ClarkCONNECT Alumni Job Shadow Program 2020-2021
The ClarkCONNECT Alumni Job Shadow Program is an opportunity for students to connect with alumni already working in careers they are interested in pursuing after graduation. For students looking for more than “just a job,” connecting with alumni helps students validate their passions, realize their potential, and set goals to help them move closer to finding meaningful work in the future. For alumni, the job shadow program is a chance to reflect upon their own career path and share their wisdom with students who are eager to learn.
New Changes to the Program!
In response to the changing COVID-19 landscape and participant feedback, we have made several changes and enhancements to this year’s program including:
- The transition to a fully virtual format to keep our students and alumni safe
- A more streamlined, user–experience as a result of the program’s complete transition to ClarkCONNECT
- Three new flexible job shadow options to choose from in the form of information-focused, experience-focused, and networking-focused experiences
The ClarkCONNECT Alumni Job Shadow Program is open to current undergraduate sophomores, juniors, and seniors. First-year students may apply with permission of the program manager.
The alumni job shadow program will take place over three weeks during winter intersession in January of 2021.
| Alumni application window | September 28, 2020 – October 18, 2020 |
| Deadline for alumni to apply |
October 18, 2020 |
| Student application window |
October 19-30 |
| Deadline for students to apply |
October 30 |
| Matching Period |
November 2-6 |
| Notification of Matches |
Week of November 9 |
| Students reach out to alumni |
Week of November 9 |
| Job Shadow Program |
January 11-29, 2021* |
*Students and alumni who need to plan their shadow day outside of the program dates may do so. Please let the program manager know if this is the case.
Before the application window opens and before you apply, please take the following steps to prepare. Not only will this improve your chances of being accepted into the program, it will also help us make an optimal match for you.
Resume Review
Have your resume reviewed by the Career Lab by:
- Logging into Handshake.
- Clicking your user icon in the upper right-hand corner
- Selecting “Documents”
- Clicking the “Add New Document” button in the upper right-hand corner
- *IMPORTANT* Rename your document by clicking on the box under “Document Name” and typing in the phrase “Job Shadow” and the names of the industries you are hoping to shadow in. For example, if you are hoping to job shadow in education, the arts, or theatre, you should name your document “Job Shadow – Education/Arts/Theatre.”
- Click the blue “Add Document” button.
Update Your ClarkCONNECT Profile
To update your ClarkCONNECT profile:
- Click on your user icon in the upper right-hand corner of the page.
- Select “My Profile.” Make sure your profile includes the following:
- A professional profile picture
- A brief headline that includes your major
- Your graduation year
- A comprehensive “About” section that tells who you are, what you’re passionate about, and what type of opportunities you are seeking
- A comprehensive list of your experiences (professional, volunteer, extra-curricular, study abroad, athletics, etc.)
- Education information
The ClarkCONNECT Alumni Job Shadow Program is hosted through ClarkCONNECT. To apply to the program, alumni must first join ClarkCONNECT and create an account.
To Create a ClarkCONNECT Account
Creating an account is easy!
- Visit ClarkCONNECT.
- Click the red “Join ClarkCONNECT” button, where you will be guided through the steps required to set up your account.
To Apply on ClarkCONNECT
The application window for alumni to apply will open on September 28, 2020. Once you’ve created an account, you can apply to the program by taking the following steps:
- While logged into ClarkCONNECT, click the “Programs” tab at the top of the page.
- After reading the “About” section, click the green “Join Program” button at the top of the page.
- Select “Mentor.”
- Answer the application questions and submit your response.
The ClarkCONNECT Alumni Job Shadow Program is hosted through ClarkCONNECT. To apply to the program, students must first join ClarkCONNECT and create an account.
To Create a ClarkCONNECT Account
Creating an account is easy!
- Visit ClarkCONNECT.
- Click the red “Join ClarkCONNECT” button, where you will be guided through the steps required to set up your account.
To Apply on ClarkCONNECT
The application window for students to apply will open on October 19, 2020. Once you’ve created an account, you can apply to the program by taking the following steps:
- While logged into ClarkCONNECT, click the “Programs” tab at the top of the page.
- After reading the “About” section, click the green “Join Program” button at the top of the page.
- Select “Mentee.”
- Answer the application questions and submit your response.
Students will receive notification of their acceptance to the program and information about their alumni host during the week of November 9, 2020.
It is the student’s responsibility to reach out to alumni within 3 days of receiving the name of their host.
There are numerous resources on ClarkCONNECT to help you make the most of your job shadow day.
The following resources may be helpful during the application process:
“I really enjoyed this experience because it made me think about what I do in the classroom that is effective and worth sharing. My student had a list of well-thought-out questions about various aspects of ESOL education that made me reflect on how much I love this job and why I do it.”
Alumni Volunteer
“I was excited to participate in the job shadow program. I care deeply about mentorship, and the program only reaffirmed my interest in supporting undergrads and law students. To the extent I can provide insights into the work our organization does, I’m excited to continue participating.”
Alumni Volunteer
“I am so jealous that Clarkies get to have these experiences – what a cool opportunity for students and alums alike!”
Alumni Volunteer
“Through the program, I realized that one is capable of excelling if you’re surrounded by people who inspire you to do better. I was so impressed with the image that our school has out there, and this challenged me to maintain that standard. Every now and then when the host introduced me to an attorney, there was always a Clarkie doing something good out there.”
A Third Year International Development and Social Change Major
“I would recommend this program to my peers because it is a step outside of our comfort zone in terms of what we do at Clark. It gives us the chance to see what we can do with our degrees after Clark. It can also help us decide if we would like this possible career in the future.”
A Fourth Year Biology Major
“I felt like I really benefited from some of the meetings in which we talked about graduating from college and starting to work, and I left at the end of the day feeling a bit calmer and more prepared.”
A Third Year Media, Culture and Arts Major
For questions about the ClarkCONNECT Alumni Job Shadow Program, please email Elizabeth Gittens, Associate Director of Early Career Development, egittens@clarku.edu.
