Getting Hands On: The Benefits of Job Shadowing

Could job shadowing be the key to boosting engagement and discovering hidden talent within your organisation? This hands-on training approach not only prepares new hires but also empowers current employees to explore new career paths

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Business Management Daily

Job shadowing is an immersive career training technique where a prospective employee learns by working alongside an experienced professional. Among the various methods to prepare new hires, few are as effective as this approach. A survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) revealed that nearly 90% of organisations using job shadowing experienced higher employee engagement.

Exploring career paths

Shadowing offers practical, hands-on experience in specific roles, making it an effective way for professionals to gain a deeper understanding of what the job entails. The primary aim is to give the prospect a clear picture of a typical workday and the skills needed for the role. This firsthand exposure provides an invaluable learning opportunity, allowing the prospect to truly experience what a particular career path involves.

Finding the right fit

Job shadowing can help employees discover which roles better suit their skills and needs—something they might not have realised without this experience. A 2022 study by the National Career Development Association (NCDA) revealed that over 80% of job-shadowing participants felt more confident in their career choices after gaining new skills and insights during the process.

Retaining talent

For employers, offering job shadowing is an excellent strategy to strengthen and diversify the talent pool. By allowing employees to explore various career paths within the organisation, job shadowing helps them identify roles that best align with their skills, interests and long-term goals. This not only aids in employee retention by ensuring that staff members are placed in positions where they can thrive but also fosters a cross-skilled and adaptable workforce.

Job shadowing isn’t just valuable for interns and new hires; it can also be incredibly beneficial for current employees who are considering a career change or exploring new opportunities within the organisation. By offering job shadowing to all staff members, employers can foster continuous professional growth, encourage internal mobility and ensure that everyone is in a role where they can truly excel.