Program Information

  • Education Level

    High School
  • Program Implementation

    After School, Classroom Based, Virtual
  • Program Focus

JA Job Shadow®

JA Job Shadow® is a comprehensive experience that helps students design an individualized career path. Supporting blended as well as self-guided activities, JA Job Shadow® provides a design-thinking structure for career exploration.


Students develop a deep understanding of their talents, interests, and values through a career interest assessment. The result is a broad list of career possibilities. Through informational interviews, students narrow down the list to identify their top potential career opportunities. They interact with professionals in a workplace site visit and during a multi-hour job shadow experience in a career area of interest. Reflection and analysis move students toward their target career or back to their list to explore another option.

Following participation in the program, students will be able to:

  • Learn the design-thinking approach
  • Investigate their top three career choices
  • Create an elevator pitch
  • Write a professional thank you note
  • Explore appropriate and inappropriate interview behavior
  • Research potential employers

JA Job Shadow® is part of the JA Work and Career Readiness Pathway and is recommended for high school students (Grades 9-12).

This volunteer and educator led program can be implemented as a classroom based, remote live, or after school program.

  • It includes six 45-minute sessions and two opportunities for site visits with flexible implementation options based on local needs
  • Extensive self-guided learning experiences and current career-planning tools to enhance networking skills, interview skills, and online profiles are included with this program

JA teachers and volunteers are encouraged, as part of this program, to utilize the resources available in JA Connect® Learning Pathways, located at connect.ja.org. This self-guided experience includes interactives, JA Here to Career™, and games and apps for student use.

JA programs support national and state standards in reading, mathematics, social studies, and work and career readiness. See here for more information on alignment with national and state standards.

Request Program

Name(Required)

While working at #1 Cochran, the team will be running the car dealership. Employees will work together to find car deals, schedule service repairs, and sell an item during the shopping period.

Job Roles

  • CEO
  • CFO
  • Accessory Expert
  • Service Advisor
  • Digital Sales Advisor