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ARLINGTON, Va. - On November 6, more than 100 students from Arlington Public Schools and The Sycamore School visited local businesses as part of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Job Shadow Day.
Job Shadow Day provides an opportunity for students to experience real-world work environments that can inform their career aspirations and their own personal growth. By witnessing professionals in action and understanding the day-to-day operations of different industries, students can make informed decisions about their future career paths.
Job Shadow Day is organized by the Chamber's Education and Workforce Development Committee, in partnership with Arlington Public Schools' Career Center and The Sycamore School. The Education and Workforce Development Committee, supported by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce Foundation and chaired by Dr. Liza Wilson Durant of George Mason University, fosters relationships between education and business to enhance Arlington’s ability to attract and retain talent, and ensure our schools prepare students for the workforce.
The committee hosts Job Shadow Day for interested sophomores from Arlington public high schools and students from various grades from The Sycamore School. Each student applies and selects a preferred career path, after which they are matched with a participating employer. This year saw an increase of more than 70% in the number of students participating in Job Shadow Day.
The event kicked off at the Amazon Visitor Landing. Arlington Chamber President & CEO Kate Bates began by welcoming students and thanking them for taking the initiative to participate. She also reminded students that their experience at Job Shadow Day will be valuable regardless of whether they ultimately pursue the career they explore here. "Learning what you don't like to do is just as valuable as finding what you want to do," said Bates. "I encourage you all to take it all in today, ask questions, and be open to everything that you learn, even the surprises."
Andrea Fava, Vice President of U.S. Public Policy at Amazon, and Dr. Liza Wilson Durant additionally gave remarks to students following Bates. Once the kickoff concluded, students then visited one of more than 30 job sites all across Arlington. Over a half day, students at job sites received an overview of the company, met staff members, and learned about career opportunities in that job sector.
Participating job shadow host sites included:
This event was made possible by our sponsors:
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