Building career skills with SCIS Job Shadow program
During the week of May 21 to 25, 13 Grade 10 students shadowed a Shanghai professional during normal business hours for one week with the expectation to complete a project agreed upon by the employer.
This was a true win-win partnership because both parties learned new ideas and grew personally. Students gained an insider perspective on a chosen career and applied their classroom knowledge within a real-world context.
“When I heard about the Job Shadow opportunity, I was thrilled to get the chance of experiencing what my ideal future job would be like for a week. Working in a field that I am passionate about gave me the extra motivation that I needed to work hard and thrive in the field in the future,” said Anna Thelin from Shanghai HVA.
Job Shadow offers the unique opportunity to observe an employee as they go about their daily work routine and tasks. It allows for a realistic interpretation of what a particular job may entail and is the perfect opportunity to gain deeper insight about a career of interest.
“Working as a shadow in a big company like True Legend Asia Restaurant Group was an honor. Working in the kitchen at a young age for a week allowed me to see strengths and weaknesses I had, and gain new knowledge in food preparation. Observing and asking questions were ways I learned new skills that I took back with me. I had the chance to see how it was really like working in the kitchen before choosing my future career path,” said Gion Guerzon from Big Bamboo.
The Job Shadow experience was a pilot work program for a select group of Grade 10 students based on an application, teacher evaluation and committee vote. The school selected 13 students with a positive reputation for a strong work ethic, initiative, accountability and the ability to bring creative ideas to fruition.
This was a pilot year, but the goal is for it to become a required work experience for all Grade 10 students at SCIS Hongqiao.
If you would like to offer yourself as an “internship supervisor” and allow a student to collaborate with you at your workplace in 2019, please contact eblalock@scis-china.org.