What is a Job Shadow? - Marian High School

Table of Contents
What is a Job Shadow………….………………. 1
Job Shadow Checklist…………….……………. 2
Sample Phone Script…………………………… 3
Questions to Ask a Mentor…………………….. 4
Religion Shadowing Assignment………………. 5
(return this form to your religion teacher upon completion)
Mentor Comments Evaluation Form…………… 6
(give this form to your mentor with the stamped envelope)
Job Shadow Agreement Form………………… 7
(return this form to religion teacher on or before November 4)
Important Due Dates
Monday, November 4
Friday, February 7
Monday, February 10
Job Shadow Agreement
Job Shadow completed
Religion Assignment

What is a Job Shadow?
A job shadow experience allows you to interact with and observe an employee of your choosing,
known as a mentor, at the worksite. The purpose of job shadowing is to help you explore a career in your
field of interest. You will experience a one-on-one relationship with an adult mentor observing activities
and gaining valuable information about your chosen career. Your goal will be to learn as much as
possible through observation, listening, asking good questions and possibly even taking some notes.
Job shadowing helps students accomplish the following:
v Observe the daily routine of their mentor.
v Gain information about possible future career interests.
v Gain an understanding of the connection between school and work.
v Gain insight into the academic, technical, and even personal skills that are
required in a particular occupation.
Many seniors have found the job shadowing experience extremely valuable. Spending time with
a professional mentor in their field of interest confirmed for many that they were on the correct career
path. Others enjoyed the opportunity to begin networking in their community. Some students even
concluded that they were on the wrong path; avoiding many wasted hours of study in college as well as
tuition dollars.
So as you look at yourself, your strengths, your gifts, your talents and your goals carefully
consider whom you might choose as a mentor. What career path might you like to follow? Who would
you look up to? What do you dream of becoming in your future? With these ideas in mind as well as a
little help from your parents, your teachers and your counselor get ready to embark on an amazing job
shadowing adventure!
You are responsible for contacting a potential job shadow site/mentor and arranging a date and time for
your shadowing experience by November 4.
Your mentor must be someone other than your parent.
Although job shadow experiences will vary you are required to job shadow for 4 hours. Those hours
should be done all on one day.
All job shadowing must be completed and information turned into your Religion teacher by Friday,
February 7. If you need any assistance with finding possible shadow sites and contact information be
sure to see your counselor.

Job Shadow Checklist
BEFORE your Job Shadow:
· Schedule your job shadowing experience with your mentor by Monday, November 4.
· Plan to go alone – job shadowing isn’t a group project.
· Be sure to do some research on the career and the company you will be visiting. Visit
careercruising.com to learn about the career. If the company has a website check it out. It might
give you something to talk to your mentor about.
· Turn in the Job Shadow Agreement form to your Religion teacher along with your questions
and information obtained when you researched the company by Monday, November 4.
· It is a good idea to confirm your job shadow date and time with your mentor a day or two ahead
of time. Things come up in the business world.
· Make sure you select a non-school date for your shadow experience. Suggested dates:
January 17 or January 31 (opposite your senior retreat day) or any other non-school day: i.e.,
Oct. 18, Nov. 1, Thanksgiving vacation, Christmas vacation and Jan. 20. Missing school to job
shadow is an unexcused absence.
· Your shadowing experience must be completed by Friday, February 7.
TIPS during your Job Shadow
ü Be prepared to ask questions to get the most from your shadow experience.
ü Be sure to bring paper, pen or pencil and questions for your mentor.
ü Ask your mentor for a business card. It will come in handy when writing your thank your note.
Day of Job Shadow:
v Take the Mentor Comments form with the addressed stamped envelope with you on the day of
your shadowing experience.
v Be on time!! It is essential in the business world to keep your appointments.
v Arrive at your job shadow site 10-15 minutes early. Allow extra time for traffic problems and
finding a place to park, even $ for a meter. Do not be late.
v Dress neatly and appropriately. Consider the environment you will be in.
v Do not wear any of the following: bare midriffs, low cut tops, tank tops, blue jeans, sweats,
tennis shoes, hats or shorts. Leave a good impression.
v Be prepared to ask questions throughout your day and take notes. Your mentor’s time is
valuable. Show interest.
v Thank your mentor for their time and express how valuable the experience was for you. Leave
evaluation form with self addressed stamped envelope.
v Be aware that some shadowing sites have liability & confidentiality issues that may limit the
scope of your experience & may affect your choice ie. medicine.
AFTER your Job Shadow:
Ø Write a thank you note to your mentor.

Sample Phone Script
"Hello. My name is . . . . .”
I am a senior at Marian High School and part of our career development program includes a job shadow
experience. I am interested in pursuing a career in (career area) and I am curious to see if this is of
interest to me. Would it be possible for me to shadow you or someone else in your business for a four
hour time period?”
• Be prepared to explain what you hope to gain from the job shadow experience
• Have suggested dates and times available that will work for you
• Explain that you provide your own transportation
• Discuss your responsibilities and goals as a student so that the employer does
not feel that they will lose productivity time
If the employer/business is willing to set up the job shadow, thank them and let the employer know you
will be calling a few days ahead of time to confirm the job shadow.
If they cannot help you, politely ask "Is there anyone else that you know of in this industry/business that
might be able to help me with a job shadow"?
Other contacts:
Business Name: __________________________________________________________
Phone Number: __________________________________________________________
Employee Name: _________________________________________________________
Other contacts:
Business Name: __________________________________________________________
Phone Number: __________________________________________________________
Employee Name: _________________________________________________________
Reminder: Your interest and courtesy is important in acquiring your desired job shadow contact.

Questions to Ask a Mentor
When you are on-site with your mentor during the job shadow experience it is appropriate to ask
questions. Your mentor may ask you at different times throughout the day if you have any questions so it
is smart to be prepared with a few questions you may want to ask during your shadow. Here are several
options which have been taken from the career cruising website section “A Day in the Life”.
1. What do you like about your job?
2. What do you dislike about your job?
3. What personal characteristics are required for someone to be successful in your job?
4. How much job security is there for people in this field?
5. What other jobs could a person do with the skills you have gained in this field?
6. What are the biggest challenges in your job?
7. What are the biggest rewards in your job?
8. What advice would you give someone
9. What type of schooling or training is necessary for this job?
10. Other than what I observe while I am here what is a typical day in your life like in this
position?
Write down a few questions of your own before you get to your job shadow site.
Be sure to take a note pad and a pen with you on your shadow visit. Remember,
the better prepared you are for the shadow experience the more valuable the day
will be.

Job Shadow Agreement
(Return this form to your religion teacher.)
This form must be turned into your religion teacher on or before November 4.
( If you change your shadow site, a new form must be submitted. Please see
your religion teacher for a new form.)
Name_____________________________________________ Date of job shadow ________________
Career Area of Interest________________________________________________________________
Please provide the name, address and phone number of your mentor and jobsite:
Company Name: ___________________________________________
Name of Mentor: ___________________________________________
Position or job: _____________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________
City/State/Zip: _____________________________________________
Phone: (_____) ____________________________________________
E-Mail: ___________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Agreement:
I, ____________________________, parent/guardian of ____________________ give permission for my
daughter to participate in the Marian High School job shadow program. I understand that she will be
responsible for making all arrangements for the job shadow including transportation.
_______________________________ _________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
Student Signature
Date: __________________________
Answer the following questions and submit them with this form before you shadow:
1. Give your reasons for choosing this career, person and company to shadow
2. Tell what you know about the company you will be visiting during your shadow.
3. Explain what someone in this field does and why it may suit you in the future.

Mentor Comments Evaluation
Please return this form in the stamped addressed envelope.
Student’s name: __________________________________________________________
Job Shadow Adult Mentor: _________________________________________________
Title of Adult Mentor: _____________________________________________________
Phone: _______________________________________
E-mail Address: _________________________________________________________
Company Name: _________________________________________________________
Street Address: __________________________________________________________
City: _________________________________ State: _______________ Zip: _______
Type of Business: ________________________________________________________
Thank you for participating in the job shadow experience. This has been a very worthwhile opportunity
for our students and staff because of such great business partners who are willing to partner with
education. Would you please give us feedback on the job shadow experience. We would like to use your
input to strengthen the experience for both students and employers.
What would you suggest to improve this experience for you and your business?
What would you suggest to improve this experience for the student?
Please evaluate the student on a scale of 1 through 5, with 5 being the highest rating.
Preparation 1 2 3 4 5
Communication 1 2 3 4 5
Manners 1 2 3 4 5
Dress 1 2 3 4 5
Would you be willing to be a mentor again; would you like to have your name/business added to a job
shadow database?
Thank you for your comments and participation. If you have questions or concerns about this activity,
please call Sheila Zimmerman at 571-2618 Ext. 1127.

Religion Shadowing Assignment
(Return to your religion teacher)
Due: Monday, February 10, 2014
“Faced with a multitude of career options and often uncertain about their own gifts and aspirations, (the
student) can frequently let other voices determine what they will do. Family expectations, the opinion of
peers and the demands of the marketplace often dictate what shape their lives should take.” The Chosen
Path, America Magazine.
But what does your “inner voice” reveal to you? Please answer the following questions as completely
and thoroughly as possible.
1. Describe your Job Shadowing experience—be as specific as possible about what you did
(who, what, when, where).
2. The Marian mission statement expresses, in part, that students are taught to be “leaders and
life-long learners in a society where their talents and faith will give hope to the world.” Based on
your talents and the most pressing needs of the world, how does this career fulfill the Marian
mission statement? In what ways did you encounter a sense of deeper purpose and meaning in
the work that you shadowed? If your experience was not what you expected, explain as best you
can why and how this career would not be meaningful for you based on this shadow experience.
3. To receive credit for this assignment, the following must be returned by the deadlines.
• The Job Shadow Agreement Form (Monday, November 4 – 20% of the Job Shadow grade.
If this is not turned in on time, you will lose the 20%)
• The Religion Shadowing Assignment described above (Monday, February 10 – 80% of the
Job Shadow grade. If this is not turned in on time, you will lose the 80%)

Job Shadow Agreement - Revised
(Return this form to your religion teacher.)
This form must be turned into your religion teacher on or before Monday,
November 4. ( If you change your shadow site, a new form must be
submitted. Please see your religion teacher for a new form.)
Name_____________________________________________ Date of job shadow ________________
Career Area of Interest________________________________________________________________
Please provide the name, address and phone number of your mentor and jobsite:
Company Name: ___________________________________________
Name of Mentor: ___________________________________________
Position or job: _____________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________
City/State/Zip: _____________________________________________
Phone: (_____) ____________________________________________
E-Mail: ___________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Agreement:
I, ____________________________, parent/guardian of ____________________ give permission for my
daughter to participate in the Marian High School job shadow program. I understand that she will be
responsible for making all arrangements for the job shadow including transportation.
_______________________________ _________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
Student Signature
Date: __________________________
Answer the following questions and submit them with this form before you shadow:
1. Give your reasons for choosing this career, person and company to shadow
2. Tell what you know about the company you will be visiting during your shadow.
3. Explain what someone in this field does and why it may suit you in the future.