Career Development CenterStudent Center, second floor • SC 252

913-469-3870www.jccc.edu/career-development

Hours: Monday–Wednesday 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Thursday 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

J O B S H A D O W I N G

P R O G R A MS T U D E N T G U I D E

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The JCCC Job Shadowing Program provides an opportunity for currently enrolled JCCC students who are at least 18 years of age and have a 2.0 cumulative GPA to engage in career exploration through interaction with JCCC faculty, local professionals and the Career Development Center career counselors. This program assists students through providing direct experience with JCCC academic programs while also coordinating an opportunity for students to meet and spend a few hours with a professional in a career field of interest.

No-Show Policy In the event that you are unable to attend a job shadowing visit, you must contact both the mentor and the Career Development Center. If you fail to communicate with the mentor and the Career Development Center in a timely manner, you will forfeit the privilege to participate in the JCCC Job Shadowing Program for one semester. You will be required to write a letter of apology to the mentor and provide a copy for the Career Development Center, where it will be kept on file. Additionally, you will have to meet with a career counselor or the employment relations coordinator before being readmitted to the program.

Professional Expectations During every stage of the Job Shadowing Program, you are expected to represent yourself and Johnson County Community College in a polite, professional manner.

• Dress appropriately

• Arrive on time and stay for the duration of the job shadow

• Prepare for the experience by reviewing provided materials and engaging in research about the industry and the mentor

• Actively participate by showing interest when talking with all individuals you encounter

• Respect confidentiality of the mentor

• Show your appreciation to the mentor for the experience and knowledge they are sharing

Please keep in mind that this is an exploratory experience to assist in your career decision-making process, and thus is not an internship or an opportunity to ask for employment.

Learning Outcomes Participation in the job shadowing program will:

• Benefit your career exploration and decision-making process

• Engage you in experiential learning through observation and person-to-person interaction in the workplace

• Enhance your ability to identify career options, select an appropriate career path, and follow through with the career decision-making process

• Increase your knowledge about a specific industry or career area through interaction with faculty and industry professionals

• Provide an opportunity to practice professionalism through informational interviewing and interacting with professionals in a given career field

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Decide to begin career exploration to learn more about a specific career field or academic program

Meet one-on-one with a faculty member

Observe a laboratory class, attend a lecture session, or visit a related campus club meeting

Meet with the employment relations coordinator or a career counselor to review program expectations

Complete application form

Interact with JCCC faculty members

Receive approval for mentor visit

Schedule job shadowing time, location and duration with the employer mentor

Engage in job shadowing at employer mentor site

Conduct reflection and plan action steps for further career exploration and decision-making with a career counselor

Receive Job Shadowing Program completion certificate

J O B S H A D O W I N G

P R O G R A M

Take a tour

Ask questions during an informational interview

Observe the work and learn about responsibilities of the job

ABOUT THE JCCC JOB SHADOWING PROGRAM

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Interacting with JCCC Faculty Members

Contacting a Faculty MemberWriting a professional and concise email is a great skill to practice. Here is a suggestion for what to say when you contact the JCCC faculty member with whom you wish to meet:

What to Talk About • Your interests, career goals and career exploration thus far

• Your questions about the academic program requirements, the career opportunities and the academic field in general

• The faculty member’s educational background, training and career path

• The requirements, structure and specific core classes of the faculty member’s academic program

• Opportunities and challenges in that academic field or industry

• Occupational outlooks and stories of JCCC alumni from that program

Saying Thank You Please take the time to thank the faculty member or members who met with you and shared about their academic area. You may choose to write a handwritten thank you note, or you can send a polite email. Both should be sent within one to two days of your meeting.

Professor __________________:

I am participating in the JCCC Job Shadowing Program, and have an interest in the field of ____________. The Career Development Center staff provided me with your contact information, and I hope we can meet and talk about _____________ at JCCC. The best times/days for me are ____________. Would you be available during any of those times? Thank you in advance for your time, I really appreciate your guidance and I look forward to meeting you.

Sincerely,

Jean-Claude Cavalier Jean-Claude Cavalier

Professor ______________:

Thank you for meeting with me yesterday to talk about ____________________. I really appreciated getting to learn more about _____________________ and hearing about your own experiences, education and knowledge. Thank you for your advice and for taking the time out of your busy schedule to help me with my career exploration.

Sincerely,

Jean-Claude Cavalier Jean-Claude Cavalier

Meet one-on-one

What You’ll Do Visit a laboratory class or tour a simulation area

Attend part of a lecture or introductory class in that academic area

JCCC faculty members have a wealth of industry experience as well as academic knowledge in their field. Take advantage of your time with them and the advice they provide!

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Dear Mr. Miller,

My name is Jean-Claude, and I am a student at Johnson County Community College. I am considering a career in __________________________, and I am interested in learning more about the field and the types of opportunities that are available. I found your name on the Job Shadowing Mentor Database through the JCCC Career Development Center, and I was wondering if you would be willing to speak with me about the field, your role and your own career path. You can reach me at (phone number) or (JCCC email address). Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Jean-Claude Cavalier

CONTACTING A MENTOR FINDING AND CONTACTING A MENTOR

Subject: Informational Interview/JCCC

Your Purpose and Goals

Your Academic Background

Directions to the Organization

Your Schedule

Lunch Instructions (if applicable)

Parking Instructions

POINTS TO DISCUSS

Appropriate Attire for Job Shadowing

Your Contact Information

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Go to https://www.myinterfase.com/jccc/student

Create or log in to your student JobLinks account

In the blue menu bar at the top, click on “Mentor Search”

Enter keywords or select an industry to view mentors

View individual profiles to determine which mentor would be a good fit for your career interests

Use the blue “Contact Mentor” button in the top middle of the mentor’s profile to email the mentor to request a job shadowing visit – use the sample email on the next page to guide you

Reminder: Contact

the Career

Development

Center to

gain access

to the mentor

database

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While You Are There

Education, Training, and Preparation • How did you get started in this business? What is your educational background and what

previous work experience have you had?

• How did your education help prepare you for this job?

• What courses have been the most valuable to you in your work?

• What kind of technical knowledge or skills are important for this job?

• What personality traits or interests are important for this career?

• Why did you choose this career?

Daily Experience on the Job • Is training with your organization formal or on-the-job training?

• Is your work independent or do you work in more of a team environment?

• What are some of the more difficult or frustrating parts of this career?

• What characteristics does a person in this job need to have?

• What do you like least about your job?

• What do you like most about your job?

• What is the work culture/office environment like?

• What kind of tasks do you do on a typical day or in a typical week?

• What advancement opportunities are available for an entry-level worker in this career?

• What types of decisions do you make on a daily basis? Weekly?

• What types of people do you interact or work with on a regular basis?

• What would be an average starting salary for someone in this career?

• When your company is hiring, what qualifications, skills or experiences do they look for?

Industry and Job Search • How does this career affect your lifestyle?

• Does this career field include or require travel?

• Is this career field changing? How so?

• What are some other good sources of information or resources about this industry?

• What is the job search process like for this career?

• What job opportunities exist for this type of work in the Kansas City area?

• What sorts of opportunities for advancement exist in this career field?

Networking, Mentoring and Professional Development • Can I contact you if I have more questions?

• Can you recommend some other professionals in this field that I could talk to?

• Do you have any advice on how people interested in this career should prepare?

• What next steps could I take to learn more or to gain experience while I am still in school?

• What resources and organizations would help me learn more about this field?

THE JOB SHADOW EXPERIENCE QUESTIONS TO ASK DURING YOUR JOB SHADOW

Take a tour

What to Bring With You

Ask questions Observe and learn

Driving directions and parking instructions

Contact information for your mentor

Questions for your mentor

Money for parking, lunch or other expenses

Appropriate clothing for the work environment

$Safety Tips

• Communicate to your emergency contact where and when you will be doing your job shadowing experience. In your cell phone under contacts, place ICE (in case of emergency) with a name and number to contact.

• Be vigilant and always aware of your surroundings. Stay alert. Do not keep valuables visible in your car, lock your car doors, have your keys out and ready to enter your vehicle.

• Promptly report to the job shadowing mentor JCCC security and the Career Development Center any injury, accident or incident that you are involved in while participating in your job shadowing experience.

• For additional information about safety, visit the JCCC Police Department website.

Before You Go • Research the company or organization

• Look up directions and arrange transportation

• Select an appropriate outfit for the work environment

• Review JCCC Job Shadowing Program materials and guidelines

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WHAT NOW?

899 MetcalfOverland Park, KS 66210

September 29, 2015

Ms. Jane SmithMarketing SpecialistXX OrganizationP.O. Box 899Overland Park, KS 66210

Dear Ms. Smith:

Thank you for taking the time to answer my many questions and for allowing me to shadow you yesterday. I enjoyed meeting you and learning more about ______________________________. It was especially helpful to visit your company and receive a tour of ____________________________________.

Your explanation of the opportunity in the _______________________ field was helpful. I had not previously realized that there were so many varied industries in which to apply my skills and interests. This experience really opened my eyes!

I appreciate your time and advice, and thank you for all of your career tips on ____________________________________.

Sincerely,

Jean-Claude Cavalier Jean-Claude Cavalier

Only include if writing a letter

Always send a well-written thank you note by email within 24 hours or by mail within one to two days.

Don’t forget to proofread!

Student Reflection FormOnce you have completed your job shadowing experience, answer the following questions. This information allows you to reflect on your experience and how it influences your career exploration and decision-making process. Bring this form to your reflection meeting with your career counselor.

Name: _____________________________ Email: _______________ Student ID #: _________

1. Describe the job duties and work environment of the profession you shadowed.

2. What characteristics of this profession do you feel are interesting or a good match for you?

3. What characteristics concern you or make this profession seem unappealing to you as a career path?

4. What surprised you most about what you observed, heard, did and/or learned?

5. Which of the following best relates to your feelings about career direction after this experience? Why?

a. This experience helped confirm that I am interested in this field as a career.

b. This experience made me think this career path or industry might not be right for me.

6. What is your next step in exploring your career choices?

7. What recommendations do you have for improving the JCCC Job Shadowing Program?

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Schedule your required appointment with a career counselor

Review any notes you took or materials you received during your job shadow

Complete the student evaluation form on page 11 and bring to your career counseling appointment

Use the resources provided in the Career Development Center to further research career options

REFLECTING ON YOUR JOB SHADOWING EXPERIENCE

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JCCC Job Shadowing Program Checklist

Meet with career counselor or the employment relations coordinator to complete application and learn about the program

Contact, schedule and meet with a participating JCCC faculty member

Send a thank you note to the faculty

Call, email or stop by the Career Development Center to get contact information for job shadowing mentors

Find, contact and schedule job shadowing experience with a mentor

Engage in job shadowing experience

Send a thank you note to the mentor

Complete reflection form (page 11)

Schedule meeting with a career counselor

Complete student evaluation form (provided by the career counselor in your reflection meeting)

Receive your JCCC Job Shadowing Program Completion Certificate

For information about the JCCC Job Shadowing Program, contact: Linda Dubar Employment Relations/Internship Coordinator Career Development Center, Box 48 913-469-3598 ldubar@jccc.edu