The Shadow Day Program, coordinated by the San Diego MESA Alliance, matches students with employers to gain insight into technical careers. Student participants had the opportunity to observe one or more people working at a job of interest. Overall, students observed and networked with professionals, investigated a career field, clarified career goals and interests, and functioned within a work environment.
Industry Participants consist of San Diego County technical firms specializing in Engineering, Pharmaceuticals, and Education. Most of the participating firms are board members and longtime supporters of the San Diego MESA Alliance.
Industry Participants:
- County of San Diego
- DLT&V
- Goodrich Aerostructures
- Hamilton Sundstrand
- Infrastructure Engineering Corporation
- Morse High School
- NAVAIR
- Northrop Grumman
- Raytheon
- Rick Engineering Company
- Scripps Health (SCORE)
- SDG&E
- Solar Turbines
Student Objectives:
- Confirm a career choice
- See current technology
- Increase awareness of potential employers
- Network with future employers
Student Experiences:
- Tour of facilities.
- Discuss the organizational chart, company culture and working environment.
- HR discusses future job and internship opportunities within the company.
- Students exposed to current technology and tools used by professionals.
- Informal lunch with alumni or other professionals where they can share their experiences and provide opportunity to network. This could also provide the students a better sense of the culture of the company and the people who work there.
- Insight and experience to daily challenges and requirements of the job.
- Students to work with entry-level or other professional in their field on current project.
To learn about students’ experiences at Scripps Health (SCORE), please read ‘Orthopedic Researchers at Scripps Health Help College Students Refine Their Career Path.’
To learn about students’ experiences at Goodrich Aerostructures, please read The Skylines Aerostructures Newsletter, Volume 20, No. 1 – January 13 2010.
This was a one-day shadow experience occurring on Thursday, November 19, 2009. Students were matched with technical professionals based on their career interests; as well as by the needs of the hosting company. Unless otherwise requested by hosting company, students arrived at their hosting company by 9:00 am and departed for their various campuses at 2:00 pm. There was no cost to the students as most companies covered lunch.
Transportation was coordinated through the carpool component of the program and was organized by the San Diego MESA Alliance Staff. Those students driving on Shadow Day received a mileage reimbursement for assisting their peers.
A very special thanks goes out to the industry representatives who hosted a Shadow Day at their respective companies. Thank you for inspiring our future engineers and scientists.
Additional information can be found at the SDSU MEP website and additional photo coverage can be found at the SDMA Facebook page.