Applications for Work Shadowing Scheme closing soon!

Short, high-value insight experiences for first-year undergraduates

What is work shadowing?

Grace Redhead, Placement and Internship Adviser at Imperial, describes work shadowing as “an accessible introduction to the world of work that helps bridge the gap between academic study and professional practice.” It is not an internship or placement; the focus is on learning and exposure, rather than hands-on work. You might attend meetings, visit sites or learn about on-going projects.

Experiences with the Work Shadowing Scheme will last 1-3 days and take place during the spring vacation.

What are the benefits?

According to Careers Consultant Jess Popplewell, work shadowing is an “excellent opportunity” for first-year undergraduates; “It’s a great chance to ask questions and find out more about what life is like in that industry.”

“By spending time with professionals in real-world settings," adds Rhiannon Whittaker,  another of our Placement and Internship Advisers, "[students] start to build commercial awareness and see how the theory from their degrees translates into practice.” She describes these experiences as “pivotal”, helping students to “build confidence and gain clarity at an early stage in their career journey.”

Work shadowing is also a valuable addition to your CV. “It can demonstrate a willingness to go out of your way to research a particular industry,” Jess explains. Moreover, when writing cover letters, “you can use your direct experience of observing work in your chosen setting to explain why you think you’d be a good fit.”

How do you apply?

Students apply to the Work Shadowing Scheme via an online form. You will need to choose up to three employer hosts you would be interested in learning from and explain your motivation for each.

“This year,” Grace confirms, “we’re working with 30 fantastic organisations across sectors including consulting, technology, AI, law and medical communications.” The scheme, of course, works with large, established organisations but also innovative, smaller companies. “Smaller organisations may not always have the capacity to run their own spring insight programmes,” Grace explains. “Our scheme creates an accessible route for them to connect with Imperial students.”

For more information, including a link to the employer host directory, please visit the Work Shadowing Scheme webpage. If you have any questions, the team can be reached at workshadowing@imperial.ac.uk.

Applications must be submitted by 9.00 Monday 23 February.

Don’t just take our word for it…

Here’s what your peers had to say about their experiences:

“This made me realise how important it is to build up experience in my field, as well as engage in more extracurricular activities, to develop the skills that are actually needed.”

“We had a chance to talk to employees of the start-up to find out more about their career path…”

“It has made me aware of a career path I had never previously considered.”

“…[Work shadowing] not only deepened my interest in tax consulting but also helped clarify the skills and mindset needed to succeed in the industry.”