Letter to Business Host
Take-A-Child-To-Work
Day is a national event observed on the 4th Thursday of April.
This
event provides students an opportunity to shadow a professional
at their place of work for part of a workday. Activities vary from
merely shadowing their parents in the workplace to shadowing other
business employers. This is a partnership between the classroom
and the business community. As a part of our School-to-Career activities,
West Millbrook Middle will offer eighth grade students the opportunity
to participate in this year’s event so that they might better
understand the relevance of schoolwork to their future career choices.
Job shadowing provides exciting reasons why students should stay
in school, providing that critical link between education and success.
You
have generously agreed to participate in this event by allowing
an eighth grade student from West Millbrook
Middle School to shadow
you or a group of workers from your place of business. Within
this site are some Hosting Guides (suggestions) for making this
a successful experience. Some of this information will be useful
as you prepare for your student visit.. Please feel free to tailor
any of this “suggested” material to match your career.
Students will be provided ideas for preparing for their visit.
Upon returning to school, they will share their experiences with
other students. Please include them in any skill or task you feel
appropriate.
West Millbrook Middle School thanks you for the commitment you
have made to our students and to our community. We are anxious
for this partnering experience to be a success and look forward
to opportunities to work with you in the future.
Thank you for your involvement and support of our efforts to give
students opportunities for meaningful and educational experiences.
Sincerely,
Diane
Walters
Career
Development Coordinator
Office: 919-870-4067
Fax: 870-4064
IntroductionTo Job Shadowing and
" Take-A-Child-To-Work" Day
Whether you are a participating employer, educator, or volunteer
host, participating in job shadowing is easy and fun. Job shadowing
immerses each student in the world of work, where they can get
first-hand information about job skills and careers. By bringing
students into the workplace to see marketing professionals or a
health care technicians at work, very real and tangible options
come alive for them. Job shadowing provides exciting reasons why
students should stay in school. It creates a critical link between
education and success.Job Shadowing is a popular work based learning
activity because it provides students with opportunities to gather
information on a wide variety of career possibilities before deciding
where they want to focus their attention. Job shadows involve student
visits to a variety of work places during which time students observe
and ask questions of individual workers. Job shadows are designed
so students play an active role in learning. Classroom exercises
conducted prior to and following the job shadow experience are
designed to help students connect their experience to their course
work and relate the visits directly to career pathways, related
skill requirements, and post-secondary educational options.
Benefits of the Job Shadowing Program
Shadowing can provide experiences
that are as unique as every person who participates. For the student
who has never understood the point
of school, a shadowing experience can show how education can be translated
into rewarding and financially secure future. For the teacher looking
for new ways to motivate students, it can provide a fun and unusually
hands-on experience that demonstrates the link between schoolwork and
real life, answering the question, "Why do I have to learn this?" For
those in the work place, being a host site can help forge personally
satisfying connections with young people that could ultimately contribute
to building a more prepared and focused workforce of tomorrow.
Workplace Benefits
• Showcases your place of work by increasing visibility
in your community
• Prepares our future work force
• Informs students about careers in your industry or line of work
• Enables employees to easily participate in a community activity
• Strengthens and promotes involvement in education
Volunteer Benefits
• Introduce the world of work to a young person
in just a few short hours
• Become a positive adult role model
• Showcases the volunteer's skills and education
• Impact a young person's life in a fun way
Student Benefits
• Provides an up-close look at workplaces
and careers
• Demonstrates the link between education and future success
• Creates a new connection to the world of work
• Provides important information to make smart career choices
• Prepares a personal action plan to get the education and skills needed
to pursue career .interests
Role of Business Host
Job Shadow Day is a natural partnership between
the classroom and the workplace. During the experience, workplace hosts
should conduct
activities with students that demonstrate job skills and educational
requirements. After the site visit, the students participate in post
activities to reinforce and share what they learned.
Role of the Worksite Host
• Shows a desire to work with the student
and introduce he/she to the positive aspects of ..work
• Has ability to communicate openly and in a nonjudgmental fashion with
student
• Wants to invest in a student's current and future career path
• Has ability to work with persons of different educational, economic,
cultural, religious and ...ethnic backgrounds
• Is capable of linking learning to work place skills
• Is willing to spend time reviewing materials and planning in preparation
for the day
• Is willing to dedicate part of the workday to the student and remain
fully available to that ...student during
the visit
• Gives visiting students explanations of workplace safety and security
policies and ...procedures
• Helps student understand skills needed for the job
• Demonstrates and explains effective work methods
Role of Student
• Demonstrates desire to explore career options,
personal skills, attributes
• Willing to develop a personal action plan to improve education and
skills
• Follows all safety and security policies and procedures of the employer
• Actively participates in activities structured by the Workplace Host
Suggestions for Planning the Day's
Activities
The following guidelines will help workplace hosts plan before students
join them in their workplace so that both the host and the students
get the most out of the job shadowing experience.
Greet the Student
Your student should be greeted in the same way that you would greet
an adult business associate, with a handshake and a warm hello.
Introduce Yourself
Provide your name, job title and business card. Let your student
know that you volunteered to be a workplace host because you think
it is important for students to see firsthand the application of
what they are learning in school. Encourage them to ask questions
during the time you have together.
Talk to the Student About Their Personal Interests
and Hobbies
Students are most relaxed when they are talking
about something they know and aren't being "tested" by
an adult. Take some time with this question. Ask your student what
hobbies they
enjoy and why.
Discuss Community Service
Community service can accomplish three important functions in your
students life: 1) it makes his/her community a better place to
live; 2) it will help him/her get into the college of his/her
choice; and 3) it provides him/her with an opportunity to gain
valuable job skills. Many people started their careers by volunteering.
Discuss Career Interests
Ask your student about his/her career interests. If possible,
relate those interests to any careers in your workplace. Note:
Your student may not know what careers interest him/her. In that
case, reassure your student that finding the right career path
takes time.
Ask the Student About His/Her Job Experience
Talk about your student's job experience in positive terms including
babysitting and newspaper delivery. What did your student like
about the job? What did he/she learn from the job? Tell your
student about any jobs you held as a youth and how those early
jobs helped you get where you are today.
Discuss Special Skills
Ask the student if they have any special skills such as computer
skills, speaking skills, dancing, swimming, etc. Try and relate skill
development to future success on the job.
Discuss the Importance of Education
This is your opportunity to encourage your student to get a good
education. Reinforce that what your student is learning in school
is important to earning a good living. When employers look at a resume,
they took at the education level of an applicant. Tell them how much
education you have completed.
Encourage
Student to "Interview" You
To provide more insight about your job, suggest that your student
conduct an interview with you. You can use this opportunity
to help your student link what he/she is learning in school
to what you do on the job. Answer questions thoughtfully. If
appropriate, comment on any good interviewing skills your student
demonstrated.
Questions to Ask Yourself
In order for the student to understand your job and the work place
skills you use to perform your job, it is important that you think
about your job and how a person can obtain this type of position.
You will have to communicate many of these concepts to your student
shadow.
Questions
to help you prepare for your student's "interview"
• What is your job title?
• What are your responsibilities?
• How do you help this workplace meet its goals?
• What is a typical day like for you?
• What do you like the most about your job? Why?
• What do you the least about your job? Why?
• Why did you select this type of work?
• How much education do you need for this job?
• Did you need more job training after you completed your education?
• How do you use reading on the job?
• How do you use writing skills on the job?
• Is math important to your job?
• Why is it important to have good listening skills?
• When do you need to use good speaking skills?
• Do you work on a team on your job?
• What kind of problems do you solve on your job?
• What skills do you need to solve those problems?
• What did you learn in school that helps you most on the job?
• What do you wish you had studied more of when you were in school?
Suggestions for Planning a Company
Orientation
Introduce Senior Leadership Personnel
to discuss:
• Mission of workplace
• Purpose of workplace
• Personal note: Why is my job important to me?
• Why I'm glad you've joined us today
• Reason they're involved in Job Shadow Day
Workplace Coordinator Introduction:
• Conducts workplace tour
• Passes out organizational chart (simplified, if necessary) to students
• Engages in brief discussion of different departmental functions
Human Resources Director Introduction:
• What is the role of Human Resources Director
• Reason they're involved in Job Shadow Day
• Why the Human Resources Director is glad to be participating in Job
Shadow Day
View Organization Video if Available:
• Good introduction to workplace for students
• Visually reinforces comments from senior leadership
• Usually relates workplace to community and people
Helpful Hints
• Especially with young students, is it important
to provide a progression of activities with durations that match
the students'
attention span.
• It is best to actively involve or engage the students in hand-on
activities including demonstrations, problem-solving, and questions.
• Students will sometimes have unrealistic expectations about the workplace,
so offer them a glimpse of what it's really like.
• Do not be surprised if some students are shy, talk, or giggle. This
typical for youth.
• Students might feel uncomfortable asking questions, so explain your
actions and give reasons for your statements.
Suggested Activities and Skills to Demonstrate
Telephone Skills
Demonstrate the correct procedure for answering phones and instruct
the student on what is appropriate. If your job entails a significant
amount of phone work, demonstrate communication skills by allowing
the student to listen to a few calls on the speakerphone. Be sure
to introduce your student to the caller and let the caller know that
you have a "shadow." Prepare a list of calls that you can
make that will help the student understand your job. Before each
call, explain to the student what you hope to accomplish. At the
end of each call, review the results you achieved, positive or negative.
In addition, you may wish to review the skills you used on the phone.
Computer Skills
Demonstrate various computer applications that you use on the job,
such as:
Word processing: Dictate a memo or letter to your "shadow." Explain
the reason you need to write the memo, and ask the student's opinion
on
how-to express thoughts.
Spreadsheets: Copy a spreadsheet into a new file and have the student
input or manipulate data. Have the student change some parameters
and notice how the entire spreadsheet changes. Have the student think
about how long it used to take to change the rows and columns by
hand.
E-mail: Dictate to the student an e-mail message and have him/her
send it.
Graphic software: Copy a file and have the student help you design
something for a current project.
CAD: Copy a file, then discuss your design parameters. Ask your student
for input on a design change you are working on and have him/her
make the change.
Office Equipment
Calculating machines: Prepare some calculations for the student to
complete.
Fax: Have the student send faxes for you throughout the day.
Other: Have the student experiment with other equipment that is safe
for him/her to use, such as the postal meter or copy machine.
Customer Contact
If your job requires client or customer contact, have the student
observe the exchange.
Meeting Skills
Having the student attend a meeting with you is fine
as long as it is inside the building. Before the meeting, give the
student
some
background information so he/she better understands the conversation.
It is recommended that meetings last no longer than an hour.
Presentation Skills
Show the student a presentation you are working on. Have the student
critique your presentation. Then have the student add ideas of his/her
own. Ask the student to modernize it for you or show you how to market
more effectively to people his/her age.
Suggestions for Lunch
Lunch is a great opportunity to gather for a relaxed review of the
day so far. The workplace host might want to facilitate one of the
following activities to make this time even more productive. These
activities provide a student with the opportunity to reflect on their
experience and how it relates to their future education, training and
career development. The workplace host may join the student for an
informal lunch.
Note: Lunch
is not a required activity. Student may leave prior to lunch. Please
keep in mind
that the student is not covered by
insurance while being transported in business host’s vehicle;
therefore, it is important that lunch be eaten at the workplace,
or within a quick walking distance.
Suggested Menus:
• Pizza is always a hit at any age.
• Order box lunches, as if for a business meeting (tip: keep the menu
very simple, such as turkey sandwiches, chips and fruit).
• Have the student join in the cafeteria line.
Where to Eat:
• Please eat on-site. (See note above)
• If possible, have the student eat where the employees eat.
• Student may eat in a large meeting room.
Suggested Lunch Activities
If the Human Resources person has not met the student, have him/her
speak on the need for strong skills and education in the workplace.
The Human Resources person can also discuss what he/she looks for
when hiring as well as other company benefits. Facilitate conversations
between student and the Human Resources person about what the student
learned about working at the work site. Reinforce the message that
every job in the workplace is important.
Have a final demonstration of something the company does, such as
pictures of a completed company project, or packages of products,
or a video, if not yet viewed. Ask the student what types of jobs
and what skills they think were needed for this workplace to be successful.
Wrap-up Session
Business host wraps up the day by
making the following points:
• The world of work is within reach for every student.
• The jobs that students will hold in the future will be as different as
the ones
...seen here today.
• Each job is important to the success of the workplace.
Ask the student:
"From what you saw today, what do you think are the overall
goals of this workplace?" (The answers may include the following:
to make a profit, to provide a good service, to help the community,
etc.). The workplace host should remind the students what the real
goals of the workplace are.
Summarize the findings:
• Wrap up the discussion by summarizing the activity for the students:
• It is the combined skills of all the employees that allow the workplace
to operate ...successfully.
• Every department is key to the overall success of the workplace.
• The departments work together to successfully meet the workplace's goals.
More Than Meets the Eye - Student "Quiz"
Your student has had a full day and has learned
a great deal today. Give your student this fun "quiz" to
see how much they learned.
Access "Quiz" Here (PDF
file) Download Free Adobe PDF Reader
Please help us improve the Job Shadow
experience...
Print
and Mail this form OR Download
this form and return it by attached file to Diane
Walters.
