Important Dates for Job Shadow Program 2010

The Job Shadow experience is an excellent opportunity to explore your career interests. The following dates will assist you in planning for your Job Shadow.  Please refer to the attached handouts where necessary.  If you have any questions, please see or email Mrs. Frederickson at mfrederickson@abaoman.edu.om. 

              16 January:  Job Shadow Introduction with Mr. Storer

              Mr. Storer will introduce the job shadow to Grade 10 students.  

              30 January:  Start Developing Resume/CV

  During advisory you will begin developing a resume/CV that you will share with  

  your job shadow host. The resume/CV lists your activities and accomplishments.  

              20 February:  Final Resume Due

  During advisory you will submit your final resume to your advisor.  

              27 March:  Job Shadow Agreement, Emergency Information and Job

  Shadow Contract Due             

              13 and 14 June:  Shadow Dates

              On these dates you will spend the day with your host. You will have the opportunity   

              to share your résumé, interview your host, learn more about the business, and

experience first-hand how a person in a particular career spends his or her day.  You

will also be evaluated by the host. 

January 2010 
Dear Parent or Guardian: 

Over the last three years, ABA has offered the Job Shadow Program to Grade 10 students.  This program has been highly successful and described by students as “interesting, fun, useful, insightful, excellent, practical, valuable” and more.  This year the Job Shadow dates have been scheduled for Sunday, 13 June and Monday, 14 June. These dates fall after the IGCSE exams have been completed.   

On these days students are expected to “shadow” an employee at a business to learn about a particular career. The main goal of the experience is to provide the student with a realistic look at a profession so that he or she can make informed decisions. We also hope that this experience will inspire students to conduct further career exploration. For details on expectations, please see the enclosed Job Shadow Contract which should be returned to your child’s advisor by March 27. 

It is important to note that the job shadow is primarily an educational experience rather than a work experience. The job shadow serves the following purposes:

• To give students an opportunity to apply and extend knowledge they have acquired in the classroom to a practical experience;
• To demonstrate the connection between academics and careers;
• To introduce students to the requirements of particular professions of the 21^st century; 
• To provide insight into a career to which students may aspire.

We would appreciate you discussing with your child ideas for arranging the job shadow.  While ABA can give students ideas on possible contacts, it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to contact prospective mentors to arrange the job shadow. On the reverse side of this letter is a list of organizations where students have shadowed in the past. In this packet you will also find a letter to prospective mentors that explains the role of the business/individual in more detail.  

Thank you for your support with this worthwhile experience. Please contact me at mfrederickson@abaoman.edu.om if you have any questions. (Please note that I am currently on maternity leave until mid-February. For urgent questions, contact Terry Storer at tstorer@abaoman.edu.om).  

Sincerely, 
Marcie Frederickson
School Counselor

Organizations Who Have Hosted ABA Job Shadow Students

January 2010

Dear Prospective Mentor: 

For the last three years, ABA’s Grade 10 students participated in a Job Shadow with community members in a variety of professions. Students have been asked to arrange to follow or “shadow” an individual to learn about a career of interest on Sunday 13 June and Monday, 14 June.  Therefore, we are asking for the support of local businesses and individuals who would be willing to host a Grade 10 student on these dates.   

The main goal of the experience is to provide students with a realistic look at a profession so that he or she can make informed decisions. We also hope that this experience will inspire students to conduct further career exploration. It is important to note that the job shadow is primarily an educational experience rather than a work experience. The job shadow serves the following purposes:

• To give students an opportunity to apply and extend knowledge he or she has acquired in the classroom to a practical experience;
• To demonstrate the connection between academics and careers;
• To introduce students to the requirements of particular professions of the 21^st century;  
• To provide insight into a career to which students may aspire.

Students are expected to do the following:

• Contact and arrange a job shadow with a business that matches his or her interests (it is preferred that a student does not shadow a parent);
• Honor all time commitments and communicate with the host if unable to keep the commitment;
• Follow all policies of the host organization;
• Actively participate in activities structured by the job shadow host;
• Share information about the experience with his or her parents and ABA.

As a host/mentor, you would be responsible for:

• Orientating the student to the business and explaining policies and procedures;
• Helping the student understand the specific skills needed for your career;
• Being available to the student throughout his or her job shadow experience;
• Taking time to be interviewed by the student;
• Completing a brief evaluation of the student after they completed the job shadow.

If you would be interested in supporting this program, please make arrangements with the student who contacted you. Otherwise, we would appreciate it if you could recommend other businesses or individuals in your field who may be interested in participating.  If you need additional information, please contact me at mfrederickson@abaoman.edu.om. Thank you for your time and support!

Sincerely, 
Marcie Frederickson
ABA High School Counselor