The University of Kentucky (UK) has created the UK Job Shadow Program to give students an opportunity to “shadow,” observe, and follow someone in a potential career field. The program is intended to support students exploring an academic major and to provide early exposure to professional career pathways. These opportunities are set for a short period of time, anywhere from 4-8 hours on-site with a single employer. All job shadow placements are coordinated by the UK Job Shadow Coordinating Committee.

Job shadowing activities could include the following: 

• Providing a tour of the facility/office space.

• Sharing career history and/or industry trends.

• Discuss the student’s career interests and questions.

• Providing an overview of the organization’s mission, vision, operations, staff divisions, and organizational charts. Inviting the student to observe meetings, conference calls, or other events.

• Reviewing the student’s resume, LinkedIn profile, and other professional documents.

• Arranging informational interviews for the student with colleagues and other departments.

• Providing a capsule/mini-internship or volunteer experience at the organization.

• Completing small tasks or assisting with projects.

• Shadowing client interactions.

• Exploring potential career paths within the organization and the profession.

   

The UK Stuckert Career Center will match based on first come... first serve student selections. We cannot guarantee a match.

• September 14, 2024 to October 18, 2024- Student application submission timeframe.

• October 21, 2024 to October 24, 2024 – Stuckert Career Center completes the matching process.

• October 25, 2024- Matching email to students from the Stuckert Career Center.

• November 06, 2024 to November 08, 2024- Students will attend one UK Job Shadow Orientation (Student Facing Information) via Zoom

• November 11, 2024 to November 29, 2024- Voluntary student opt out time period.

• November 11, 2024 to November 29, 2024- Students will communicate with employer/organization host to schedule the job shadow experience.

• January 06, 2025 to March 28, 2025- Complete the Job Shadow experience during this window.

• April 11, 2025- Students will attend the UK Job Shadow Wrap-Up via Zoom.

Responsibilities of an Employer Hosting:

• Complete the Employer UK Job Shadow Application

• Design host site experience for one student or group of students.

• Respond to student correspondence.

• Keep the student informed of any changes to agreed-upon details of the shadowing experience.

• Email expblue@uky.edu if there are any issues or questions.

• Host student(s)!

• Complete post-experience survey.

Responsibilities of the Student:

• Complete Student Job Shadow Application.

• Complete the UK Job Shadow Experience Agreement Form.

• Complete the UK Job Shadow Orientation.

• Complete the UK Job Shadow Canvas modules.

• Provide their own transportation.

• Provide their own meals if the employer does not provide as part of their day of events.

• Clear communication with the experience site coordinator.

• Email expblue@uky.edu if there are any issues or questions.

• If a student chooses to not complete the experience after the voluntary student opt out time period, the student will write an apology letter to the employer and to the Stuckert Career Center.

• Attend the post-experience Zoom meeting.

When a student completes all the information above they will be submitted for UK Invest.

For more information, contact Donna Gabbard (expblue@uky.edu).