Self Study Packet
Job Shadowing:
Realistic Job Preview
What is Job Shadowing?
Job Shadowing is a Learning Opportunity provided by Advocate to enable associates to
“shadow” or observe other areas within the system. One purpose in completing a Job
Shadowing assignment is to obtain a realistic job preview.
Realistic Job Preview (RJP)
Realistic job preview is the process of learning about a job through observation or
interviews in order to understand it better – including the interesting or enjoyable aspects
of the job as well as some of the constraints or less desirable aspects. In essence, one
receives a “realistic” view of the job. Realistic job preview is ideal for someone who is
contemplating a career change and wishes to fully understand what it might be like to work
on a daily basis in another job.
At Advocate, you may experience a realistic job preview by interviewing and observing
employees who function in a job in which you are interested as a possible career choice.
For example, if you are contemplating becoming a nurse, you may wish to interview and
observe a nurse in order to understand that job better.
Self Study Kit
This Self Study Kit provides guidelines and worksheets that you will need to identify an
appropriate host and complete your Job Shadowing experience. In it, you will find:
1. Job Shadowing Checklist
2. Benefits of Realistic Job Previews
3. Learning Objectives Worksheets
Job Shadowing Checklist
! Set your goals
# Identify what type of job you want to shadow. What area within Advocate? What type of
patient/customer population do you want? What type of work are you interested in
shadowing/observing?
! Once the job/department is identified, complete the Goal Worksheet – Step 1. This worksheet
will help to identify your specific goals for the shadow experience.
! Review the list of possible questions appropriate to your need. Identify those that you
would like to ask in order for you to reach your goals. Write any additional questions that will
help you obtain the information you hope to learn.
! Based on your goals and identified questions, complete the Learning Objectives Worksheet
– Step 2. Describe in writing what you want to learn as a result of the Job Shadow
experience. Use your Goal Worksheet and list of questions to aid in the completion of this
worksheet.
! Identify your host.
# Start by identifying the site to which you want to go. Due to availability, you may have to
choose a site other than the one that is most convenient to you.
# At the site of preference, identify the department and manager for the job you want to
shadow. If you need help in obtaining the name and number of the department manager,
call the site’s Human Resources or Operator.
# Call the department manager. Explain your involvement and objectives with the shadowing
process, and see if s/he knows of anyone on their staff who may serve as a host. Be
prepared to explain Job Shadow process to the manager, as some may not be aware of it.
! Schedule the shadow. Once an area and a contact/host are identified, set up a time and
date. Make sure that you get the following information from your contact: name and location of
department, contact’s phone number and mailing address, directions to the site, parking
information, appropriate dress for the shadow.
! Prepare your host by sending a copy of your Learning Objectives Worksheet prior to your
visit. This will enable your host to read your objectives and better prepare him/herself and the
department for your arrival.
! Complete your job shadowing experience.
! Afterwards, fill out your Learning Log - Step 3. This enables you to document your
experience and identify how the information can be used in the future to improve your own
performance. This log can also be used during your next performance review as
documentation of your completion of a career developmental program, as well as an indicator
of your own initiative to develop your skills.
! Make plans for future planning. Share what you learned with others.
Benefits Of Realistic Job Preview
There are many benefits of realistic job preview. At Advocate Health Care, we can capitalize on
the fact that we are comprised of many types of jobs. Therefore, Advocate provides a wide variety
of possible career alternatives for you to preview. By interviewing and observing another associate
for the purpose of realistic job preview, you may learn many things about your job of interest,
including:
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the fun and exciting aspects,
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the daily typical occurrences,
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some of the constraints or monotonous aspects,
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the education, qualifications, and experience necessary to obtain the job,
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the internal and/or external customers of the job,
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the opportunities for advancement or lateral movement within your career of interest.
Job Shadowing: Realistic Job Preview
Learning Objectives Worksheets – Step 1
Goal Worksheet
What do you hope to accomplish through this job shadow experience?
What information do you hope to receive?
Are there specific people, procedures, or things that you would like to observe?
Job Shadowing: Realistic Job Preview
Learning Objectives Worksheets – Step 1
Possible Questions for Job Shadowing Host
The following questions may help you focus your realistic job preview experience. Feel free to ask
these or any other questions while you interview and observe the job incumbent.
1. Is there a typical day in your department / job and if so, could you please describe what that
day would be like?
2. What is the core service or product your function provides?
3. To whom do you provide that service or product?
4. What need does your service or product fulfill for others?
5. What is the overall purpose or goal of someone in your position?
6. What do you find challenging about your job?
7. What do you find rewarding about your job?
8. What specific knowledge, skills, and abilities are required to perform your job successfully?
9. How much of your own creativity are you able to use on the job?
10. How much autonomy do you have in your current position?
11. How much freedom / empowerment in decision making do you have?
12. How much of your job requires you to work alone? With others?
13. How often do you interact with others within and outside Advocate Health Care?
14. How much time do you spend working at a desk, as compared with attending meetings or
serving customers/caring for patients?
15. Describe the atmosphere you typical work in…
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Structured or unstructured
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Fast or slow paced
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Changing or stable
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Short or long term assignments/projects
16. What activities do you perform regularly? How often?
17. Do you experience frequent changes in your tasks and activities, or is most of your work
routine?
18. How much knowledge of the health care industry is needed to perform your job?
19. What are the various positions within your department and what type of position would a
recent graduate normally enter?
20. What is the opportunity for lateral movement or advancement?
Job Shadowing: Realistic Job Preview
Learning Objectives Worksheets – Step 2
Your name:
Phone number:
Time and date of shadow:
on ____________ at ____: ________ AM PM
Job Shadow Host:
Host phone number:
Site:
Department:
During your learning experience, what do you want to learn? What questions will you ask?
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What do you want to observe (attach additional pages if necessary)?
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Please send a copy of this Learning Objective Worksheet to the person you will shadow ahead of your visit.
Job Shadowing: Realistic Job Preview
Learning Objectives Worksheets – Step 3
Create or Update Your Learning Log
Once your job shadow experience is complete, it is important to document your progress in
meeting your learning objectives. The Performance Pathway Learning Log is used for this
purpose.
For the job shadow process, the Learning Log is intended to:
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Document progress on job shadow objectives,
Log insights and learnings from the job shadow experience,
Identify how the information can be used to help you in your future development.
The benefit of keeping this log is that it will serve as a record for you to share with your supervisor
as evidence of the actions that you have taken to learn more about another field/job – whether it is
for career change or benchmarking reasons. In addition, it can help you track your progress
towards your learning objective(s) and identify follow-up actions needed.
Job Shadowing: Realistic Job Preview
Learning Objectives Worksheets – Step 3
Learning Log
Name:
Learning Activity: Job Shadowing of______________ in the ______________ department
At ______________________ operating unit.
Date
Job Shadow Activity
Outcomes or Results
Follow-up Actions
What was accomplished?
How did the activity help you
reach your goal? What did
you learn specifically?
How will you use what you learned?
How may others benefit from your
learning achievement?