Job Shadow Program
The Job Shadow Program is an opportunity for professionals to connect with students either in-person or virtually in order to help them explore different roles, career paths, and industries.
By hosting a Job Shadow experience for SJSU students, you will have the opportunity to:
- Develop emerging professionals
- Share your expertise
- Connect with diverse talent
- Give back to SJSU
Job Shadow Experience Types
Through the Employer Application, employers will have the opportunity to indicate what type of experience they’d like to provide for students. Types of experiences 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)
Employer Applications
Employers who are interested in participating in the 2025 Job Shadow Program will be invited to submit the Job Shadow Program Employer Application via the link below. All submissions are due by 5pm on Friday, February 28, 2025.
Note: Please only submit 1 application response per participating professional. If you are a recruiter or HR professional representing your organization, please contact Laura Anderson at laura.anderson@sjsu.edu for more information regarding how to sign up for the program.
Student & Employer Matching Process
Students and employers are matched based on the responses they share in the Student and Employer Applications. If a successful match is found, students and employers will be connected to their pairing via email on Friday, March 15, 2024 in order to coordinate the final details of the Job Shadow experience.
Employer Information Sessions
Employers who would like to learn more about the Job Shadow Program can choose to attend 1 of 2 virtual information sessions on Friday, January 26th or Friday, February 9th. Please email Laura Anderson (laura.anderson@sjsu.edu) for details to attend.
Key Program Dates (2025)
| Activity | Period Opens | Period Closes |
| Employer Information Session (Virtual, Optional) | Friday, February 7 (12pm) | – |
| Submit Employer Application | Now | Friday, February 28 |
| Student-Employer Match Day | Friday, March 14 | – |
| Students & Employers Connect via Email | Friday, March 14 | Friday, March 28 |
| Job Shadow Program | Tuesday, April 1 | Friday, April 4 |
FAQs
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.
Job Shadows can be virtual or in-person depending on the preference and availability of the employer. Employers can select the type of experience they’d like to provide when submitting the Employer Application.
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.
At this time we unfortunately do not allow employers to select the individual student that they would host for the Job Shadow Program. That said, we do our best to prioritize employer preferences and collect information such as desired student majors, career interests, and class year via the Employer Application.
No, there are no formal program fees to host a Job Shadow. Employer partners may choose to provide lunch and/or other refreshments but it is not mandatory.
Questions?
Please contact Laura Anderson (Career Experiences Program Lead) at laura.anderson@sjsu.edu for more information regarding the Job Shadow Program.