Host Tips

First of all, THANK YOU for considering being a host to high school students! This is a unique opportunity for students to learn more about possible careers and majors and it’s hard to do without helpful professionals like yourself.
Tips for signing up:

One person from your organization needs to create a JobCamp account using an email address and password. The account creator will then create one or more "positions." Each position is for a certain number of students, a certain number of hours, and to shadow one or more career types. Each position has a host contact - name, email, and phone number. The contact's name and email is only shared with students selected to visit you on job shadow day.

For example, if you are a school and have one teacher that will host one student, then the host contact name, email, and phone for that single position should be the teacher. If you have a large company and students will rotate between marketing, finance, engineering, and manufacturing, then you can create one "Multiple Career" position and list what the student will see.

Tips for job shadow day:
If you are interested in hosting some students for a job shadow event, here are some suggestions based on previous programs. Every company and position is unique, so do what works best for you!
  1. Start the day with an orientation and introductions. Tell students a little bit about yourself and ask them some questions as well. Make the students feel welcome and at ease with you and your colleagues. Encourage students to ask questions.
  2. Give the students a tour and overview of your office or business and explain the roles of each person to which they are introduced.
  3. Show students what a typical day at your job entails. Here are some ideas/things to consider:
    • Describe your “typical” day and be prepared to field questions regarding salaries, promotions, schooling, etc.
    • Have the students perform some hands-on/engaging tasks.
    • Interact with a client and have the students observe.
    • Help student learn as they observe. Don’t assume that they know. Use language that the student can understand and try to avoid technical jargon.
    • Rotate through various departments/careers, if that is an option.
  4. Be specific on your expectations of students’ dress, behavior, and activities. If jeans and sneakers are frowned upon in your office, please state this in the position description. If students are expected to interact with customers or clients or patients, state this. If students need to bring a bagged lunch to quickly eat between activities, make this clear. Be specific about what time to arrive, where to be, and any forms that may be needed.
  5. Here are some other topics to discuss with students:
    • Explain how your work relates to classes they might be taking in school.
    • Share examples of your daily routine that incorporates skills they are learning such as communication, critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, writing, etc.
    • Tell students about yourself, where you went to school, some work and college experiences (internships, first jobs, etc.) and why you chose this field as your career.
    • Explain what you like about your job as well as some of the disadvantages to your career field.
    • Host an optional lunch – this is a great way to end the day and recap.