The Role of the Workplace Mentor

Thank you for your interest in job shadowing! As a workplace mentor, you will spend a day orienting a student to the general career major and the world of work. We are very excited about your volunteering to serve as a workplace mentor for a local student and hope you will enjoy this opportunity to help a youth explore the world of work!

As a workplace mentor, you will be responsible for:

linking learning to earning;

explaining the need for safety and security policies and procedures to the visiting student

helping the student understand the skills needed for your job and sharing with the student the career ladder opportunities;

demonstrating and explaining effective work methods;

being available to the visiting student at all times; and

completing an evaluation form upon the conclusion of the visit.

How do you know if job shadowing is for you? A great workplace mentor will demonstrate:

a desire to work with youth and introduce them to the positive aspects of the business;

an ability to communicate openly and non-judgmentally with adolescents;

a visible investment in a student's current and future career path;

ability to work with persons of different educational, economic, cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds; and

ability to discuss skills needed in today's workplace.