The experience of Job Shadowing?

Job Shadowing?

• I know very generally what "job shadowing" means: a high school or college student gets to spend a day with a person in their industry, and watch them do real-life work. I have recently been asked to be shadowed by a college freshman, but before I make any commitments, I would like to get more info about this. What would I need to do, specifically? Do I need to explain every single thing I do to my shadow? Does he just sit back and watch me work? Can he ask me any questions at any time? Am I supposed to "teach" him anything in particular/prepare for this day, or just do my own usual thing? etc etc etc. I'd appreciate detailed answers by anyone who has been a shadowee or a shadower - maybe some examples and anecdotes - possibly even things you wish had been different, or things you feel would've improved the shadowing experience. Thank you very much, I look forward to hearing all answers!

• Answer:

  I'm a computer programmer. Most of the time I sit in front of a monitor and type. I had a high school senior shadow me a couple of years ago. He sat in my cubicle and watched. I explained what I was doing every half hour or so, then did it. I took him to lunch and gave him a version the talk I give when I'm invited to speak at "career day" assemblies - advantages, disadvantages, what sort of background you need, what to major in when you go to college, starting pay. Some jobs lend themselves to shadowing more than others. Most people would love to shadow a 747 pilot who did the SFO -> Paris run, for instance. Septic tank pumpers don't get many requests. My shadower was polite, interested, asked some good questions and wrote me a thank-you note the next day. I enjoyed the experience. If I had it to do over I would have asked him to pick a different day, one when I did a variety of tasks - meetings, planning, programming - instead of the day he picked. That may not have been possible. The high school had an official shadowing day. College students may have more lattitude.