Finding a Sponsor

Job shadows can be a great opportunity to explore different types of health care careers. The first step in participating in a job shadow experience is to find a sponsor who agrees to allow you to observe them. It can be a bit intimidating to know where to start in finding a sponsor, check out the tips below on getting started.

1. Identify a Goal for the Observation

a. What type of provider do you want to observe? 
b. What are you hoping to learn from the observation?
c. Are you seeking out a job shadow experience to fulfill an application/program requirement for a specific program? Be sure to be familiar with the actual requirements.

2. Begin Search for Sponsor

a. Reach out to your health care providers/clinics – even if they aren’t the right fit for what you are looking for, they might be able to direct you to other individuals.
b. Talk to your family, friends, neighbors, and teachers/faculty to see if they know anyone who might be a good fit to serve as your sponsor. 
c. Utilize the “Find a Doctor/Provider” function to identify clinics/providers based on specialty areas. 

3. Contact Potential Sponsors
When contacting potential sponsors, be sure to:

a. Outline what kind of observation you are seeking.
b. Explain why you believe that particular person/site would be a good fit.
c. Provide the timeframe you are looking to schedule the observation during, especially if it needs to be completed by a certain date. Also include the number of hours you would like to observe.
d. Include accurate contact information for yourself!

4. Complete the Application
Once you have identified a sponsor, be sure to collect the following information from them so you can complete the Job Shadow Application. 

a. Name
b. Role
c. Contact Information (Phone and Email)
d. Work Location