Job shadowing is the process of following a professional through their daily work routine. Not only students, but companies also often offer job shadowing to their employees to see what other types of roles they might enjoy pursuing. Some companies may also consider job shadowing to be a key part of their employee onboarding and training processes. This productive experience can help them to determine if a role is right for them.

Benefits of job shadowing

There are a variety of benefits you can achieve from participating in a job shadowing experience.

1. Provides networking opportunities: Job shadowing helps you meet and engage with professionals in your field of interest. It also introduces you to potential employers and allows you to establish meaningful, professional connections you can approach for career advice.
2. Helps to determine whether to pursue education or jobs in a specific field: Whether you want to figure out what college to go to, which major to choose, or which jobs to apply for after obtaining a degree, job shadowing can help you gain clarity about your career aspirations. This is because you witness the daily work environment and job responsibilities required of a certain job title.
3. Gives the opportunity to learn more about a company: If you want to consider employment opportunities with a specific company, job shadowing is a great way to determine whether a company’s work culture and values align with your needs.
4. Allows you to discover transitional roles to pursue at your company: Job shadowing is a great way to explore other career interests with your current employer. By working with the HR department, you can shadow your coworkers in other departments and decide whether you want to make a transitional role change if there is a job opening.
5. Helps you decide what professional areas you need to improve in: When you job shadow, you can make a note of any technical or interpersonal skills that a specific job title requires daily. This helps you determine what additional education and skills you need to qualify for and succeed in that role.