Participating in DePaul’s Job Shadow Program (JSP) as an employer is a unique opportunity to provide early engagement to undergraduate students. It is a great way to connect with potential talent for internships or full-time opportunities later on, while providing mentorship and a career exploration opportunity for students.
JSP is a day-long or half-day long experience at your place of work - on-site or virtually - where students are given the opportunity to meet with a variety of staff members for informational interviews throughout the day. You can host as many students as you like. Students are matched up with employers based on their preference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you guarantee each student a match?
No. We do our best to place students at one of their listed preferences, however, there is no guarantee that they’ll receive one of those shadows. We use their major, intended industry, and year standing to match them with an employer.
Can I host students virtually?
Yes, this year, for the first time we are offering virtual shadow day opportunities. This format can still be just as beneficial and allow for experiences to translate to your everyday work life, especially during today’s environment. The most commonly used platform at DePaul is
Zoom. If you choose to host virtually, we ask that you schedule and prepare a Zoom event with registration and password for security and documenting purposes.
Can I still host in-person on-site shadow day?
Yes, as we want to honor your daily work practices and environment, we understand that not all employers have the option to work remotely. However, we do ask that safety and health precautions are practiced if you are to take this approach. To find the most up-to-date practices DePaul has put in place please visit the
DePaul’s COVID-19 Updates webpage.
Note that deciding to host your shadow day in person may impact the number of students that select your organization to participate.
Are the shadows all 9-5pm?
It depends on each host site. Many employers offer students a full, typical work day experience. Others may offer a half day. For virtual shadow days we recommend offering 90 minutes to 2 hours maximum shadow days. Regardless of the number of hours, we encourage students to make the most of the shadow experience by asking questions, following up with each person and staying in touch with contacts.
How do I design my shadow day?
We are here to assist and support you. We can provide templates and examples of what previous partners have done. Feel free to set up an
appointment with us to discuss and plan your shadow day.
recruitstudents@depaul.edu
When is the best time to host a DePaul student as part of the Job Shadow Program?
We offer the Job Shadow program over December Intersession and Spring Breaks as most students do not take classes over these time periods. Please reference our academic calendar to confirm the specific dates as they may change each calendar year.
Contact Us
If you are interested in participating in our Job Shadow program or have any questions, please reach out to your Employer Engagement Liaison or contact us at
recruitstudents@depaul.edu