Job shadowing provides an inside look at jobs, organizations, and career paths.
Job shadowing is a valuable way to learn about careers and industries you may be considering, and provides an opportunity to expand your professional network.
Participants spend one half-day or one full day at a company hosted by a Suffolk University alum or employer partner. Shadowing experiences are offered both virtually and in-person (based on assigned host’s location and work modality). Depending on availability of hosts relevant to your interests, you may have the chance to visit more than one company during the academic year.
The program is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all class years and majors. Domestic and international students are eligible to participate. This is an unpaid experience, and there is no cost to apply or participate. No work authorization is required.
Questions? Contact us via email.
Employers & Alumni
Students
Job Shadowing Program
What will you gain from participating in the Job Shadowing Program?
- Discovering what kinds of jobs await in your field of interest—and how to prepare for them
- Exploring specific career paths you might want to take after graduation
- Learning about employers’ expectations
- Seeing how organizations run and what it’s like to work at them
- Developing your networking skills and making new connections
- Choosing just the right electives, internships, and minors with your goals in mind
Job shadowing hosts and students are asked to complete a brief application prior to the start of the program. This application covers basic information regarding your background and professional interests.
Job shadowing is structured around our center’s Career Communities, nine industry-aligned groups that build connections among students, faculty, alums, and employers with shared interests. When they apply, Job shadowing hosts and students choose one or two Career Communities that reflect their professional experience or career interests. Students are paired up with hosts whose professional experiences align with their career interests. Hosts then communicate directly with their assigned students to schedule a job shadowing experience.
Please note: In order to ensure meaningful pairings and valuable learning experiences, matches are not guaranteed for all applicants.
| Program Cycle | Application Deadline |
| Fall: October — January | September 19 |
| Spring: January — May | January 24 |
Student applicants will be asked to complete a brief orientation prior to the start of the program. Career Center staff will contact you directly with these materials, including a brief orientation video and forms which will be electronically signed.
We invite both Suffolk alums and non-alum employer partners to volunteer as hosts.
Job shadowing consists of having one or more Suffolk students observe you and interact with you at your place of work (or virtually) for a few hours or a full day. This opportunity allows them to experience firsthand what it’s like to be in a professional environment. As host, you’ll have the chance to add to a student’s career exploration and decision-making process—and to identify potential future interns or job candidates!
Once you apply online and choose the cycles you’d like to participate in, we’ll assign you one or more students whose interests align with your work. (We accept new applications throughout the academic year and create assignments before each cycle.) You can then communicate directly with your assigned students to arrange a mutually convenient date, time, and modality for shadowing.
Job shadowing hosts and students required to read the Host Guide [PDF] or the Student Guide [PDF]. Student applicants will be asked to complete a brief orientation prior to the start of the program. Career Center staff will contact you directly with these materials, including a brief orientation video and forms which will be electronically signed.
Hear from Job Shadowing Participants
Mcallister Castelaz
Clinical Expert, Virginia Health Catalyst
“As a host, I have the opportunity to welcome students into my workplace and explore what a non-clinical career in medicine can look like! It’s an excellent opportunity to foster a culture of knowledge exchange and mentorship. Participating gives me the opportunity to support students as they explore different career paths, answer any questions about my own career journey, and offer advice on their future plans.”
Diana Sikar, Class of 2024
Master of Science in Marketing
“Laurel gave me a glimpse into her daily tasks, which were varied and fascinating! I learned more about the corporate world; let me tell you, the width and depth of opportunities there seem endless! Her journey sounded impressive. The key insight remains constant: networking holds immense power, and you never know where it will come into play. Also, getting your foot in the door accounts for 90% of your career efforts. So, securing that first job might be a struggle, but once you’re there, it becomes much easier to navigate.”
Rachel DeLuca
Academic Programs Manager, The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
“It was an absolute pleasure to host a Suffolk student at the Gardner Museum for this job shadowing experience. We highly value our Boston student community, but rarely get one-on-one time to really get to know students. The afternoon was full of important discussions about art institutions and all the considerations that go into creating exhibitions that are accessible and relevant to the public. The best part of the experience was getting to explore our special exhibition together and hear the student’s perspectives on the paintings. This student was very open to learning as much as possible about the museum field and shared their academic and career goals. It was a refreshing experience, and I highly recommend other museums participate, if possible!”
Divya Mirani, Class of 2025
Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling
“My aim while participating in these job shadowing experiences was to get a chance to understand the day-to-day responsibilities and roles of leaders in my industry. I was extremely pleased to have the opportunity to shadow two leaders who took me through their day-to-day tasks and helped me gain insight into the qualities that define an empathic and successful leader. After these experiences, I can now say that I better understand the qualities that help professionals excel at their jobs and bring about societal change. I would like to thank the organizations that allowed me to shadow them and the Career Center, which facilitated these job shadowing experiences for me.”
Our Hosts have Great Things to Say
“Sara had researched the Town of Maynard and came to town with a genuine curiosity and interest. She sat in on meetings, met my colleagues and toured our downtown. I found it refreshing to look at my career and community through someone else’s eyes,” says Megan Zammuto, Executive Director of Municipal Services for the Town of Maynard, MA.
Learn more about the Job Shadowing experience Sara and other participants had