Host a Job Shadowing Experience
The Job Shadowing Program gives you the opportunity to support UChicago students as they launch their careers. During a job shadowing experience, undergraduate students shadow an alumni, parent, or friend of the university virtually or in their place of work for a half-day to a week or longer. This is a fantastic opportunity to mentor students interested in your career field and scout talent for internships and entry-level roles!
Register to Host
Complete this brief questionnaire to sign up for hosting a student!
2026-2027 Program Dates
Winter 2026: December 14-18, 2026
Spring 2027: March 15-19, 2027
Volunteers do not need to host all 5 days. Scheduling is at the host's discretion. You can host anywhere from a half day to all 5 days.
Eligibility to Host
Hosts from all industries and geographic regions are welcome!
Logistics
Job shadowing experiences unpaid, and there are no costs to hosts. Students are responsible for arranging all logistics and paying all costs for their shadowing experience, including housing and transportation.
Matching Process
Students are matched to a host based on their industry preferences and career goals, and they're only offered one job shadowing opportunity. For in-person opportunities, students are also matched based on their location preferences.
Job Shadowing and Confidential Information
If your work involves dealing with confidential information, students can be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Job shadowing experiences can also be designed so that they only involve non-confidential activities.
Host Guide
Check out the Hosting Guide to learn more about how to successfully host a job shadowing experience!
Suggested Activities for the Shadowing Experience
The shadowing agenda is at the host's discretion. Any activity that gives your student a tangible sense of daily life in your field could be a great fit! Students do not need to spend the full shadowing experience with just their host - you are welcome and encouraged to introduce them to your colleagues as well!
Some common activities are listed below, and hosts are welcome to add their own ideas:
Giving a tour of the facility
Sharing your career history
Discussing the student's career interests and questions
Providing an overview of your organization's operations and staff divisions
Inviting the student to observe meetings, conference calls, and other events
Reviewing the student's resume, LinkedIn profile, and other professional development materials
Arranging informational interviews with your colleagues
Assigning small projects
Questions?
For more information, please contact careeradvancement@uchicago.edu.