Southern Illinois University-Carbondale WED
468-3
Department of Workforce Education & Development
Page
22
Example of Job Shadowing at AT&T Pioneer Volunteers
In AT&T's Job Shadow Initiative, AT&T employees and Pioneer Volunteers give
students an inside look at what happens on the job using materials developed through a
partnership with the Junior Achievement Organization and AT&T's Jobs for the Future
program. There are three goals the program aims to provide its students:
1. Meaningful introduction to the world of work
2. A greater context for decisions about their education
3. Positive relations between high school students and AT&T employees
Students accompany employees, called BellSouth Connectors, through part of a
`typical' day and learn about the varied aspects of their job and skills required to work in
the telecommunications industry. Students are encouraged to actively explore the work
environment with their Connector. They are required to complete a questionnaire and
participate in exercises to reflect on what they have seen, heard, and learned. Students
can then explore what they will need to do to apply them self and reach their career
goals (see additional information at
http://www.attpioneervolunteers.org/
).
Internship is a type of linkage wherein a postsecondary student in the final
stages of a specific program of study experiences the environment and work of a
related organization while contributing knowledge and skill gained through study.
Internship differs from apprenticeship primarily in that interns are expected to bring
related knowledge and skill to the experience, and the experience settings are not
limited to trades. Traditional, `formal' internship agreements typically include regularly
scheduled commitment by an organization to host selected interns in either part- or full-
time capacity for a set period of time, typically at least one semester and possibly one
year or more (see
http://www.monstertrak.com/career-guide/college-internships
) .
Internship situations vary considerably depending on the postsecondary program
of study and cooperating organizations concerned, but typically college credit is earned.