Work shadowing helps them to recognize their learning needs from the viewpoint of working life, and gives them information about job opportunities in their own field.
The students gain a deeper and more concrete understanding of the field and the industry by observing a professional at work.
During the work shadowing period (1 day) the students observe alone or in small groups their chosen workplace in the guidance of the employer’s representative.
More information:

4. Benefits for the student
Opportunity to explore a certain line of business, company or occupation
Opportunity to develop one’s career plans and discover what competencies to develop
Opportunity to network and facilitate contacting future employers

5. Benefits for the employer
Short-term cooperation is easy to organize
The employer can give the students a topic to pay attention to during the work shadowing period, and the student reports can be useful as development material for the workplace
Contacting education institutions becomes easier, and the employer receives up-to-date information about the school and the degrees, as well as an opportunity to initiate discussion about future cooperation with learning institutions and students

6. Work shadowing steps Begin search for work shadowing placements
Meet with or call the person to be observed (the work shadowing host) and set up a date for work shadowing
Spend the work shadowing day at the workplace with their host for the agreed time (in November)
Return report (max. 2 pages) to Moodle and also to the work shadowing host by

7. Exercise to do independently
Work shadowing
Find three interesting companies where you would like to go for work shadowing
Find a contact person from the company
Make a phone call, send an or visit the company
Spend the work shadowing day at the workplace
Return report (max. 2 pages) and also to the work shadowing host
Give a presentation about the work shadowing experience (max. 5 min)

8. Tips for the work shadowing meeting
You could send some questions to the employer before the meeting. The questions help the employer to prepare for the meeting. Here are some questions that might be useful for the employer in organizing your thoughts:
What is your job title?
What are your responsibilities?
How do you help this workplace to meet its goals?
What is your typical day like?
What do you like most/least about your work? Why?
Why did you choose this type of work?
What kind of education do you need for this job? How does your education support your work?
What kind of a career path led you to this position after you completed your education?
What skills support your work?
Do you work in a team? Could you tell me more about working as a team member?
What kind of problems do you solve in your work? What skills do you need to solve those problems?
What do you wish you had studied more when you were in university?
See also Advanced Techniques for Work Search material p. 33