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Mrs. Keglovitz English 12A
1
It’s Your Life: Job Shadow Project Packet
A job shadow is a learning experience in which you spend part of the day with someone at his/her
workplace to learn about a specific occupation, career, or industry. During your job shadow, you will
interact one-on-one with either the business owner or an employee. This is a unique opportunity for you
to learn about a job you are interested in, have questions answered, and make professional contacts.
Assignment: For this assignment you will choose a location for your job shadow, contact the
company/business to set up a time for the job shadow, attend the job shadow and ask thoughtful
questions, complete the job shadow packet, send a follow up email/thank you letter to the company,
and share your experience with the class.
Rationale: Your job shadow project will not only allow you to hone your writing, reading, listening, and
speaking skills, but it will also give you relevant experiences that you can apply to your real life after high
school and beyond. A job shadow gives you a unique insight into a job that you may be interested in and
allows you to observe and ask questions in person. The entire process of setting up, conducting, and
following up with your job shadow requires the same skills and procedures that will be expected of you
for the rest of your academic and professional career. Good communication skills, networking, and
professional conduct will be absolutely invaluable to you in your future. Use this experience to develop
these skills, take it seriously, and have fun!
Process:
1. Choose a job shadow location/industry. What careers are you interested in? Is there a certain
job that you have always wondered about? Perhaps there is a local business or company that
you have always been interested in or had questions about. Brainstorm a few locations for your
job shadow. It’s a good idea to have 1-2 backups in case you can’t job shadow at your first
choice. You CAN NOT job shadow at your current place of employment. Also, you may not
choose any place where a family member currently works. The goal is for you to learn about a
business or company that you would not normally have the opportunity to visit. You probably
can visit at a family member’s place of employment without having an assignment to do it.
2. Fill out the Job Shadow application and turn it in for approval by Mrs. Keglovitz. This form must
be filled out and approved by NO LATER THAN _______________. Do not attempt to contact
your job shadow host until AFTER you have received approval from both your parents and your
instructors.*****
3. Set up your job shadow. It is your responsibility to PERSONALLY set up your job shadow
experience. This may require contacting the business by both phone and/or email. You may
meet with your chosen professional during the school day, but you will need to turn in a pre-
excused absence form to the office, and you will be responsible for making up any work you
missed. You must return to school as soon as possible after you have completed your job
shadow. Your job shadow contact will be filling out a survey identifying when you arrive at and
leave the job site. We advise that you set up your experience for after school or on the
Mrs. Keglovitz English 12A
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weekend if at all possible. Your job shadow appointment must be made by _______________
at the LATEST.
4. Attend your job shadow: Be on time (AKA at least a few minutes early), ask thoughtful
questions, take notes, and have a fun (educational and professional) time! Please use the
Potential Interview Questions as a guide/organizer. You will need to turn this in at the end of
your project.
5. Send a thank you letter/email: It is extremely important that you send a follow up letter and/or
email to your job shadow host. Please refer back to the lesson on email and thank you letter
etiquette. Your follow up letter should be professional and sincere. Prior to mailing this letter,
you must have it approved by one of your instructors. Please make/keep a copy of this
letter/email, as it will be a part of your portfolio and grade. *****
6. Complete the job shadow reflection questions: These questions and reflection will act as the
base of your informal presentation to the class about your job shadow experience. They will also
help you organize your thoughts and reflect on what you learned from your experience.
7. Share with the class: Once you have completed all of the above steps, we will determine a time
for you to share your experience with the class.
Checklist of Items to Turn In:
___ Job Shadow Application (Approved by _______________)
___ Potential Interview Questions and Answers (Due _______________)
___Thank you letter/email (Due _______________)
___ Job Shadow Reflection Questions and Answers (Due _______________)
***Please note: Your entire project IS DUE _______________. This means you must have completed
your job shadow and turned in all of the above on or before this date. Refer to the syllabus for the late
work policy.
How to Job Shadow: The Details
Choosing Your Business:
-Do research! Consider your likes, dislikes, aptitudes, weaknesses, interests, etc. This will also
come in handy during the actual job shadow.
-Consider the location of the business. How far away is it? Will you have transportation?
Contacting the company:
-Find a phone number and email address for the location you would like to job shadow at. This
information can often be found on a company website or in the phone book. Let us know if you
need help.
-Make the call! It is important to be both friendly and professional. Below is a conversation
guideline for you to follow:
Mrs. Keglovitz English 12A
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1. Ask for the person by name. (“Hello, may I speak to ____?”)
2. Introduce yourself and your purpose. (“Hi, my name is ___________ (first AND last name). I
am a ___ (Jr/Sr) at Lowell High School. I’m interested in going into a career in _______, and I
would like to arrange a job shadow where I can observe someone in this career for at least
two hours, with the opportunity to ask some questions before I leave. Would you be willing
to let me “shadow” you?”)
3. Let them know which days and times work best for you, but be flexible. (“What time would
be most convenient for you? Week days after 3 pm work best for me, but I am also available
during the school day.”)
4. Ask them the details. (“Where should I meet you? Where should I park? Is there anything
that I need to bring/wear?”)
5. Thank them and reaffirm the date of the meeting. (“Thank you for helping me set this up. I
look forward to meeting you on ______ (day of the week),______ (date), at _____ (time)”)
6. If you set up your appointment more than one week before the day that you will actually
shadow, you should call/email the company a day or two in advance to remind them that
you will be job shadowing on that day.
What to wear:
-You should follow any guidelines that you were given when setting up your job shadow
experience. Take into account the nature of the job you will be visiting, and dress accordingly.
-No matter what type of job you will be investigating, it is important for you to look clean and
professional.
- Do not wear anything that does not follow Lowell High School’s dress code. You are
representing Lowell even when you are outside of the school.
-Dress slacks, khakis, or dark wash, non-holey jeans and a collared shirt (polo or dress shirt) are
suggested. Sweatpants, hoodies, holey jeans, and most t-shirts are unacceptable for this
experience.
What to take:
-Take anything you were asked to when you made your job shadow appointment.
-Paper, a writing utensil, and a writing surface (i.e. clipboard, folder, notebook, etc)
- A hard copy of the employer survey (page 11)
- The job shadow reflection questions and the list of potential interview questions. These should
act as a guide to your conversation with your job shadow host.
-A current resume, if you have one. Leaving a resume with your job shadow contact is a great
way to network and to potentially acquire a job at the business you are shadowing at!
What to do:
-Arrive on time!
-Shake your host’s hand. Be sure to shake their hand firmly and look them in the eye when you
do so.
-Be polite and have a positive attitude.
-Observe, ask questions, and take notes! There is no such thing as a dumb question, but there is
such a thing as an unprofessional question. Don’t be afraid to ask what’s on your mind, but be
Mrs. Keglovitz English 12A
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sure to do so in a way that is respectful and tactful. For example, although it is appropriate to
ask what a typical salary range is at the company, it is inappropriate to ask your host their
individual salary.
-Thank your host for their time and the experience.
Mrs. Keglovitz English 12A
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Job Shadow Application – Fill out completely. –Turn this in BEFORE you make the arrangements with the company. You must have this approved by your teacher before you contact the company!
Name: ______________________________________________ Grade: _________
Address: _____________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian: ___________________________________ Phone: ____________
Occupation Requested: _________________________________________________
Information on Host and Company for Job Shadow
Name/Title: ___________________________________________________________
Company: ____________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________
Phone: ______________________________________________________________
Email: _______________________________________________________________
Do you have any past experiences with this person or company?
(friend of family, mom works there, my dentist, etc.) ___________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
My son/daughter has my permission to use the following means of transportation for this experience:
Drive own vehicle ( ) to the site ( ) back from the site
I will provide transportation ( ) to the site ( ) back from the site
Ride in another student’s vehicle ( ) to the site ( ) back from the site
Name of student: ________________________
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Ride in another parent’s vehicle ( ) to the site ( ) back from the site
Name of parent: ________________________
I will transport another student in my vehicle ( ) to the site ( ) back from the site
My student may transport another student in ( ) to the site ( ) back from the site
his/her vehicle.
Parent/Guardian’s Approval: _______________________________ Date: ______________
Teacher or Coordinator Approval: ___________________________ Date: ______________
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Potential Interview Questions:
1. What is your job title?
2. What responsibilities does your job entail? If you have one available, may I have a copy of your job description?
3. How do you go about these responsibilities throughout the work day?
4. What is the most rewarding part of your job? Why?
5. What do you find most challenging about your job? Is this a positive or negative challenge?
6. What do you like the most and the least about your job? Why?
7. Why did you select this type of work?
8. How much/what type of education do you need for this job? If college or trade schools are necessary, which ones have the best reputations and programs for this line of work?
9. What classes or skill sets were you most interested in during your college/vocational training?
How do these apply, either directly or indirectly, to your job?
10. Did you need more training after you were done with your education? If so, what does/did that entail?
11. What opportunities are there for advancement or promotion in this job or field?
12. What could an individual expect to earn when first starting out in this position? What could they
expect to earn after gaining promotions and seniority within this field?
Mrs. Keglovitz English 12A
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13. Do people in this career/job typically join a union? If so, what are some of the
benefits/protections?
14. Do any of your work responsibilities extend outside of the regular work day? What days and
times do you typically work?
15. What role does this business/company play in giving back to the community (i.e. do you sponsor
any sports teams, make charitable donations, offer scholarships, etc?)
16. In what ways do you use reading, writing, math, and speaking in this position?
17. Describe if you can, a situation in which a person disagreed with you and what steps you took to work it out with that person and maintain mutual respect.
18. What was the most important contribution you made at your workplace that was outside your normal job duties?
19. Tell me about the characteristics which make your favorite co-worker such a good person with whom to work.
20. What advice do you have for someone who is interested in working in this job position or career
field?
21. Did you create a cover letter and resume when you applied for this position? What was the
most challenging part of that process?
22. What do you think is the most important advice someone should follow when interviewing for a
position such as this?
Anything else you can think of (granted that it is educational and professional)! Tip: Write these out
as you think of them! Your grade will be higher if you come up with your own thoughtful questions.
Mrs. Keglovitz English 12A
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Job Shadow Reflection Questions
Directions: Type out the answers to each of these questions using MLA format with the exception that
you single space each answer and double space between each answer.
1. Where/with whom did you job shadow? What made you choose to explore this particular
industry or career?
2. Before the job shadow, what were your worries or concerns? After the job shadow, how do you
view these worries and concerns?
3. What kind of education or training is necessary to pursue a career or job at your job shadow
site? Are you interested in completing this education or training? How has or hasn’t your high
school career prepared you for this job or future training?
4. Would you ever consider working at your job shadow site? Explain.
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5. What was the most surprising or interesting thing you learned during your job shadow
experience? Was the experience what you expected it would be? Why or why not?
6. Do you still have unanswered questions after the job shadow? If so, list them below and explain
how you might go about finding answers to these questions.
7. What was the most challenging part of this assignment? What was the least challenging part?
Overall, did you enjoy the experience?
8. If you could change anything about this assignment or about how you personally completed it,
what would it be?
9. What advice would you give to future students about doing the job shadow?
Mrs. Keglovitz English 12A
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To Whom It May Concern:
Thank you so much for allowing a Lowell High School English 12A student to job shadow at your
company or business! This is such a unique and enriching opportunity for students to learn more about
different jobs and professionalism, and we truly appreciate the role that you play in this experience.
As part of their projects, students are required to turn in the notes that they take during their visit, as
well as answers to some reflection questions. Another significant part of students’ grades is their return
of the Job Shadow Host Survey. Please take the time to fill out this very short document so that we can
have a better understanding of each student’s experience. Please use the self-addressed envelope
(provided to you by the student) to return the survey. If for some reason you misplace this envelope,
surveys can be sent to the following locations:
Email: [email protected] Mail: Kim Keglovitz Lowell High School 11700 Vergennes Rd Lowell, MI 49331
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Kim Keglovitz
Lowell High School English Instructor
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Job Shadow Host Survey
Please fill out the following information concerning your student guest. Thank you for your time!
1. Student Name: _______________________
2. Time arrived on job site:________________
3. Time left job site: _____________________
4. The student was dressed professionally/appropriately
Yes No
Comments:
5. The student asked appropriate and thoughtful questions
Yes No
Comments:
6. The student spent a minimum of two hours observing at the job site
Yes No
Comments:
7. General comments/feedback:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________