The Career Center at Santa Clara University - Guidlines on Shadowing Programs

Guidelines for Alumni

Confidentiality

Until you are selected by a student and the shadowing is approved by the Career Center, your name and contact information are kept confidential. Once the match has been approved, the student will be given that information and instructed to contact you. It is then up to you and the student to arrange the details for shadowing at a time that is mutually convenient.

Expectations

You have every right to expect the student to be prepared and the student will expect you to be prepared as well. To make sure there is a match, consider asking the following questions during the initial contact as you start making arrangements:

What types of professions are you exploring?
What interests you about this field?
What would you like to get out of the shadowing experience? (Please understand that some students are just beginning to explore careers and so simply the opportunity to meet people in various positions, see the workplace environment, and get a better sense of your work, may be all they need. Without knowing all that you do, they may not be able to articulate in detail what they would like to see.)

So that the student’s expectations are realistic, be sure to let the student know PRIOR to the visit what the shadowing day will consist of.

Sample Half Day Schedule

10:00		Meet with student to share particulars about your job and what a typical day looks like. Invite student to share where he/she is in his/her career exploration. Invite student to ask any questions he/she has for you
10:45		Tour office and meet additional colleagues
11:00		Break
11:15		Sit in on department meeting, presentation, client meeting (as appropriate), etc.
12:00		Attend lunch with you and/or your colleagues
1:00		Meet appropriate colleagues to gather additional information about other positions
1:30		Debrief experience; ask if there are any unanswered questions

Full Day Schedule

Consider expanding to a longer day if

There are additional colleagues with whom the student might benefit talking.
There are multiple meetings or events that would be relevant.

Liability

The student will have signed a waiver of liability prior to participating in the program. Santa Clara University will not be held responsible for anything that happens off-campus and assumes that the student will be covered by whatever visitor policy you have in effect at your workplace.

Evaluations

Towards the end of the quarter when the shadowing took place, you will receive an e-mail with an access code to the online evaluation form. Please take a moment at that time to fill it out so we can continue to monitor and improve the program.

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