Job Shadow Week 2014: A day in the life of an engineer

Posted: April 24, 2014

Job Shadow Day 2014 facts & stats (click to view larger version)

Similar to a grown-up version of take-your-child-to-work day, Engineering Career Services' Job Shadow Program offers Ohio State engineering students the opportunity to experience a day in the life of an engineer.

The program provides students with a unique chance to gain insight to possible engineering careers related to their major and observe engineers on the job.

Held during spring break week, the 2014 event was the most popular yet in the program’s eight year history with 245 Buckeye engineering students participating in shadow experiences at 67 companies throughout Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky.

“The program continues to grow annually and attract more employers in Ohio and surrounding states that host, and oftentimes hire, Buckeye engineering students,” said Rachel Kaschner, coordinator of the program.

The program is so well-received by students that many choose to participate in more than one experience during the week. This year, students completed more than 460 shadow experiences.

“It is a wonderful chance to network, learn more about the industry, and spend a fruitful day with real engineers as part of the long spring break,” said one student participant. “I would recommend it to all students.”

The event also provides an opportunity to see the correlation between their studies and future engineering careers, students said.

“This program has given me more insight into possible engineering careers than any other source. It has also led to several interviews and an internship for me in the past!” another student said.

Not only did the students benefit from the program, employers also enjoyed the chance to interact with these future engineers.

“The students were very organized, asked great questions, did not shy away from participating, and were eager to learn what we do here,” said Scott Martin from Avnet Services.

A survey of participating employers conducted by Engineering Career Services confirms the benefit to participating employers: 100 percent of employers who responded to the survey said they found the program an effective tool for promoting their company or internship and co-op program.

“General Motors-Parma Metal Center has hosted several job shadow programs for both college and high school students. The group from Ohio State was one of the best we have hosted,” said GM’s Diane Levoy. “The students were interactive with my engineers. They also asked many good questions that I would not expect from people who had not been out in the field working yet.”

Engineering Career Services will begin taking employer registrations for the 2015 event next January.

Companies participating in Job Shadow Week 2014: