20 September 2005
The Jersey branch of Institute of Directors’ (IoD) work shadowing scheme, is competitive and is for the high flying members of our Year 12 cohort. It is a chance for the student to shadow a director or senior manager of a local company or within the public service – it is a unique experience and a very valuable insight into management.
Who are the IoD?
The IoD is a non party-political business organisation founded by Royal Charter in 1903, currently with around 55,000 members.
The IoD has always championed the entrepreneur and seeks to provide an environment conducive to business success. For any company to prosper, directors will be continually engaged in making decisions involving innovation, risk and investment.
About the sponsors
Carey Olsen’s sponsorship enables tomorrow’s leaders this unique and valuable opportunity.
Carey Olsen is The Channel Islands Law Firm with over 300 lawyers and staff in offices in Jersey, Guernsey and London. The firm provides a wide range of legal services to institutions and corporates, professional firms around the world, private clients locally and worldwide and governments. Recognised for its responsive, high quality service, Carey Olsen is a keen contributor to the local community through its support and sponsorship of local events, the arts, music, sports and charities.
The firm is delighted to be the new sponsor of the IoD Workshadow Scheme and undertakes to assist in raising its profile amongst local businesses and students to help young people get a taste of business life in Jersey and to encourage them to be our business leaders of the future.
Who does the administration?
Careers Jersey provides the back office facilities so that Year 12 or Highlands College students can be take part in the work shadowing scheme.
The benefits
- an invaluable preview of life at the top
- an insight into the managerial and organizational skills required for successfully running a company
- an opportunity to learn how decisions are arrived at and to question why
- confidence
- an experience that will stand out on any of your future applications
Application process (click here for dates for 2008)
Following a series of road shows early in the spring term at each of the sixth form schools and Highlands College the students are asked to prepare a CV and write a letter of application. Students have the option of attending a workshop, run by members of the IoD and Careers Jersey, on letter and CV writing and interview techniques.
All students are interviewed by a panel of three and are given feedback on their CV, letter of application and interview technique at the end. This in itself is an excellent learning opportunity.
The successful candidates are matched with a director or senior manager and it is up to both parties to agree a mutually convenient week for the shadowing to take place. The director or senior manager will write a report of their performance and the student will also write a report on their experience.
The student’s CV, letter of application, interview and report are all marked. The successful shadows are invited to a presentation evening in early November - a chance to catch up with their Director or Senior Manager before being presented with their certificate. There is a special prize for the overall winner and runner up, a trip to the following year’s IoD annual convention at the Albert Hall. There is a separate prize for the shadow who writes the best report.
Comments from the 2007 shadows
Manager: ‘Sorry about this I’ve got a rather quiet week ahead’
Student: ‘If that was quiet week, then I dread to think how tired I would have been after a busy one!’
Looking back, I am astounded by my ignorance on matters which affect
Jersey so much and will shape the lives of myself and my friends in years to come.
The interview providing me with feedback on my technique, and things I might do to improve, both, at this stage, invaluable.
The week was exciting, interesting and exhausting.
. . it more than opened my eyes to what managerial work involves.
This priceless experience has certainly changed immeasurably my outlook on management and business.
It is an experience that I will never forget.
An important part of this scheme is the interview, it is fantastic preparation for future interviews and the feedback is extremely valuable.
I am hugely grateful to have been provided with such an interesting and valuable insight to life at the top.
. . .it really is a once in a life time experience and I think it has changed my views on life for the better.
Comments from the 2007 Directors/Managers
E is the type of person we seek to employ. She has the right attitude, excellent interpersonal skills and an eagerness to acquire knowledge and learn through the experience that life provides her.
Special thanks to the Institute of Directors for providing me with the opportunity to have such a rewarding week.
I can report again this year, that from our perspective the IOD work shadowing scheme was a success.
S contributed to discussions throughout the week and was a valuable sounding board on a number of topics and crises I had to deal with. S was a pleasure to work with and her contributions and comments showed a maturity that belied her young age.
He presented a fresh, intelligent and thoughtful perspective and provided us with constructive challenges as to why we do things. I certainly found it a worthwhile and informative experience and am sure that C will do well in his chosen career.
D is a lively, intelligent, enthusiastic young person. She asked relevant questions and made valuable contributions in various meetings she attended. We had absolutely no qualms about sharing commercially sensitive and confidential information with her.
As an organisation , this was our first experience of the Work Shadow scheme. Everyone found it useful and productive and we look forward to participating again next year.
She was one of the best of a succession of work shadows over the years and again this year, I wish to congratulate the
Institute of Directors on its selection procedures.
It was a great pleasure to be shadowed by C and I hope that the experience will be of value to her in developing the successful career that she deserves.
The maturity and interest that she showed during her short time with us, far exceeded our expectations of a student of her age.
Contact
For further information contact Sue Walsh, Work Related Learning Mnager, on 449356 or via email s.walsh@gov.je
gov.je