If you’re a college student interested in entering any kind of professional field, you will probably end up doing a shadowing gig at one time or another. You can shadow a doctor, lawyer, business executive, chef, or any other professional you can possibly think of. Even if you’re an experienced professional who happened to be laid off, in today’s poor job economy shadowing/interning may the best activity you can find to fill your resume. Recently, I have been shadowing a physician and, besides getting some illuminating first-hand experience with patients, I learned a few valuable tips that anyone can implement to get the most out of shadowing a professional. The list, in no particular order, is:
1. Make a good first impression.
This tip should be obvious. You’re going to be spending a hefty amount of time with this professional, so you want him/her to like you from the get-go, or it’ll get really uncomfortable really quickly. First impressions are key here as they will inform the professional how to treat you. Thus, dress for the job. If your professional works in a casual environment, don’t go wearing business formal wear (and vice versa). You’ll stick out like a sore thumb and probably render yourself fodder for water cooler chat. You won’t be doing yourself, or your professional, any favors.
Secondly, don’t forget to smile. If you come in looking nervous, clammy, and generally sullen, no one will want to talk to you. You’ll get sent to the depths of the basement filing rooms in the hopes that you never return again. People like happy people. I’m pretty sure that’s scientifically proven somewhere. So smile when you come in and at least pretend to be amicable and confident. Your professional will be a lot happier for it.
Lastly, get a haircut (this is especially applicable to guys). If you want to be taken seriously, get rid of that Justin Bieber inspired mop of hair and cut that unruly tangle that’s been growing for six months. Unless you’re shadowing a professional whose job requires cutting-edge fashion, don’t even think about keeping your hair. Get a classic clean cut look that makes you look like a professional, not an aspiring model.
2. Ask smart questions
Despite what your sixth grade teacher told you, there are such things as stupid questions. Sorry to burst your bubble. If you come into a defense attorney’s office asking what Miranda rights are, you’re going to give off an unattractive image of naiveté. Granted, if you’re actually a young kid (say, at most a high school senior), then you get more leeway with simpler questions. If you’re a college student or older, prepare to ask informed inquiries that make you seem genuinely interested in the field. Do your basic research before you actually begin shadowing so you have a information base to spring from.
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Your watercooler chat nightmare
A good strategy is to prepare at least five thoughtful questions before your shadowing starts. Make sure that you don’t bombard your professional with these questions all at once. That way you have some questions to fall back on if there is a lull in conversation. Note their responses and ask follow-up questions that demonstrate that you’re actively listening and learning.
3. Imagine yourself in the professional’s shoes
The whole point of shadowing or interning is to get a taste of what the real profession is like. If you go there and just view the job unfold in front of you, you’re not going to come away with a better self-understanding. The preferable way to approach shadowing is to imagine yourself in the professional’s shoes. Can you see yourself doing what they are doing everyday for the rest of your working life? Does it excite you as it should? Do you have the personality traits that are well suited for the job? If you smile when you imagine yourself in the professional’s place, perhaps you’ve found a career that suits you.
4. Don’t be awkward
For the love of peanuts, please don’t stand awkwardly in a corner. If you’re in a profession that takes place in close quarters, like a doctor’s office, standing quietly in a corner will not only make your presence conspicuous, but will make it very awkward for the patient and physician. Follow the conversation, laugh, smile, nod understandingly, and insert the occasional quip or two so everyone in the room knows you’re human. If you’re following a professional who demands silence, like a director, then don’t follow this advice; be as quiet as can be. When “quiet on the set” is no longer needed, participate and join conversations! You’re there to learn after all.
5. Reflect afterwards
The most important thing you can do is reflect after shadowing. Reflection provides the opportunity to summarize what you learned about the professional, the profession, and yourself. Ask yourself questions like: What was the coolest thing I saw today? Did I understand a particular process? What are some lessons I can glean? Can I see myself in this profession in ten years? If you don’t have time to sit and ponder at length, take a quick ten minutes and jot down simple sentence answers to these questions. You can come back later and use them as a springboard for more in depth reflection. When you go onto apply for jobs later on, employers will inevitably ask you what you learned through shadowing. Because you followed my advice and reflected after shadowing (the more intrepid of you will reflect after each day of shadowing), answering this question will be easy and will give you a leg up over the competition.
Update: An eagle-eyed reader AR pointed out two things that I failed to put in here. His/Her comment is below the post and has been reprinted here:
“This is a comprehensive list! I would add:
Bring a notebook! Taking notes, as mentioned in point 2, not only shows that your actively paying attention and listening, but also has provides a psychological boost to the physician you are shadowing. Showing an interest in what they are teaching you by taking notes reinforces the belief that they are teaching you something, contributing to your learning process, and makes them more receptive to continually providing assistance through the medical school application process. Also, you’ll never know when the notes you take come in handy. A lot of concepts, ideas, and procedures you learn while in the field may be discussed in one of your courses at some point.
Secondly, don’t be afraid to talk to patients. Obviously, this varies from doctor to doctor, so pay attention to point 4. With the correct discretion, however, you can really learn how to connect with patients. For example, I was observing a general surgeon. The patient he was treating was about to have a thyroidectomy. She was from France, her friend/partner from the UK, and her other friend was from South Africa. She was visibly nervous before the procedure, and her pre-operative work up showed a high heart rate and blood pressure. Now, I can’t call myself an expert in connecting with patients, but I started talking about futbol (soccer for us Yanks) to get her mind off the IV being inserted, and the markings being made on her throat for the thyroidectomy. After the pre-operative “talk” was completed, the surgeon, his PA, and myself had a small discussion on how to calm patients and family members/relatives/and friends down. This discussion was sparked by showing an active interest in patient well being, and led to several insights on different techniques doctors use in the more personal side of patient care.
I think this is a must read article before you start shadowing!”
Image may be NSFW.
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Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
