Home › Career Development › Expectations of Student Shadows

Winter Break Alumni/Parent Shadow Program

Expectations for PROGRAM PARTICIPATION

Prior to shadowing:

  • Send an e-mail to your host in early to mid-December to arrange a mutually convenient day between Jan. 14 and Jan. 18, 2013 for your shadowing experience.  Take care to be professional in your correspondence.
  • Get directions from your shadow host and make sure you know where you are going.
  • Research your host's career field and their particular employer. Review the organization's website so that you can ask thoughtful questions.


The day of shadowing:

  • Conduct yourself professionally at all times. Remember that you are representing not only yourself, but SUNY Geneseo. Treat everyone you encounter with courtesy and respect.
  • Plan to arrive 15 minutes early; allow extra time to get to the site. Bring photo identification in case it is needed, money for transportation and/or lunch, an updated copy of your resume, and something to write or type on (to keep track of your shadowing activities).
  • Greet your shadow sponsor professionally:  smile, make good eye contact, offer a firm handshake, and introduce yourself.
  • Respect the fact that your shadow host has work to do and may not be able to  engage with you non-stop. Take your cues from him/her as to when it is convenient to ask questions.
  • Ask for business cards from those with whom you talk with for any length of time. This will be helpful for writing thank-you notes later, as well as for future networking purposes.
  • At the conclusion of the shadowing experience, thank your host and anyone who was helpful to you during your day, and shake your host’s hand before you leave.


After shadowing:

  • Send a thank-you note to your shadow host and anyone at the work site who was particularly helpful. The note may be hand-written or sent by e-mail.
  • Complete the mandatory program evaluation, which will be sent to you after the program concludes. This will guide us in making make improvements to the program next year.
  • Plan to follow up/stay in touch with your shadow host as he/she is now in your "network" of professional contacts!