Job shadows are a great opportunity for students to explore careers of interest, network with local businesses, get ahead of the game by gaining information that can be applied to future education and career decisions, and connect what they are learning in the classroom to real-world work. High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors in Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Washington counties are eligible to apply for job shadows through Workplace Learning Connection.
Job shadows are a free opportunity for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to spend a few hours at an area business on one day during the school year to explore a career of their choice. The online application is brief and requires parent/guardian and school approval. Most students who complete the application will receive a job shadow placement.
It’s a great opportunity for your students to connect classroom learning to a real-world work environment and see the day-to-day routine or gain a broad overview of a career field.
It’s also a chance for your students to network and develop important soft skills- venturing out of their comfort zone to meet new people that share the same interests.
Students can explore a career they are interested in or curious about, and get ahead of the game by gaining information that can be applied to future education and career decisions.
They can discover which skills, training, and/or education is needed, and get advice about what they can be doing now to prepare for this career.
Hear from students! Check out this short video to hear what high school students are saying about their career exploration experiences.
Hear from educators about the value of this experience in this video.
No, a job shadow is NOT the same as an internship.
A job shadow is a one-time, 2 – 6 hour experience, whereas an intern meets multiple times over multiple weeks with their business hosts. Students are encouraged to complete a job shadow prior to applying for an internship.
An internship provides high school juniors and seniors a free opportunity to explore a career more in-depth with a local business. Internships are a great way for high school students to get experience, gain new skills, and learn more about different jobs and career fields. Talk to your high school counselor to determine if an internship is right for you. Students in grades 11 and 12 in Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Linn, and Washington Counties are eligible to apply. Not all students who apply will receive an internship placement.
High school juniors and seniors who participate in the internship program earn dual credit through Kirkwood Community College and their local high school. They experience career exploration onsite with a business/organization while learning professional development with WLC. Students need access to a device when participating in a WLC internship.
Post your school’s job shadow deadline in your classroom so students have a daily visual reminder. Check with your school counseling office for the deadline.
Encourage students to sign up for a job shadow that fits their interests and/or is relevant to the courses you teach. Click here to become familiar with all of the options available. For most students, we would recommend the Career Exploration Shadow opportunities which allow students to explore several careers during one job shadow.
Ask your classes if anyone has either completed or signed up for a job shadow. Take a few minutes to discuss their completed or upcoming job shadows - what they learned or hope to learn and how the experience impacted their career interests.
High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors in Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Washington counties are eligible to explore a career of their choice through the Workplace Learning Connection job shadow program. Check out our Job Shadow page for application dates.
Job shadows are a one-day, one-time experience, typically a 2 – 6 hour excused absence from the school day.
Workplace Learning Connection works in partnership with your school district to provide job shadows at no cost to students or their families.
There are opportunities for nearly every career field and level of education available in the region, some of which are likely related to the courses you teach. Click here to take a look at all of the options available for job shadows.
If students are unsure about which career to choose, they can meet with their school counselor or take a short career assessment to see which career field may be a good fit for them.
We would encourage any student who has not completed a job shadow or who is unsure of their career path to choose a Career Exploration Job Shadow. The Career Exploration Job Shadow opportunities allow students to explore several careers in one job shadow whereas the Career Specific shadows are specific to one career.
Click here to learn about the upcoming job shadow application dates. Students may access the online application system when the portal is open.
Students should check out the “How to Apply For A Job Shadow” page which has step by step instructions.
Students will need to explore all the career choices available by pathway and identify a first and second choice for a shadow, then click “Apply Now” (as long as the application portal is currently open).
Generally speaking, transportation is NOT provided and must be arranged by the student. If it is not possible for your student to drive themselves or to arrange for someone such as a parent or guardian to take them, check with your school to see if transportation is available. In most cases, students will receive a minimum of two-weeks’ notice before the date of their job shadow to allow time for transportation arrangements to be made.
Due to the volume of job shadow applications received, students will be placed as soon as October and as late as May depending on job shadow host availability.
On the job shadow application, students should indicate any conflicts (days/times/specific dates) that should be avoided when scheduling.
Students will receive an email from the person who will be coordinating their job shadow shortly after each job shadow application portal closes. Any questions a student has about their job shadow can be directed to that person, as well as any new conflicts that have come up to avoid when scheduling.
Information on a student's job shadow will be sent anytime between October and May via email to the student, parent, and school, in most cases at least two weeks before the job shadow is scheduled. A text will be sent to students to alert them to check their email.
For some job shadows that require additional forms to be completed or information to be provided in advance of the shadow, that information will also be sent via postal mail to the student in a white envelope stamped with “Job Shadow Information” in light blue.
Students should make sure to read and review all information sent to them on their job shadow, as well as this document which provides additional helpful information on job shadows.
Students should prepare a list of questions to ask during the job shadow, or use this suggested list of questions, on page two of this document.
Here are some additional resources that will help them prepare for their job shadow, including tips for how to get the most out of their shadow experience.
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