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.  

*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:  

1. Logging into Handshake.  
2. Clicking your user icon in the upper right-hand corner 
3. Selecting “Documents” 
4. Clicking the “Add New Document” button in the upper right-hand corner 
5. *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.”
6. Click the blue “Add Document” button. 

 Update Your ClarkCONNECT Profile

To update your ClarkCONNECT profile:

1. Click on your user icon in the upper right-hand corner of the page.  
2. 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!  

1. Visit ClarkCONNECT.  
2. 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: 

1. While logged into ClarkCONNECT, click the “Programs” tab at the top of the page.  
2. After reading the “About” section, click the green “Join Program” button at the top of the page. 
3. Select “Mentor.” 
4. 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!  

1. Visit ClarkCONNECT.  
2. 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: 

1. While logged into ClarkCONNECT, click the “Programs” tab at the top of the page.  
2. After reading the “About” section, click the green “Join Program” button at the top of the page. 
3. Select “Mentee.”
4. 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: 

• What Can I Do with My Student? Information-Focused Alumni Guide
• What Can I Do with My Student? Experience-Focused Alumni Guide
• What Can I Do with My Student? Networking-Focused Alumni Guide

“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.