Job shadowing is a common training technique for new employees where they spend time with an experienced expert observing their work. It can begin on day one or after an orientation period and has many benefits, including building confidence, seeing real-life situations, and integrating into the work team.
Job shadowing is actually one of the most common training techniques for new employees. In essence, it involves spending a period of time with an experienced expert, observing everything they do that is related to the work that should be accomplished as part of the job’s daily routine. By involving a new employee to act as an observer and a person to act as a demonstrator, this allows the new hire a chance to manage what is involved in performing the tasks associated with the job.
Job shadowing can begin at one of two points in the job training process. One of the most common is to assign the new hire to an established employee on day one. The new hire may spend one to five days following the employee’s routine, learning the general responsibilities of the job, observing how tasks are performed, and gaining some insight into methods for managing the job efficiently.
Another option is to implement shadowing of work after an orientation period has taken place in a classroom. With this application, shading allows the new hire to already have a background in running the company, with observation being gathered throughout the shady building on that orientation basis. Combining structured educational classes with observation of the work of an employee with extensive work experience works very well in a number of contexts.
The concept of job shadowing has many advantages. First, the new hire can often feel intimidated doing tasks for the first time. Allowing the new person to follow up with a longtime employee for a day or two can often build the new employee’s confidence. In addition to this benefit, job shading allows the new hire to see procedures and methods in real situations. This can help bring some of the scenarios that have been outlined in the training materials to life, making them much more real to the new hire than they were in the safe environment of the classroom.
A third benefit of job shadowing is that the new hire often has the opportunity to start building rapport with other employees, which can help integrate them into the work team more quickly. Acceptance into the group can often help the new employee relax and focus on learning the best ways to do things, rather than worrying about fitting into the company culture.
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