The Job Shadow Program provides students with short-term job shadows to observe firsthand the work of a professional in a career field of interest. Kenyon College alumni, parents, and friends of the college, as well as local employers, are encouraged to become sponsors.
Friday, November 22: Deadline to be contacted regarding a winter break job shadow
December 20–January 10: Conduct job shadows
February 7: Deadline to be contacted regarding a spring break job shadow
March 2–13: Conduct job shadows
Kenyon students are covered by the college’s liability insurance. Sponsors may email the CDO at cdo@kenyon.edu to request a letter detailing the insurance policy and coverage.
The CDO outlines general expectations for each party, which can be reviewed here: Job Shadow Expectations. As a sponsor, it is up to your discretion on what experiences will be most educational for a student interested in learning about your work. The length of the job shadow is also up to you and your student shadow. The CDO recommends a short job shadow for newer sponsors, but you are welcome to suggest any length you feel necessary to create a meaningful experience.
Join the Kenyon Career Network. Then, when completing your profile, indicate that you are willing to help with "finding a job shadow/externship opportunity".
Students will identify and research sponsors in the Kenyon Career Network prior to the application deadlines. Students then apply by contacting a sponsor through the Kenyon Career Network with their available dates and a statement of interest. If sponsor and student dates align, the sponsor will contact the student to confirm the job shadow and finalize plans. If dates don't align, the sponsor will notify the student that a job shadow with their organization won't be possible at the intended times.
Job shadows provide valuable insights to students interested in your career. The knowledge gained from a job shadow often lead to more productive job searches, networking, and improved understanding of the career's fit with the student's interests.
We encourage you to involve the student in any way that is appropriate for your place of employment. Depending on your position, a student could shadow you (or others) as you work; be given a small project to complete or assist with; tour your office or place of business; or sit in on meetings/appointments. The student will be encouraged to bring a book or homework in case there is downtime. Don’t forget to ask your student about his or her Kenyon experiences. If you would like to talk through your ideas with someone, contact the CDO at 740-427-5769.
The student will arrive on time, be dressed appropriately, and will be respectful and professional in the workplace. As this is meant to be educational, the student may or may not have relevant experience. We encourage the sponsor and student to discuss expectations in advance, including suggested preparations to maximize the experience. For specific discussion topics, please visit the Tips for Job Shadow Success page.
It's hard to know. Kenyon has numerous alumni and parent sponsors across industries and geographical locations. This means some sponsors may not be contacted in any given year. However, your support and participation is greatly appreciated, even if you don't receive a job shadow request. Many students review sponsor profiles to learn about alumni career paths after Kenyon even if they don't directly reach out.
If you are able to host multiple students at the same time, we welcome your willingness. However, it's more important to be sure you're able to provide a meaningful job shadow for both you and the student(s). As such, if that means you're more comfortable taking one student at a time, feel free to select the student that is best suited for the job shadow. By letting the other(s) know that you're already hosting a student during the requested dates, they can then move on to identify additional job shadow opportunities.
Some sponsors who have been unavailable in the past have arranged informational interviews with the students as an alternative.
No, the student will work the CDO to arrange housing and travel. However, if you are willing to provide either, please offer in your initial conversations with the student. If you are interested in providing housing to other students traveling to your area for other career development purposes, sign up to become a Bed & Breakfast host.
No. Also, there is no expectation that sponsors will offer internships or full-time offers to their students. We encourage sponsors to discuss the student's career interests and aspirations, and assist to the extent–and in whatever means–the sponsor deems appropriate.
Log in to the Kenyon Career Network and update your preferences by deselecting the box that says you are willing to help students with "Finding a Job Shadow/Externship". If you run into trouble, email or call the CDO and we can remove you.
The Kenyon College Career Development Office (CDO) maintains information to help Kenyon students and alumni connect with individuals and companies that are willing to assist, mentor, or house students who are exploring careers, and with internship and job opportunities that may be available. Students, employers, and volunteers should be aware that the CDO does not vet or conduct background checks on the students that may seek assistance, employers that may be offering opportunities, or volunteers who may be providing support. Employers, students, mentors, and hosts are highly encouraged to meet via a phone or Skype call prior to confirming any arrangements to determine suitability of fit and discuss mutual expectations. While the CDO is not responsible for what happens in arrangements that come from its networks, it is happy to assist students, employers, and volunteers with conflict resolution and resources should difficulties occur.