Job shadowing
Job shadowing involves spending time — for example, a typical working day — on-the-job with someone who is already employed in your occupation of interest. It may mean simply observing someone or it may mean actually volunteering to assist with various activities.

You can even go on a virtual job shadow by watching career videos in which workers describe their job, their work environment, their prospects for advancement and the education, skills, and other requirements needed to succeed in that job. Check out Virtual Job Shadow (http://www.virtualjobshadow.com); and
Disability Mentoring Day Website (www.dmd-aapd.org)

Work experience/Internships
Work experience is like job shadowing except it involves actually doing the job rather than merely observing. It also usually requires a longer period of time – perhaps a week instead of a day. It is often done on a volunteer basis.
Check out: American Association for the Advancement of Science for internship opportunities at: http://ehrweb.aaas.org/entrypoint.

Informational interviewing
Informational interviewing involves talking to people who are doing the type of work you are interested in, either by telephone or face-to-face. For example, if law is an occupation of interest to you, you could talk to one or more lawyers, ideally in different practice areas, and ask questions such as:

• What do they like about being an attorney?
• What don't they like about it?
• What is a typical working day like?
• What is their advice to you as someone considering a legal career?