After completing the application, read through the following questions.
Job shadowing is the opportunity to see first-hand what a specific industry or job is like. Through job shadowing, you can explore career options, make well informed career decisions, and deepen your understanding of the demands, rewards, and challenges of a chosen career.
If you are unsure of what to major in or need help narrowing down your future career, job shadowing can help. Job shadowing is also a great opportunity to network and ask questions about a job you are interested in.
Job shadowing usually lasts 1-5 hours over the course of a day. Unlike an internship, which lasts an entire semester, job shadowing is a one-time event.
Before showing up, you should research the organization and occupation. Most organization's corporate website is a great source for researching the company. Plan to arrive at the location ten minutes early. If you are uncertain about the location at all, call ahead of time to get directions. Make sure you have your mentor's name and phone number in case something unexpected happens.
Always follow the company dress code. Think about how those in the workplace would dress and dress similarly. Remember you are there to shadow and should not stand out. If you are unsure of the dress code, business casual clothing is usually appropriate.
When you arrive for your job shadowing appointment, you should have with you a list of questions for your mentor, something to write with, and a note pad.
Prepare your questions ahead of time and arrange them in the order that you hope to ask them. This is your chance to ask questions about the industry or specific job. Some questions you may ask include:
The Career Services Office will arrange job shadowing for you. Fill out the form here. Career Services will confirm your application was received by sending an email to the address you provided on the application.
Most job shadowing experiences take up to two weeks to arrange. Once your job shadowing is scheduled, the Career Services Office will call and/or email you with the details.
If you have conflicts arise or become ill and will not be able to make your appointment, please call the Career Services Office as soon as possible at 417-625-9343 before your scheduled job shadow. We are more than willing to work with you to reschedule a time for your job shadowing if you give us notice that the scheduled time will not work for you.
If you are a no show for your job shadow, you will need to wait until the following semester to sign up again. The employers put in a lot of time and effort to schedule times for professionals to mentor MSSU students. It is unfair to the employers when students do not show up at their scheduled time and frustrating for the business professional who took time out of their day to provide guidance.
Stay focused on the mentor's job and career field. You can share something about yourself, but don't talk too much. Try not to waste time asking questions that are irrelevant to your career concerns or can be more easily answered by another source. Keep your remarks positive. Never ask for a job; this is not the purpose of a job shadowing experience. You should be sensitive to the mentor's time constraints; remember, they have already altered their daily schedule to accommodate your visit.
Questions? Call 417-625-9343 or stop by Career Services today!
