Big Ideas: Job Shadowing Partners

March 25, 2009

 

Did you know? Job Shadows Work! According to a new evaluation being conducted by Junior Achievement Worldwide, nearly nine in ten students (86%) who have participated in Job Shadow programs say they feel more prepared for the workplace as a result of their Job Shadow activities.

 

Great Idea
Los Angeles Valley College’s Career / Transfer Center is loaded with engaging career activities. Besides offering career and transfer counseling, a resource library, computer lab, bus trips to 4-year colleges, workshops, a College and Majors Fair, and a career speaker’s series, they provide students opportunities to participate in Job Shadowing experiences. These individualized, daylong job shadows give students a chance to experience what a day in a career of their choice looks and feels like.

 

Population and Partnership
LAVC students, like most CCC students, work, go to school, and have families. Many speak English as their second language, and are the first in their families to attend college. Moreover, this student population has limited workplace experiences, and needs exposure to professional career opportunities as they explore their career direction. Since Job Shadowing takes a day or less and offers incredible personal career connections, Synthia Saltoun, LAVC Career / Transfer Director, felt that it was one of the best work-based learning experiences to offer LAVC students.

To create the most effective Job Shadowing program, Ms. Saltoun called on Junior Achievement (JA), a worldwide organization armed with years of successful Job Shadowing experience, to help them launch the program. JA’s Job Shadow director, Cindy Barakhyan, enthusiastically supports LAVC’s program. She shared her expertise and experience on how to set up Job Shadows and publicize the event, shared JA’s marketing materials and other forms, and provided the insurance coverage needed for participants for their shadowing visits. After a successful start, the LAVC and JA partnership has continued for over four years. Together, they have helped several hundred students explore a variety of career paths.

 

Challenging Process
The Job Shadowing process requires extensive marketing to students as well as organizing and hosting Job Shadowing orientation meetings, to explain the what, why and how to students. In addition, LAVC staff had to recruit local companies / professionals to participate as mentors. These volunteers also needed some coaching on how to create the best experience for their shadowers. Then, LAVC staff had to match students to companies, setup and confirm dates and times for the Job Shadows, and follow up with students and companies to assess the outcomes. Because Saltoun and her team set up and maintained a student and professional database to track the process, it has become easier each year. (To see the details of organizing, setting up, and following up the Job Shadow Program, click here.)

 

Awesome Outcomes
While setting up a system to assure successful student Job Shadowing experiences is not an easy task, the dividends are priceless. In this YouTube video clip, you can hear what Marina Ramos has to say about her experience. In addition to some great student outcomes, LAVC has increased their business and professional contacts in their community and built a database of over 100 professionals who have participated in a positive job shadowing experience.

 

Finding Funding
Job Shadows require a limited commitment from students and professionals, but setting up the process, documenting and connecting the participants, and following up and tracking the success is very time consuming for LAVC staff. VTEA Funds support this Job Shadowing project and according to students, staff, and professionals, it’s worth the effort.

 

Job Shadows ... A World of Opportunity in a Day of Work