Students are often encouraged to participate in internship programs to better their experience and understanding of a particular field of interest. However, not every student has the time or opportunity to make a semester-long commitment.
Photo: These students who participated in the job shadow program this year are, from left to right: Anna Kryzckowski of Red Hook, Erica Pivko of Saugerties, Shalyn Campbell of Hudson, Sonia Palacios Chacon of Hudson, Sophia Martino of Ghent, Lilibeth Salas Aldana of Tivoli, Dylan Eidle of Rhinebeck, and Ashley Albert of Greenville.
To accommodate students who desire an in-depth career experience, Columbia-Greene Community College offers them the ability to job shadow. Students are provided the ability to accompany professionals in either a generalized or highly specified field, depending on the student’s own preference. From there, they have agreed to devote six to 16 hours learning from others, observing, inquiring, and participating in the daily duties of their mentor.
For the third winter-break session, students have been working in various local businesses, and training in several different industries.
Those shadowing the Bank of Greene County, for instance, have been able to study cybersecurity from an expert. Columbia Memorial Hospital has permitted students to interact with various departments in accordance with each student’s individual interests, while the Greene County District Attorney has allowed one student to learn more about the criminal justice system from the prosecutor’s perspective.
Another student, interested in working with the elderly, has shadowed at Hearthstone Care in Catskill, Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School in Ghent has welcomed numerous education-oriented students to shadow its teachers, and The Child Advocacy Center in Hudson is offering greater insight into professional therapy practice.
“I have never had a student regret a job shadow,” said Associate Professor of Education and Psychology Berne Bendel. “They find them inspiring, motivating, and clarifying as they continue to pursue their academic and career goals. Job shadows allow for more time to course correct and adjust academic plans before a student invests more money and time in their academic preparation for what they think is their dream career.”
C-GCC alumnus Phil Proper of Kinderhook, currently studying law at the University of Albany, participated in two job shadows while a student at C-GCC – with the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office and Columbia-Greene Media. He reaffirmed Bendel’s statement when he said, “These job shadows have been a great opportunity to explore different career possibilities.”
In fact, some employers have even inquired about offering these students real internships following their job shadow. In this way, job shadowing opens new doors for students, providing not only valuable knowledge and experience, but also potential career opportunities.
For more information, please call (518) 828-4181, or visit SUNYcgcc.edu.
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