Groundhog Job Shadow Day, which will take place Feb. 3, 2010, introduces students to a career in their major and offers them an opportunity to shadow a professional for a day. This will be the second time it has ever been offered at Texas A&M University-Commerce and students are encouraged to apply.
“We really want students to sign up because a lot of times we have students that will major in something and they have never had an experience in it,” Career Development coordinator Gregory Shirley said.
Shirley said the day should give students a chance to get a legitimate chance to see what their future could look like.
“Also it gives students who already have chosen a major but haven’t had a real life experience to get exposure and actually see what they would be doing eight hours a day, five or six days a week for at least twenty-years,” Shirley said. “On the other hand, for those who are in a major because either their parents pushed them into it or because they feel like it will be lucrative, it will allow the student to see if it’s what they really want to do.”
Radio/Television instructor Tony DeMars tells his students to apply because of how influential it will be in networking opportunities.
“I’ve always told students from the beginning of teaching in a university environment was that a big part of them being successful is about networking, getting to know the industry professionals,” DeMars said. “The way that a student can make that start is by being able to get into an environment they want to work in and getting to know those people and that’s the first step of networking. I think that the Groundhog Job Shadow Day is that perfect opportunity where Career Development is giving students a chance to get into exactly what they want to do and helping them do that.”
Senior marketing major Taylor Jordan was first attracted by the offer because she learned that another marketing major had signed up for the previous Groundhog Job Shadow Day held last February and got to spend a day with the Dallas Stars hockey team.
“I’m really into sports, so the event interested me and right from there I went straight to the office and filled out an application,” Jordan said. ” I think Groundhog Job Shadow Day gives great resources. There’s no way that I’d be able to make a phone call to the Dallas Stars because I know that it’s not within my ability. The school does it for us, and I’m definitely taking advantage of the opportunity.”
The last day to apply for Groundhog Job Shadow Day in the Career Development office is Nov. 23.