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Job Shadowing

Job shadowing is a great way for students to explore careers and for hosts to share their expertise! The sections below provide information and guides for students and hosts on job shadowing.

Students

What is a job shadow?

Job shadowing is an opportunity to learn more about a professional role, organization, or industry by spending a short amount of time with someone in their work environment. This learning experience allows students to see first-hand the skills utilized by an experienced professional and to ask questions aligned with their learning goals. This career exploration technique can provide valuable insights that will inform the next steps of career development.

A job shadow is:

  • A learning experience
  • An opportunity to ask questions
  • A place to grow your network
  • Flexible (e.g., half-day, full-day, in-person, virtual, etc.)

 

Notes: Job shadowing is optional and is not a part of your academic program. Job shadowing is unpaid experiential learning, with the main purpose being to observe and try where appropriate, not to perform labour. Should you decide to partake in job shadowing, you are not considered a trainee of the organization in which you are shadowing (for more information on how "trainees" are defined in Quebec, see Bill 14, An Act to Ensure the Protection of Trainees in the Workplace).

Why do a job shadow?

There are many reasons to do a job shadow and they may change as you progress through your career exploration. Here are some of the main reasons why individuals participate in a job shadow:

  • Learn more about a role, organization, or industry
  • Contextualize your skills in another environment
  • Learn the language of the industry
  • Confront preconceptions you have about a role or industry – is it what you thought?
  • Discuss how to deal with career challenges

 

Ready to get started?

Have you narrowed in on a potential career path you want to get to know better? Below are some of the main steps involved in job shadowing. Read through the guide linked below for more on each of these steps and examples of what they entail.

  • Reach out
  • Research
  • Determine learning outcomes
  • Prepare
  • Participate
  • Reflect

 

Review the Job Shadow Guide for Students for tips on reaching out to potential hosts, how to prepare for a job shadow, templates, and more!

PDF icon Job Shadow Guide for Students_McGill Faculty of Science

Are you a graduate student or postdoc in the Faculty of Science and in need of help working on your job shadow plan or finding a host? Email rebecca.maymon [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Job%20Shadow) (subject line: Job Shadow).

Are you a McGill student outside of graduate studies in the Faculty of Science? Feel free to use these guides but be sure to also check out the McGill Job Shadowing Program hosted by CaPS and the McGill Alumni Relations Office.

 

Have you recently completed a job shadow?

If you are a graduate student or postdoc in the Faculty of Science and have recently completed a job shadow, please fill out our brief survey and share your experience!

Hosts

Interested in being a job shadow host?

Hosting a student for a job shadow is an opportunity to share your expertise and help budding professionals start their careers by providing experiential opportunities that make a significant difference in the lives of motivated McGill students. Hosts also benefit from the chance to showcase their organization, industry, or sector, and to recruit from McGill’s student talent.

Overview

Job shadowing is an opportunity for students to learn more about a professional role, organization, or industry by spending a short amount of time with someone in their work environment. This learning experience allows them to see first-hand the skills utilized by an experienced professional and to ask questions aligned with their learning goals. This career exploration technique can provide valuable insights that will inform the next steps of their career development. A job shadow typically lasts one day but can be flexible depending on what you and the student decide works best for you both (e.g., in person or virtual, a few hours or a few days, agreed upon activities, etc.).

 

Has a student reached out to you for a job shadow?

Review our 2-page guide for hosts for tips on hosting a successful job shadow.

PDF icon Job Shadow Guide for Hosts_McGill Faculty of Science

 

Have you recently hosted a McGill Science graduate student or postdoc?

Please fill out our brief survey and share your experience!

 

More information:

  • Interested in hosting a graduate student from McGill's Faculty of Science for a job shadow? Reach out to rebecca.maymon [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Job%20Shadow) (subject line: Job Shadow).
  • Are you a McGill alumni interested in hosting a McGill student outside of graduate studies in the Faculty of Science? Check out the McGill Job Shadowing Program hosted by the McGill Alumni Relations Office and Career and Planning Service for more information.

 

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