How to Put Shadowing on Your Resume (With Examples)

If you have limited work experience, job shadowing helps you build skills and strengthen your resume.

Here’s an example of how to highlight shadowing experience on your resume:

Should you include shadowing experience on your resume?

Yes, you should include shadowing experience on your resume if it is relevant to the job and you have limited work experience. Shadowing shows that you understand the role, have some industry exposure, and are actively building your skills.

This type of experience is especially useful for students, recent graduates, and career changers. It helps demonstrate initiative and interest in a field, even if you haven’t held a formal position yet.

If you already have several years of relevant work experience, prioritize full-time roles and remove older or less relevant shadowing experience. Focus on the experience that best supports your qualifications for the job.

How to list shadowing experience on your resume

List shadowing in your experience section alongside jobs and internships.

Use a clear job title, like “Shadowing Experience” followed by:

• The person or position you were shadowing
• The name of the company or organization
• 3–5 bullet points explaining your duties and skills you’ve acquired

For example:

Tips for making your shadowing experience stand out

Use these tips to present your shadowing experience in a clear and impactful way:

• Use action verbs: Start each bullet point with clear action verbs like “observed,” “assisted,” or “supported” to describe your role.
• Add measurable results: Use numbers to show scope, such as the number of patients, tasks, or hours completed.
• Focus on relevant skills: Highlight skills that match the job you’re applying for.
• Tailor it to the role: Adjust your descriptions to match the job requirements and keywords.

Additional examples of shadowing on a resume

Here are two more examples of a shadowing experience on a resume:

Frequently asked questions

Here are answers to some of the questions we get asked the most about putting shadowing on a resume:

Does shadowing count as work experience?

No, shadowing doesn’t count as full-time work experience. However, because it’s job-related, it can still be placed in the experience section of your resume.

How do you describe shadowing experience?

You describe shadowing experience on a resume similar to how you would describe work experience. If you had the opportunity to work hands-on on some tasks while shadowing, describe what skills you learned from that. Or, if you exclusively observed others do their job, provide an overview of the type of work you watched being performed.

Do employers value job shadowing experience?

Yes, employers value job shadowing experience when it’s relevant to the role and clearly shows what you learned. Shadowing demonstrates initiative and basic industry knowledge, especially if you don’t have much formal work experience yet.

While shadowing doesn’t carry the same weight as a job or internship, it still helps employers see that you understand how the role works and have taken steps to build your skills. Focus on specific tasks, observations, and results to show the value of your experience.