Job Shadow Program Information for Hosts

Give a UTM Student a First-Hand Look at Your Career

The UTM Job Shadow Program connects students with professionals for a short-term, individualized workplace experience. By welcoming a student into your workday, you can help them understand what a career actually looks like, from the responsibilities and skills involved to the workplace environment, career pathways, and day-to-day realities that are difficult to learn from career research alone.

Job shadowing is designed as a career exploration and experiential learning opportunity. Students observe, ask questions, meet professionals, and reflect on whether a field, role, or work environment aligns with their interests and goals. Hosts do not need to create a formal training program or provide students with work assignments; the value comes from giving students authentic exposure to your professional world.

Interested in becoming a Job Shadow host?
Contact the Employer Relations & Marketing team at erm.utm@utoronto.ca

 

What Does a Job Shadow Experience Look Like?

The goal is to give the student an authentic look at your work and workplace. Each experience will vary depending on the host's role and organization, but a job shadow could include:

• An introduction to your organization, team, and role
• Observation of appropriate day-to-day activities, workflows, meetings, or workplace interactions
• Conversations about your education, career path, and how you entered the field
• Introductions to colleagues in related roles or functions
• Discussion of the transferable, specialized, or technical skills used in your work
• Insight into the rewards, challenges, expectations, and realities of the profession
• Discussion of trends or changes affecting your occupation or industry
• Time for the student to ask questions about your work, workplace, education, and career journey

Why Become a Host?

Who Can Be a Job Shadow Host?

Professionals from a wide range of sectors, occupations, and career backgrounds can provide valuable job shadow experiences. You do not need to work in a traditional office environment or hold a senior leadership position. What matters most is your willingness to share an authentic view of your work and help a student learn about the field.

UTM students explore careers across business, healthcare, government, education, technology, science, communications, community and non-profit organizations, the arts, manufacturing, professional services, and many other sectors. We welcome professionals whose roles can broaden students' understanding of the career possibilities available to them.

What Is Expected of a Host?

• Provide an authentic introduction to your role, organization, and work environment
• Create reasonable opportunities for the student to observe your work or workplace, where appropriate
• Discuss your career path, education, skills, and professional experiences
• Introduce the student to colleagues or other functions when possible
• Provide time for questions and conversation
• Follow your organization's policies regarding confidentiality, privacy, safety, and workplace access

Hosts are not expected to provide employment, evaluate the student as a candidate, or create a formal work placement. Job Shadow is a career exploration experience.

Program Logistics

Job Shadow experiences are flexible and can be designed around the host’s role, workplace, and availability. Our Employer Relations & Marketing team will work with you to determine a format that provides meaningful career exposure for the student while fitting the needs of your organization.

• Format: Experiences can take place in person, virtually, or through a combination of both. In-person experiences allow students to observe the workplace and interact with professionals in their working environment, while virtual experiences can provide access to professionals, teams, and workplaces where an on-site visit may not be practical.
• Duration: A Job Shadow experience can range from a one-hour conversation to a multi-day experience of up to one week. The length should reflect the type of work being explored, the activities available for observation, and the host’s capacity.
• Location: In-person experiences take place at the host organization’s workplace or another appropriate professional setting. Virtual experiences can be hosted using the organization’s preferred online meeting platform.
• Number of Students: Job Shadow is designed to provide a personalized career exploration experience. Depending on the host and the nature of the opportunity, an experience may be arranged for an individual student or a small number of students.
• Scheduling: The Career Centre works with hosts and students to coordinate appropriate timing. Hosts can identify dates, times, or periods that work best with their schedules and organizational requirements.
• Planning Support: You do not need to develop the experience on your own. The Employer Relations & Marketing team can help you determine the appropriate format, duration, and activities based on your role and workplace.
   

Ready to Help a UTM Student Explore Your Career?

We welcome professionals and organizations from across sectors to participate. You do not need to design a formal agenda on your own—our Employer Relations & Marketing team can work with you to shape an appropriate job shadow experience that gives a student meaningful exposure to your role, workplace, and career field.

Contact: erm.utm@utoronto.ca