Job Shadow Program
The SJSU Job Shadow Program is an opportunity for students to connect with a professional in order to learn about their role and explore different career paths and industries.
By participating in the Job Shadow Program, you’ll have the opportunity to:
- Discover new industries and interesting roles
- Learn from current employees
- Experience different companies
- Build your professional network
Job Shadow Experience Types
Students who are matched with a professional may participate in 1 of 4 types of experiences depending on employer preferences and availability. These opportunities include:
- Full Day (In Person, 6 – 8 hours)
- Half Day (In Person, 2 – 4 hours)
- Coffee or Lunch (In Person, 1 – 2 hours)
- Informational Interview (Virtual, 30 minutes – 1 hour)
Student Application Process
Student applications are now open. Please note that the student application process requires several steps. Only students who complete all application steps will be eligible to participate in the 2024 Job Shadow Program.
Step 1: Submit the Job Shadow Program Student Application.
Students are invited to submit their initial application for the Job Shadow Program via the link below. Students must submit their initial application by 5pm on Friday, February 23, 2024.
Please note that student applications for the Job Shadow Program are now closed. We are not accepting new responses for the application at this time.
Step 2: Register for 1 of 5 mandatory student orientation sessions.
After completing the initial application, students must register and attend 1 of 5 student orientation sessions. Please see below for details regarding the 5 sessions and links to register on Handshake.
- Student Orientation #1: Monday, February 26, 2024, 12-1pm
- Student Orientation #2: Tuesday, February 27, 2024, 4-5pm
- Student Orientation #3: Wednesday, February 28, 2024, 12-1pm
- Student Orientation #4: Thursday, February 29, 2024, 12-1pm
- Student Orientation #5: Friday, March 1, 2024, 9-10am
Step 3: Complete the orientation quiz.
Students who attend an orientation session will be emailed a short quiz after the session. Students must submit their quiz responses by 5pm on Tuesday, March 5th.
Step 4: Complete the DocuSign packet.
Students who complete Steps 1, 2, and 3 will be entered into a pool of students who will be eligible to participate in the Job Shadow Program. The Career Center will conduct a preliminary matching of eligible students with professionals on Wednesday, March 6th.
Students who are initially matched with an employer will receive a student waiver & liability packet via DocuSign by Thursday, March 7, 2024. Students will have 48 hours from the time they receive the packet to sign it in order to secure their experience. Students who do not sign the packet will not proceed with the Job Shadow Program, and their spot will be given to the next person on the waitlist.
Step 5: Job Shadow Match Day
All students will receive a final email on Friday, March 15, 2024 to notify them of the final status of their Job Shadow Application. In the email students will either be connected with their Job Shadow host or they will be notified that their application was not successful this year.
Student & Employer Matching Process
Students will be matched with professionals based on their responses to the questions in the initial student application. Please note that eligibility does not guarantee that students will be paired with a professional.
Students who are matched will be responsible for confirming the details of their Job Shadow experience with their employer after they are connected via email on Friday, March 15, 2024.
Key Program Dates (2024)
| Activity | Period Opens | Period Closes |
| Submit Job Shadow Program Student Application | Now | Friday, February 23 |
| Attend 1 of 5 Mandatory Student Orientation Sessions | Monday, February 26 | Friday, March 1 |
| Submit Student Orientation Quiz | Monday, February 26 | Tuesday, March 5 |
| Student DocuSign Period (Rolling Basis) | Thursday, March 7 | Thursday, March 14 |
| Student-Employer Match Day | Friday, March 15 | |
| Students & Employers Connect via Email | Friday, March 15 | Friday, March 29 |
| Job Shadow Program | Tuesday, April 2 | Friday, April 5 |
FAQs
All currently enrolled undergraduate students are invited to apply to participate in the Job Shadow Program.
The length of a Job Shadow experience can range depending on its type. Please see the top of this page for more information regarding the length of each opportunity.
The Job Shadow Program will occur during Spring Break on April 2 – April 5, 2024.
The activities included in each Job Shadow vary by employer. In addition to observing your host’s daily responsibilities, some activities may include touring the company’s campus, attending internal meetings, and participating in a networking lunch.
Job Shadows can be either virtual or in-person depending on student and employer preferences.
There are no formal program fees to participate in a Job Shadow. However, students are responsible for all transportation-related costs required to attend the experience (e.g. gas, parking, public transportation, etc.).
No, students are not paid for attending Job Shadows.
No, students cannot earn academic credit for attending Job Shadows.
Some employers may choose to cover the cost of a lunch and/or refreshments, but this decision is up to each employer.
Questions?
Please email Laura Anderson (Career Experiences Program Lead) at laura.anderson@sjsu.edu.