After a three-year hiatus, the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management’s (HRM) Job Shadow Program is back, taking students into the workplace for a day of career learning. This revived initiative pairs students with professionals in the hospitality industry to give them a firsthand look at the responsibilities, challenges and collaboration behind each role.
For many students, this is their first opportunity to step inside the environments they’ve only heard about in class. For employers, it’s a chance to show what the industry is looking for when hiring.
Suzanne Taylor, program director of career services and alumni at HRM, started working on the program last October, recruiting students and reaching out to hospitality companies in the state who were willing to show them the ropes.
“This year we were able to place sophomores, juniors and seniors in different restaurants, resorts and spas in Flagstaff, Sedona and Phoenix,” Taylor said. “We are so excited to have the program back. We want to give students an overview of the different departments and jobs out there so that they can get a better idea of what they want to do when they graduate, while also connecting them with potential employers.”
Students are recruited in the fall through social media and invited to fill out an application for the program. Then, they participate in an interview where they share their interests and capabilities. Once paired with an employer, students attend a one-hour orientation where they learn about professionalism, appropriate attire, developing and asking questions and logistics.
“We try to pair students with their area of interest,” Taylor said. “They start the day early and usually get to meet the general manager or some higher executive staff. They attend a staff meeting or briefing and then go on a tour of the property or restaurant and get to speak with different department managers. After lunch, they get to shadow the managers in the areas they are most interested in.”
Hailey Colvin, a sophomore majoring in hospitality, spent the day with The Bella Group, a real estate investment and property management company with offices in Flagstaff and Tucson. She was able to shadow two leasing agents who took her on a tour of their properties and put her skills to work.
“I enjoyed learning about their positions and getting their feedback,” Colvin said. “I think my favorite part was helping them set up for an event they were having because I could interact with everyone on the property. The most valuable thing I learned at The Bella Group was that even though each day is different, the goals and values never change. I think this will help me throughout the future and will further my career because learning how to navigate each day is key, no matter how different it is.”
The Job Shadow Program is part of the career-ready strategies HRM has been focusing on, where students get a taste of what their post-graduation career will look like.
“Students can make strong connections that allow them to get a better sense of a path that might resonate with them,” Taylor said. “Whether it’s front of the house or back of the house in a restaurant, hotel or resort, organizing events, banqueting, sales, marketing, management, maintenance or landscaping, they are seeing first-hand how it all works.”
This was the case for Zach McDaniel, a senior who shadowed at The Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix. He said this experience gave him a better understanding of how operations work.
“I got to see what a busy day looks like at the front desk and sat in some department meetings,” McDaniel said. “This experience helped me understand what my path may look like and where I will start. It showed me what the different areas are and what growth and progression look like. Taking advantage of an opportunity like this is one of the best ways to figure out what your interests are if you are in the right industry.”
Taylor said the day-long program is like a job interview where students start thinking about questions they need to ask, have conversations with people from different departments and can practice the professional skills they might not have an opportunity to show in a school environment, allowing them to engage and network while building their confidence.
“This experience gave me a better perspective on career opportunities after graduation,” said Bella Elton, who shadowed at the restaurant Flower Child in the valley. “It showed me what I’m capable of and the type of environment I want to work in. I learned the importance of strong communication between managers and employees and gained an appreciation for the impact that serving high-quality food has on customer satisfaction and the company’s reputation. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience or a more welcoming company. I gained insight into both the corporate side of operations and the hands-on responsibilities a manager has in the restaurant. I also learned about the administrative aspects of management and saw firsthand how the company invests in its managers and employees, building a strong foundation for growth and development.”
Applications for students interested in participating in this program will open in October. Those interested can email Suzanne Taylor for more information.
Mariana Laas | NAU Communications
(928) 523-5050 | mariana.laas@nau.edu