Job Shadow Day Steps to Success

Devoting extra attention to planning and preparation will help ensure a positive experience for attendees and presenters alike. Here are some tips from the Cisco Networking Academy Program:

Assemble a Team

Coordinators

Coordinators can help plan and run the event.

Presenters

Presenters can speak to your students about technology. Identify sources for potential presenters from the Industry Support section of this site.

Mentors

Mentors from the IT industry can spend time with students in small groups, at lunch, or during larger events. Mentors can talk about their jobs, daily routines, and training backgrounds; answer questions; and lead tours.

You can use this sample e-mail to request participation:

Dear <insert name>:

On <insert date>, students in the Cisco Networking Academy Program at <insert name of school> will interact with industry leaders as part of Job Shadow Day. This annual initiative, cosponsored by Junior Achievement, America’s Promise, and the U.S. Department of Labor, will help thousands of students learn about careers in the networking and IT industry.

Job shadowing provides a unique opportunity for students to see how academic and technical skills are applied in the workplace. Please let me know if you are available to participate in our job-shadowing event. I will contact you this week to follow up on this invitation.

Sincerely,

Determine Presentation Topics

Consult with presenters to determine the subjects they would like to discuss. Examples of topics include careers in the industry, technology trends, and future opportunities. Basic presentations are available on this site or you can create your own.