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Why Pathful’s Virtual Job Shadow Videos?

‍In this article, Alex shares real classroom examples and quick tips for using Pathful’s Virtual Job Shadow Videos to spark curiosity and connect students with real-world opportunities.

‍Imagine living in a landlocked state but dreaming of becoming a Tugboat Captain or Coastal Advocate. How do you learn about careers connected to water when you’re hundreds of miles from the ocean?

That’s where Pathful’s Virtual Job Shadow, or career videos come in. They give students virtual access to hundreds of real workplaces and professionals, opening doors to careers that might not exist in their communities.

But are these just videos? Absolutely not.

Each Virtual Job Shadow Video lives inside a Career Profile, which includes details on Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs), Earnings, Career Outlook, and even where that field is predicted to grow nationwide.

To make things interactive, every Career Profile also includes a five-question Career Check quiz and a Career Journal where students reflect on skills, education, salary, and pros and cons of a role. These simple tools transform the videos into active learning moments, not just viewing experiences.

At the time of this writing, Pathful offers over 550 three- to five-minute Virtual Job Shadow Videos, all closed captioned in English and Spanish. These videos are exclusive to the Pathful platform.

So how do educators bring them to life?
Let’s look at a few Learning in Action examples that show how teachers are using them to spark discovery and connection.

🌊 Learning in Action: Exploring “Water” Careers

Scenario:
I teach a high school careers course in Arizona and want my class to learn about aquatic sciences and water-related careers but field trips aren’t possible this year.

The Task:
In the Careers module, my students type one simple keyword into the Search for Careers field: Water.

Pathful immediately shows 42 Career Profiles ranging from high-tech to hands-on:
- Pipe-fitter
- Kayak Assembly Supervisor
- Marine Biologist
- Tugboat Captain
- Unmanned System Operator
- Oceanographer
- GIS Analyst - Oceans

Outcome:
A single keyword revealed to my students that “careers around water” go far beyond marine biology or boat captaining. They discovered physically demanding trade jobs and STEM-heavy research roles, all connected by one theme.

Teacher Tip: Try using different environmental keywords like “forest,” “construction,” or “digital” and let students explore what emerges.

💉 Learning in Action: Preparing for Career Day

‍‍Scenario:
I’m the faculty supervisor for our HOSA Club, and we’re preparing to visit the local AHEC for an in-person career day. Before we go, I want my students to learn about healthcare roles beyond doctors and nurses and come ready with meaningful questions.

The Task:
During club hours, we browse the Health Science Cluster in Pathful’s Careers module. Students pick several jobs that interest them, watch both the Virtual Job Shadow and Q&A Videos, and complete the Career Journal and Career Check for each.

Outcome:
By writing in their Career Journals, students reflected on the local pros and cons of healthcare careers and considered whether those paths fit their own communities. Their notes became question prompts for professionals they met on-site.

Teacher Tip: Before a guest speaker or field trip, assign students one related video and have them bring two questions drawn from the Career Journal.

💰 Learning in Action: Salary Meets Reality

Scenario:
Students often ask, “Which careers make the most money?” I flip that curiosity into a learning opportunity.

The Task:
We use the salary range slider within the Careers module to explore high-paying fields, for example, setting it between $90K and $180K.

The results always surprise them:
- Theme Park Project Manager – around $165K
- Underground Miner – about $100K

Then we discuss what it takes to get there: advanced degrees, physical stamina, specialized math or engineering skills, and long work hours.

Outcome:
Students see that salary alone doesn’t tell the full story. They start to weigh commitment, schooling, and personal strengths, realizing that success means more than the number on a paycheck.

Teacher Tip: Use the salary slider as a conversation starter for career readiness and goal-setting activities.

🧩 Learning in Action: Using Assessment Data

Scenario:
My 8th-grade Career Management class has just completed Pathful’s Interest Assessment.

The Task:
Students form small committees based on their top three interest clusters. Each group explores several careers within those clusters, watching videos and reviewing KSAs, salary, and growth projections.

Alternative Task:
For variety, we sometimes pull results from the Personality Assessment, Work Values Assessment, or the new Lifestyle Calculator to drive discussion.

Outcome:
Using assessment data helps us take an intentional, data-informed approach to career exploration. Students learn how their personal interests connect to real opportunities and make career discussions more meaningful.

Teacher Tip: Have students compare whether their top careers appear across multiple assessments. It’s a great way to highlight patterns and strengths.

🏨 Learning in Action: The Local Connection

‍Being based in Asheville, North Carolina, Pathful has filmed some incredible job shadowing videos close to home. With tourism as a major industry here, you can find niche careers such as Tour Guide, Hotel Front Office Manager, and Demi Chef, all filmed locally.

Did you know? Typing a specific city or state into the search bar can surface content filmed in that area.

Try It:
Have students search their own city or state name. Which careers show up nearby?
This quick exercise builds local pride and shows how diverse regional economies really are.

Alex’s Favorite Virtual Job Shadow Videos

‍After years of exploring and filming careers, a few stand out as personal favorites, ones that always spark great discussion with students:

- Chocolatier (I make a VIP appearance in this one!)
- Dog Groomer
- Ramp Worker
- Helicopter Pilot
- BBQ Pitmaster
- Urban Farmer
- College & Career Coach

‍Have a cool or niche industry you think deserves a Job Shadow? Let us know!

Final Thoughts

Every Pathful video offers more than a glimpse into a career; it’s an invitation to explore, ask questions, and reflect. Whether you’re teaching a careers course, leading a club, or guiding one-on-one counseling sessions, these short, authentic videos make career readiness tangible and fun .Each classroom example shows how simple it can be to turn Pathful’s tools into meaningful learning moments, no extra prep required, just curiosity and a few clicks. Which Virtual Job Shadow videos will your students discover? Log in today and find out