Work Shadowing
Work shadowing allows staff members to see colleagues in action, and apply what they learn in their work and to their career development.
There are many advantages to work shadowing, including:
- Development opportunities for both the shadow and the host
- Sharing good practice across the University
- “Testing out” of possible career options
- Breaking down barriers between central Professional Services and those in Schools/Institutes by creating networking and understanding processes from a different angle
How the shadowing happens will depend on the needs of the shadow, but could involve observing particular tasks, or observing a representation of what the host does over a day or number of days.
Are you interested in shadowing?
We've found that work shadowing is most effective when the shadow identifies their own host and makes arrangements independently. We're supporting this process by:
- Clarifying the steps that everyone involved needs to take, and which responsibilities lie with which person
- Providing an application form to formalise the arrangement and define its scope
- Evaluating shadowing placements to understand their impact
- Collating contact information for potential host areas
To learn more about the process of work shadowing and how to arrange it, please read the Process & Guidance document:
Secondments are an excellent way to support individual career development and for developing the skills of the organisation.
A ‘secondment’ is the temporary move or ‘loan’ of a member of staff either to another role within Queen Mary, or to or from an external organisation.
Secondments can help to enhance or develop skills and increase understanding of areas of work that are relevant to your current or future role.
Refer to:
- Secondment guidance which outlines the roles and responsibilities and advice for a successful secondment. See:Secondment Guidance (April 2025) [PDF 367KB]
- Secondment policy document for key principles and main procedures which should be followed (to be updated)
Other resources
A project placement is an informal, part-time ‘placement’ within Queen Mary. A member of staff spends a small part of their working time within another team or department, participating in a project of defined scope and timeline, for example, 0.5 days a week for four months. Secondments differ from project placements in that they are usually full-time, more formal, involve a change in line management and last for a longer period.
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