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Job Shadowing Day 2018
Thursday, April 26th 2018
Job shadowing is an educational experience where you can learn about a particular occupation or profession to see if it might be suitable as a possible career for the future.
This opportunity provides students with an up close look at what the "real job" is like. It helps them see the connection between what they learn here in St. Pauls and what they will need to do to achieve their goals.
Thursday April 26th 2018 was the First Job Shadowing Day in St. Paul's. Eighty of our Fifth year students participated. This is another inventive and exciting approach to career guidance giving students an opportunity to explore future career interests. Over the last year fifth year students have been researching courses and careers. They started this process using the Brillant Career Lab website.
Students took a questionnaire which gaged their interests and skillset. They found this very helpful as a starting point . It helped give them a focus. They used this information to start their research. Those that were still unsure were guided by Ms. Hennessy. They were encouraged to talk to staff members about colleges and courses. Job shadowing placements were secured by the students themselves. So those that found this difficult were supported. The school has built up a database of contacts through the various school programmes on offer here at St. Pauls . Ms. Hennessy met with all the students individually to discuss all aspects of their placement, including contact details, dress code, start and finish times. All the necessary paperwork was filled out, for example those interested in primary teaching needed to be Garda vetted.
Then they were ready to set off........ They went to shadow a wide variety of jobs including management, teaching, banking, acting, catering,, architecture, engineering, IT, radio work, We even had a students shadow a local TD and spent the day with her in the Dáil.
Four students expressed an interest in apprenticeship and were facilitated in the WWETB Training Centre. Nine students went to University Hospital on Monday 30th April to shadow professionals in the medical area. this included doctors, physiotherapist, radiologist etc. Students were asked to complete a questionnaire with their mentors about their careers. The feedback from students was great, they loved it.
The feedback from employers was very complimentary towards the school and the students. Employers said they would be happy to participate again. They were impressed with the preparation done by the students and the level of interest shown by them.
Definitely we’ll will be doing this again a really worthwhile day for all involved, to give students a career focus as they head into 6th year in a few weeks time. Listen to what some of our students had to say. Listen to what our students had to say about Job Shadowing,: Job Shadowing v TY Work Experience, Dressing for the Job, Nursing and a student;s experience of UCC Easter Taster Program.