cover letter to request job shadowing

   Job Shadowing Cover Letter

My name is Laurie Jones and I'm a senior at University of Portland, double majoring in Communications and Environmental Engineering. I've been exploring my avenues forward into a career path in Environmental Law, and I would love the opportunity to see the daily responsibilities and minutiae involved. XYZ strikes me as the perfect place to gain this experience, as a midlevel legal team with active suits against major corporations over the use of crude oil.

I would really appreciate the opportunity to job shadow you for a day, and to have the opportunity to discuss your career and higher education with you before or afterward. I understand that this is a demanding, time-consuming job, and I don't want to bother or inconvenience you. However, this would be incredibly helpful to setting me on the right path for my future.

I appreciate any wisdom you can offer, and I will strive to accommodate any opening you might have. I will contact your office next week to see if there is a convenient time that the two of us can meet. Thank you so much for your consideration.

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How to write letters to apply for job shadowing.

Before you embark on a longer-term internship or apply for paid work, it's possible to take part in some job shadow experiences that will help you get a feel for an industry and workers' day-to-day activities. Since companies don't often post openings for job shadowing, you'll have to do much of the leg work on your own. You may first need to identify people to shadow and then write a letter asking one or more of the individuals for a chance to work with them.

The first step in the process is identifying companies that will allow you to job shadow. Do some research online to find companies near you that do the type of work you're interested in doing. Then check the company website to find out the types of workers employed there, the work the company does and the overall image it presents to the public. If the website has a "Job Openings" page, read over the job postings to get a feel for the level of education and the qualities the company looks for in its employees. This research can help you determine the overall tone of your inquiry letters and how best to present yourself. Also use LinkedIn, Facebook or the company website to identify specific workers you'd like to shadow. Use your own personal network to identify people you could shadow; your connections could be a good way to get introduced to the right people.

As you might have guessed, you'll need to write a new letter for every job shadowing experience you're hoping to get. If you've identified a specific person in a company with whom you'd like to work, start off your letter by addressing that person directly. Type the person's name at the top of the letter, followed by his company name, address and any other contact information you have. Even if you've already been introduced online or through a personal connection, maintain a level of formality. For example, write, "Dear Mr. Smith," instead of "Dear John." If you don't have any one person identified, address your letter to the company's human resources department or a specific human resources officer identified on the company website.

Introduce Yourself

In the first paragraph of the letter, introduce yourself to the addressee. First state your name, and then tell the addressee about any college programs, training programs or other background you have that is related to what the company does. If you don't have any background or training, tell the addressee that you're exploring a new career path. If you've been referred by someone you know, tell the addressee in this first paragraph. Then state specifically that you are looking to do a job shadow experience within the company.

It doesn't hurt to use a little flattery in the second paragraph. Tell the person what you admire about the work he does or why you're so interested in shadowing with him -- or his company. If it's your goal to do the same kind of work he's doing, say so. Don't gush, but let him know that you value his work and want to learn more about it. Following that, name the specific date range during which you want to conduct the job shadowing experience. If you'd like to job shadow for a few days, say so, but also make it clear that you're open to working with the person to find a date that works for both of you. End the letter by thanking the person for his time and state a date by which you'll get back in touch to discuss the possibilities. Then sign your name, and include your email address, phone number and physical address at the bottom of the letter.

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• Indiana University Career Development Center: Job Shadowing
• Quintessential Careers: A Sample Cover Letter to Request Job Shadowing
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What is Job Shadowing? Definition, Benefits, and How to Set It Up

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What is Job Shadowing? Definition, Benefits, and How to Set It Up was originally published on Forage .

The job search is exciting because there are so many options for what you can do — but for the same reason, it can also be overwhelming. How can you figure out what you want to do if you don’t know what the job will be like? That’s where job shadowing comes in.

Job shadowing is when you follow someone at work to understand a typical day in their role. It’s a generally quick way to learn more about a career, build your network, and get something extra to add to your resume.

Yet you likely won’t be able to find a “job shadowing” jobs board — instead, you’ll have to be a bit more strategic to land these opportunities. Here’s your ultimate guide.

Job Shadowing Definition

What is job shadowing? Job shadowing is observing a day in the life of someone else’s role. You may watch them complete their day-to-day tasks, attend meetings with them, and follow other vital parts of their work routine.

During a typical day of job shadowing, you might:

• Observe how the person uses particular software or technology
• Sit in on client meetings
• Attend team meetings
• Assist with minor, sometimes administrative tasks
• Tour an office
• Review project or other work materials

Besides observing the tasks and routine of the person you’re shadowing, you may also:

• Ask the person questions about their career
• Network with other colleagues
• Take notes about questions or ideas you have

Job Shadowing vs. Internships vs. Externships

Internships and externships are also valuable ways to get experiential learning experiences in a real work environment. However, there are some critical differences between these experiences and job shadowing in terms of responsibilities, length, benefits, and more.

Job Shadowing vs. Internships

Internships are work-based learning experiences where you perform entry-level tasks for a company. These programs typically last multiple months and give you some work experience in the field. Many companies hold internship programs as a way to recruit entry-level employees; for example, over 90% of PwC’s interns get full-time offers after they complete their internship, according to the company’s internship page.

Job Shadowing vs. Externships

Externships are experiential learning opportunities where you follow a professional to understand their daily work life. Similar to job shadowing, externships are more about observing a professional rather than performing entry-level tasks. However, depending on the externship, you may be expected to do some administrative work or help on some tasks or projects.

Let’s try an analogy:

• Internships are like being a junior chef in a kitchen, helping out with the basics of the kitchen’s dishes.
• Externships are like following a chef in a kitchen and helping them prep for dinner.
• Job shadowing is like following a chef in a kitchen and watching what they do.

While each experience can help you understand the role better and learn about different work environments, each opportunity varies in the degree of involvement and role you play within the company.

Is Job Shadowing Worth It? Benefits

Job shadowing may not be as involved as other experiential learning opportunities, but there are still many benefits — including the fact that it’s not as involved as other opportunities!

Shadowing someone can be a quick, lower-effort way to understand a role. Other benefits include:

• Learning the day-to-day responsibilities of a job
• Understanding specific software or technical tools someone needs to do their role
• Gaining insight into what meetings are like in the role
• Discovering a company’s culture
• Identifying skills you need to learn or training you need
• Networking with a professional and other people in the company
• Gaining experience to discuss in interviews or put on your resume

Jade Barricelli, senior vice president of community and partner programs at Rewriting the Code, shared how job shadowing benefitted her early on in her career:

“While working toward my graduate degree, I was convinced that I was on the right career path,” she says. “However, a mentor suggested that I do a job shadow to truly understand the realities of the profession I was eyeing. And what a revelation it was — the career was not at all what I had envisioned! This invaluable experience steered me away from a degree that would have been less than ideal for me and guided me toward a more suitable career path. There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain from acquiring additional knowledge and experience when facing life’s significant choices.”

When Should You Job Shadow?

There’s no right or wrong time to job shadow! Some people use this experience much later in their career if they’re considering a career transition or are interested in changing roles within their current company.

However, one of the primary purposes (and benefits!) of job shadowing is getting a better understanding of a role — often in a quick, low-stress environment. So, the best time to job shadow is early in your career search before applying for entry-level roles. Partaking in this opportunity during in your freshman and sophomore years can give you insight into what types of internships you want to apply to and provide you with something to add to your application as you apply to those internships.

Where Should You Job Shadow?

Two main factors to consider when figuring out where to job shadow are the types of roles and types of companies you’re interested in.

For example, you might be interested in learning more about being a data analyst. That’s great! However, a data analyst at a small marketing firm will have a very different day-to-day role than a data analyst at a large tech company. Factoring in both the type of role and the type of company you’re interested in can help you find professionals to shadow who better fit what you’re looking to explore.

Not sure where to start? Here are some common interests, skills, fields, and a Forage job simulation if you want to try the role out first — before you do any job shadowing.

>>MORE: Use free Forage job simulations to help you understand what careers you love — and which ones you don’t.

Can You Add Job Shadowing to Your Resume?

Yes, you can add job shadowing to your resume, and you should! Job shadowing signals to employers that you are interested in the field and willing to learn — which can make you stand out, especially as an entry-level candidate.

You can put your job shadowing experience in a specific “job shadowing” or “volunteer experience” on your resume. If you did administrative work during the experience or had any specific achievements, you can include it under “work experience.”

To list your job shadowing experience on your resume, you’ll want to include:

• The company name
• The dates (typically the month and year)
• What you observed
• Any administrative tasks you helped out with
• Any achievements

Job Shadow on Resume Examples

There are two main sections you can include job shadowing on your resume: in a designated job shadowing section or a work experience section. If you did a shorter experience where you mostly observed people, a job shadowing section is better. If you did a longer experience where you completed some tasks, it can go under work experience.

Here’s an example of how to include job shadowing on a resume in a job shadowing section, for someone who observed a marketing manager:

ABC Marketing Agency May 2024

• Observed daily tasks of a marketing manager, including social media strategy development, content creation, and campaign analysis
• Attended multiple client meetings and took notes for the marketing team
• Learned the agency’s approach to customer communication

Here’s an example of how to include job shadowing in a work experience section, for someone who job-shadowed a registered nurse and helped complete some basic tasks:

Job shadowing, Registered Nurse 123 General Hospital July 2024

• Assisted with patient care tasks like taking vital signs and recording medical history
• Observed nurses interacting with patients and families
• Gained first-hand experience with hospital procedures in a fast-paced environment

Can You Get Hired From Job Shadowing?

Yes, you can get hired from job shadowing, but often not directly. Job shadowing differs from internships in that you’re not doing the entry-level work you would do in a role at the company. Instead, you’re mostly observing, so the company doesn’t know that you can do the work at the level they’re looking for. This means you’re much less likely to get an offer for a role just from a day or a couple weeks of job shadowing.

However, job shadowing can get you hired through networking and demonstrating your willingness to learn.

• Networking : Job shadowing connects you with people at a specific company, which can make you stand out in the application process if you apply to that company.
• Willingness to learn: If you don’t end up applying to the company you job shadow at, you’re still increasing your chances of getting hired by showing your dedication and curiosity! “By reaching out for informational interviews and job shadows, you are initiating contact with professionals in your field of interest,” Barricelli says. “These initial meetings can turn into lasting professional relationships and show that you are proactive about your career. People remember those who take charge of their learning and career path, which can ultimately lead to more opportunities!”

How to Get a Job Shadowing Opportunity

Convinced that job shadowing is right for you? Job shadowing opportunities typically aren’t offered online, so you have to be strategic about how you find and land them.

Tap Into Your Network

“See if anyone you know knows anyone,” Barricelli says. “Ask your friends and family or use LinkedIn as it’s a great tool to see who your connections are also connected to. If you find someone of interest who is a second or third connection to someone you know, you could either ask for an introduction or you could reach out to this person and let them know about your common connection. I recommend the former if you have the option!”

What kind of message or email should you send? You shouldn’t ask for a job shadowing opportunity upfront but rather express interest in learning more about their work first. For example:

Hello Charles, it’s so nice to meet you. I’m Eleanor, a student at Yale University studying anthropology. My aunt, Amy Williams, recommended I contact you to learn more about your role at Company X. I see you were an anthropology major, too, and I’d love to hear more about how you apply that major to your nonprofit work! Are you available to connect any weekday next week? I’ve attached my resume for reference. Thank you!

After you’ve connected, you can discuss job shadowing. Some people might not even be familiar with the term — that’s OK! Politely ask if you could observe a day in their work life.

Reach Out to Professionals You Admire

What if you don’t have any connections (not even your sister’s boyfriend’s hairdresser’s cousin)?

Barricelli says that not knowing a professional you want to shadow isn’t a setback — you should approach the situation with curiosity, not demands.

“I recommend you propose an informational interview first,” she says. “Requesting just 30 minutes to hear about their career journey is an easier ‘yes’ for a busy professional, and it’s a great way to engage new people and build your network. Plus, hearing more about what they do and how they got there can help you determine if you are interested in spending more time on a job shadow experience. This approach can lay the groundwork to foster a professional relationship, potentially leading to a positive response for a job shadowing opportunity.”

Barricelli emphasizes that you shouldn’t be overbearing but polite, patient, flexible, and clear. Be sure to thank the person — even if they say no.

Don’t Take Rejection Personally

Speaking of “saying no,” not every professional will say yes to your request, but that’s not a sign that you should stop trying.

“Persevere instead!” Barricelli says. “Individuals often have hectic schedules, and their inability to respond isn’t a reflection of your worth. Many external factors come into play, none of which are about you!”

Job Shadowing: The Bottom Line

Job shadowing is an experiential learning experience in which you go to someone’s workplace and observe a day in the life of their role. This opportunity can be a quick way to learn more about a specific job, career path, and company while helping you build your network.

If you’re looking for a job shadowing opportunity, tap into your network or contact professionals you admire. It can’t hurt to ask — and the opportunity is worth it, not just for something to add to your resume, but to get firsthand insights into careers that you can’t get anywhere else.

Image credit: Canva

The post What is Job Shadowing? Definition, Benefits, and How to Set It Up appeared first on Forage .

How to Ask to Job Shadow

Job shadowing gives you an opportunity to learn firsthand what a particular job or place of business looks like on a daily basis. It's an excellent way to learn more about an industry or the responsibilities of a particular position. The experience can also be invaluable in helping you decide if a specific career path is right for you.

In Your Place of Work

Many people ask to job shadow internally, particularly with large organizations. It provides an opportunity to meet higher-ups, ask questions and get a feel for everyday responsibilities. In this instance, inquire with human resources or your department head about whether the company has a formal process for requesting job shadowing, and if one exists, follow pre-established guidelines. If not, draft a letter of interest to the department or individual you're interested in shadowing. The letter should contain the following elements:

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• My name is Mark Smith and I'm an editor in the publications division.
• I'm looking for the opportunity to learn more about how communication decisions are made on the executive level to better educate myself on internal communication strategies.
• Would you be open to me shadowing you one day next month?

More For You

How to ask your boss for a different job, how to set up an interview letter, how to find jobs offline, how to contact companies about internships, how to write letters to apply for job shadowing.

If you get a negative response, ask if there's another party who might be amenable to job shadowing. If your request is accepted, make every effort to be flexible on the time and date.

With an Outside Company

If you're considering a career change or even trying to get a foot in the door of a particular business, contact human resources and ask about the process to apply for a day of job shadowing. Some companies only open their doors to students, but in a day and age where people are rapidly transitioning from one industry to another, the request is becoming more common. Introduce yourself with your objective in mind. Example:

As a software developer for the past 15 years, I'm transitioning into a new career in technology services. I'd greatly appreciate the opportunity to job shadow with your company for a day or two, at your convenience. My objective is to get a feel for what this type of role would look like on a daily basis and gain inside insight from people working in this industry.

Considerations

Keep in mind that even when your job shadowing request is granted, it will come with stipulations.

• You'll likely be asked to step out when a confidential or sensitive meeting or conversation is underway.
• You won't have access to proprietary information or processes, and you may be asked to sign a nondisclosure agreement to that effect.
• You may be asked to sign paperwork that releases the company of liability in the case of accident or injury.

While you'll typically be welcome to ask questions, it's also vital to have respect for the individual or department's time and work obligations. As always, be professional, courteous and conclude your job shadowing with a letter of thanks to everyone who made it happen.

• Baylor University: Job Shadowing
• Project Management Hacks: Job Shadowing For Professionals: The 5 Steps You Need
• Quintessential Careers: A Sample Cover Letter to Request Job Shadowing
• Beyond the Conviction: Cover Letter to Request Job Shadowing/Volunteer
• Always make your request several weeks in advance so the person you're asking has time to add you to his schedule.

Lisa McQuerrey has been a business writer since 1987. In 1994, she launched a full-service marketing and communications firm. McQuerrey's work has garnered awards from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the International Association of Business Communicators and the Associated Press. She is also the author of several nonfiction trade publications, and, in 2012, had her first young-adult novel published by Glass Page Books.

• Medical School

How to Ask to Shadow a Doctor

Tips, considerations, and a sample shadowing request.

In this article, we'll show you how to ask to shadow a doctor, provide tips for choosing the best shadowing experience(s) for you, guidance in finding doctors to shadow, and a sample letter asking to shadow a doctor. If you’re a pre-med student hoping to attend medical school, you’ve likely heard about the benefits of shadowing a doctor. Indeed, shadowing allows aspiring med students a unique window into the day-to-day realities of working as a practicing physician. As well, shadowing is a great addition to your resume or CV and application, and you'll likely walk away with experiences you can discuss in a medical school interview. Even if you understand why shadowing a doctor is a beneficial experience, the process of asking to shadow a doctor may not be clear. Not to worry! Once you understand the basic reasons behind shadowing, why the medical community welcomes requests for shadowing, and see a sample request for shadowing opportunities, you’ll see that the process is relatively painless.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<

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Article Contents 12 min read

Why you should shadow a doctor.

Shadowing a doctor generally consists of following a physician through an entire day (or sometimes several days), from the moment they step into their hospital or practice, until they prepare to leave at the end of their shift. It is a novel experience that allows you to see all the details and minutiae of the work of a doctor – from the spectacular to the mundane. It’s one thing to read or hear about the routine and workload of a practicing physician, but quite another to witness it from start to finish. When shadowing, you’re essentially a “fly on the wall”, silently observing the doctor as they run their practice, see patients, review notes, conduct procedures, complete paperwork, connect with colleagues, and even eat lunch. It is a largely passive experience, where you are able to soak in the day-to-day, moment-to-moment realities of the career you’re pursuing. During breaks or at the end of the shift, you'll likely be able to ask the doctor questions, as well, where you can gain valuable insights from their own live experiences as a medical practitioner. The path to becoming a doctor is a long and difficult one, so you need to ensure that this truly is what you want to do and be, day-in and day-out. Shadowing is the perfect opportunity to do just that. 

Shadowing can also give you the opportunity to meaningfully interact with the medical community. The experiences you have while shadowing are great for personal and professional development, and they can be very useful in completing your activities sketch or the AMCAS Work and Activities Section and AACOMAS activities section .

Before you start compiling a list and gathering contact information for doctors whom you may want to shadow, you first need to think about what kinds of medicine you may be interested in pursuing, as this will help you begin narrowing your scope. Note that in making such a list, you’re not making any commitments in terms of what you’ll actually go on to study, and the shadowing you do may or may not align with the specialty you end up pursuing in your education and career. At this point, you probably don’t have enough information to make such decisions – another reason shadowing is so beneficial! You may not yet know what the different specializations actually look like “on the ground”, so shadowing is an effective way to explore different possible avenues and to see if the lifestyle of such specialists matches your own interests, strengths, and goals. The daily routines of a family doctor, a neurosurgeon, and a pediatrician working in a neonatal intensive care unit are all very, very different. So, if there are several areas that catch your eye and stir your interest, add them to your list. If you’re completely unsure of what you may find engaging, that’s okay, too. Consider reaching out to a wide variety of doctors and see who is open and available for shadowing; having several different kinds of shadowing experiences may give you some new ideas and insights you hadn’t considered before!

Once you’ve got a manageable short-list of 5-10 possible specializations, it’s time to start finding doctors alongside whom you may be able to work on a shadowing shift. Start with what’s familiar – do you know any doctors already? Are there any doctors in your family or circle of acquaintances? Do you have a good relationship with your own doctor(s)? Might any of these be open to a day (or more) of shadowing? Even if they aren’t, they may be able to give you names of other doctors who likely have such availability, or open other doors or avenues of connection you may not have considered.

If you don’t have any such contacts, not to worry! If there’s a medical school or hospital on your campus, this is a great potential resource – connecting with the med school directly and/or the volunteer office of a local or school-affiliated hospital are both perfectly logical and effective ways of gathering contact information for a shadowing opportunity. You can ask your professors if they have any recommendations for doctors open to shadowing pre-med students. As well, you can reach out to the pre-med advisors at your school – it’s very likely that they are either in contact with, or directly associated with, local hospitals, clinics, and practitioners who are willing to accommodate shadowing requests from students. Even if they don’t have specific contact information, they will usually be able to provide you with information to help you find such resources. Remember, although this may be the first time you are doing this, you’re hardly the first pre-med to seek out shadowing opportunities! Make use of all the resources available to you on campus, so that you’re able to take full advantage of all the advising and connections made accessible to you through your medical school tuition fees. They know that pre-med students will likely want to shadow a doctor, and their purpose is to help students access precisely these kinds of experiences. 

Once you’ve established your list of possible specializations and gathered contact information for various physicians in such fields, it’s time to start planning and actually reaching out. You’re going to want to contact these doctors several weeks in advance of your ideal shadowing dates, giving each physician time to prepare and ensure their schedule aligns with your own. To make contact, you can simply send an email or letter, or call and leave a message for the doctor, depending on the contact information you get.

Now, at this point, you might be feeling a little nervous, thinking that making such a call or sending such an email or letter out of the blue will be awkward, or you may fear rejection or some other negative response to your request. These are understandable fears, but we need to work past them! While this may be your first time asking a doctor about a shadowing opportunity, you’re hardly the first aspiring med student to make such a request. It’s not at all unexpected for potential medical students to reach out like this, and such students shadow doctors all the time . While it may feel awkward to make such a request if it’s your first time, the established generations of physicians have a vested interest in supporting the next generation of medical professionals, and generally welcome such opportunities. Of course, you are making a request of a very busy working professional, so you want to be respectful in doing so, but your request won’t be met with hostility, shock, or annoyance. Many doctors are happy to help! That doesn’t mean that every doctor you contact will have the availability or flexibility needed to accommodate your request, but that doesn’t reflect negatively (or at all) on you. So, remember, while all of this may be new to you, it’s not at all new to those you’ll reach out to with your request. Once upon a time, they were aspiring medical students, too, and it's entirely likely that they went through this very experience themselves!

“Okay, got it! So... what should I actually say ?”

Whether you decide to reach out by phone or by email (and let’s face it, if email is an option, you’ll probably send an email, right?), the content of your message should be pretty much the same. Do note that if you choose to call, you’ll likely have to leave a message for the doctor, so be prepared with a short version of your request in this case.

Begin by providing your name, major, and the school you’re currently attending. Acknowledge your interest in the doctor’s particular field, mention how you received their contact information, and let them know in a few short sentences why you’re writing/calling. Don’t write a long tome or recite a long script begging and pleading for the opportunity, or laying on accolades about their prestige and reputation. Doctors are busy, they get loads of emails and calls every day, so be respectful of their time by being concise. Let them know why you’re reaching out and what you’re hoping to achieve. You can also note whether you’ve done any specialized training or have any certification relevant to their specialization or the work you'd be observing, if applicable. Politely ask if they are able to accommodate your shadowing request, how long they might be able to let you shadow (e.g., one day, three days in one week, one day per week for 4 weeks, etc., based on your own needs and goals), and if so, when it would be most convenient for them.

Dear Dr. X,

My name is Sophia Student, and I’m a 3rd year Neuroscience major/Biotechnology minor at XYZ University. I’m contacting you because of my interest in your work in neurosurgery, and I am grateful that your colleague, Professor Edwina Chow, was able to provide me with your contact information.

In particular, I wanted to ask if you would be open to allowing me to shadow you for at least one full working day, sometime over the next 3 months (April-June). If you are able, I’d be especially interested in shadowing you a minimum of 3 days in that span of time, so that I might see you both in your own practice and in your work at ABC Hospital – though I’d be thankful for any opportunity to see your work in action, even if only for one day.

Please note that I will be away at a conference from May 27th to June 1st, but other than that, my schedule can be rather flexible. If you are able to accommodate this request, I'd welcome you to suggest some dates and times that work well for you, I will gladly work with that to find times that fit both our schedules and send back a proposed plan of action.

If there is any other information you need from me in consideration of this request, please do not hesitate to let me know. Thank you for your time in reviewing this message.

Sophia Student

That’s it – short, sweet, and to-the-point! It really is that easy.

Check out our video for more information:

Due to the busy schedule all doctors must maintain, it may take some time for them to return your call or email (another reason to reach out well in advance of your desired time frame!). Though many of us are used to 24-hour turnarounds on emails and calls, don’t be concerned if it takes a week or so for them to get back to you. If 7-10 days go by with no response, it’s okay to write or call again. In this case, you can simply re-send the original email or call and give the same message. Avoid emails that begin with something like, “As noted in my previous email...” – the general conventions around email etiquette suggest that this can come off as passive aggressive or annoyed, without the cues present in face-to-face communication (tone of voice, posture, smile, etc.), and that’s definitely not the impression you want to give! It would be better to say something like this: “Apologies for the repeat email, but I wanted to follow up to see if you’d had the chance to review my previous request, the original text of which you can find below, for your convenience.” This sounds much better than, “As noted in my previous email”.

Wait, that's not all! Expressing gratitude after a shadowing experience

In the event that you do get the shadowing opportunity, be sure to use the same contact information to send a brief thank you message to the doctor(s) you shadowed. This should be simple and thoughtful, again being respectful of their time. Express your gratitude for the experience and the time they spent with you, and wish them all the best in the future.

If you absolutely can’t find a physician to shadow, don’t panic. Shadowing is great, but it’s not always possible and not always required. You’ll need to look at the specific medical school requirements of each institution to which you are applying, to see if shadowing is required, and if so, how many shadowing hours you need to get into med school . If a doctor responds to your initial request but has to decline, you can reply thanking them for the response, and asking if they have any colleagues who may be available for shadowing. If you genuinely need shadowing hours and haven’t been able to find a match with independently-practicing physicians, you can reach out to medical residents, too – they may have a more flexible schedule or be more open to such opportunities, and they are doctors in their own right. 

If shadowing hours are not specifically required, you can look into other ways of interacting with and learning from medical professionals. For example, you could explore volunteering opportunities at clinics, in hospice care, in various hospital departments, etc. Any of these will look great on your resume or CV, in your application, and you'll likely be able to reflect on such experiences in your interviews (follow this link to learn more about average volunteer hours for medical school ). Reaching out to such institutions directly will help you get the information you need to sign up as a volunteer; many hospitals have a specific volunteer office, and they'll be able to give you everything you need to get started. 

Dr. Sarah Lynn Kleeb is an admissions expert at BeMo. Dr. Kleeb holds a doctorate degree (Ph.D.) from the University of Toronto where she examined the connections between Critical Theory and Liberation Theology. She brings 10 years of experience teaching, advising, and mentoring undergraduate students to her role as an admissions expert, having taught extensively at UofT. 

Image credit: Axelle Geelen, via the Creative Commons License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode  

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Have a question ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions.

Can highschool students shadow doctors as well?

BeMo Academic Consulting

Hi Dex! Yes, it is possible. It will of course depend on the physician. When you reach out to a physician you want to shadow, explain that you are interested in a career in medicine and that you want to be on a premed track. If the physician agrees, you can shadow them. If you cannot find a physician to shadow independently, you can always search for summer programs for high school students that provide shadowing opportunities. Check out our blog on summer programs here https://bemoacademicconsulting.com/blog/summer-programs-for-high-school-students

Hi Dex, you are the winner of our weekly draw. Please email us by the end of the day tomorrow (May 1st) at content[at]bemoacademicconsulting.com from the same email address you used to leave your comment to claim your prize!

Vasthy Hernandez

I wrote my email with the example that was listed on this website, what can I write for the Subject of the email so that it summarizes the job shadowing but is also is concise?

Hello Vasthy! Thanks for your question! You can title the email "Shadowing Opportunity for a Premed", for example. Hopefully, this helps!

Vasthy, you are the winner of our weekly draw. Please email us by the end of the day tomorrow (August 14) at content[at]bemoacademicconsulting.com from the same email address you used to leave your comment to claim your prize!

Can you also tell something on how to communicate with a doctor one on one when he calls you to discuss your further plans as a response to your email.

Hello BestFati! Thanks for your question. If the doctor asks about your plans and why you are looking to shadow, you can openly discuss your plans to apply to medical school and explain that you are a premed looking to learn more about the everyday work of practicing physicians. Shadowing is a very common practice in the United States, so most physicians will be happy to help you.

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Tips on setting up shadowing #

Help! How can I find a healthcare professional to shadow? Here are some tips!

Finding a healthcare provider to shadow can be challenging. It takes just a little persistence and an investment of time in planning ahead. Below we offer tips that have worked for many IU students!

To be successful, approach this task much like looking for a job. Just as when beginning a job search, we recommend that you start by writing a brief letter of introduction about yourself that you can send out to healthcare providers. After sending your letter, it’s very important that you follow up with a phone call to their offices. Your goal is to introduce yourself in a professional manner so your request to shadow will have some credibility.

Also, remember to use your informal networks. Try any contacts you already know – your own family physician, family dentist, family optometrist. You could also try to contact any physicians who have treated you or family members in the past. If a relative or friend works in a hospital, ask if they may be able to help you make contacts too.

Tips on creating shadowing letter of introduction #

Here are tips on creating a letter of introduction and following up to set up shadowing:

• First, sit down and write one good, serious paragraph about yourself, your goals and interest in healthcare. Information you could decide to include: where you are from, how you got interested in healthcare, where you have already shadowed or volunteered, your academic interests, where you go to college, your major, and other interests. If you find that you have enough for a second good paragraph about yourself, write another one.
• Now, draft a letter of introduction or “cover letter” and incorporate the paragraph you’ve written about yourself into it. Use proper business letter formatting for this letter, including a salutation and closing. If you have never written a business letter before, the IU Career Development Center provides some great resources to help you get started. Consult the info at this link: https://cdc.indiana.edu/step-four/index.html#how-to-prepare .

In the first sentence, state that you are writing to ask for the opportunity to shadow. Then incorporate the paragraph(s) you wrote about yourself into the body of the letter.

In the closing paragraph provide some information on the best ways to make contact with you and your availability. Thank the health professional for considering your request.

• This step is optional, but you may want to include a resume with the letter you are sending. If you’ve never created a resume, the Career Development Center provides some great resources to help you get started. Consult the link at https://cdc.indiana.edu/step-four/index.html#how-to-prepare . Sample resumes are provided at that link as well.
• Now that you have a good draft of a letter of introduction, you are ready to take the next steps of getting it ready to send out. Now you will need to do some research and identify the health professionals you would like to shadow. Look for listings of physicians/healthcare providers that interest you in the area where you are seeking shadowing opportunities. We recommend that you especially focus on seeking out professionals outside of Bloomington or in your hometown during breaks, since you may find more providers are available. Check the websites of hospitals for listings of their affiliated physicians.
• Make a list of all the health professionals you’ve selected to contact with their addresses and contact information. It’s best not to just write to one healthcare provider and then wait for a response. You’ll probably not get a response from every person you contact. We’d recommend writing to five or ten contacts – you may need to try an even higher number. If you write to ten healthcare providers, it’s likely that two or three will allow you to shadow.
• If you wish, you can try to target physicians who work in particular specialty areas that interest you. However, shadowing a regular family physician will give you plenty of exposure to the variety of situations that a doctor encounters. Eventually, it can be very rewarding to shadow physicians in a wide variety of specialties and work settings in order to gain more breadth in your exposure to medicine.
• You may wish to personalize each letter further. For instance, if you are interested in learning about a particular specialty area that is the doctor’s specialty, in your letter you can explain a little about why you are interested in learning about that area.
• The next step is to finalize all your letters. While it’s sometimes possible to send your letter by email, often a postal letter is going to be the best way to reach healthcare providers, and it may create a more professional impression. For postal letters, include the name and address of each physician in proper business format, print out your letters and business envelopes to go with them, sign the letters and then head to the post office and mail them off.
• Then – and this is a very important step – after you mail your letters wait about a week and if you have not heard back from them, politely call each provider’s office. This is a very important step! When you call, introduce yourself to the receptionist. You can say, “I sent a letter to the doctor, and I was calling now to follow up and see if they have received it.” Explain that you would be very interested in shadowing if the provider would have time. When you call be polite, mature, and professional.
• Because you have introduced yourself professionally by first writing a formal letter, you are likely to get a better response this way than if you just call without introducing yourself formally prior to calling.
• You should also check with hospitals and medical clinics in your area to see if they have an office that does placement for shadowing. Most hospitals do not place students for shadowing, but some will. Don’t just wait for someone to place you for shadowing though. The key is to be proactive and try to contact many physicians and then follow up by making contact again. It really works.
• Start this process several weeks or even months in advance of when you would like to shadow. It can take weeks to set up shadowing so you should begin this process early.
• If a health professional only has time to allow you to shadow for an afternoon – take it! Most students only get the opportunity to shadow a doctor for a day at a time. By accumulating a day here and there with different providers in different specialty areas, you can gain very significant experience and exposure to diverse aspects of healthcare. Cumulative experience is what counts!
• Before you shadow, familiarize yourself with HIPPA and privacy regulations. The following website provides excellent resources, including a powerpoint that you should review: https://www.aafp.org/medical-school-residency/faculty/pre-med/hipaa/ The hospital or doctor’s office where you shadow will probably also provide you information and require you to sign a confidentiality agreement.
• When you show up to shadow, present yourself in a professional manner. Dress professionally and be respectful of the patients who are allowing you to observe.
• Be considerate and sensitive to the needs of the patients who are being treated, just as you would want someone to be considerate to you if a bystander were in the room watching your own interactions with your doctor. Follow the healthcare provider’s lead and ask what guidelines you should follow. Shadowing is an opportunity for you to develop professionalism.

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• Tips on setting up shadowing
• Tips on creating shadowing letter of introduction