Cal Job Shadow Program

Job Shadowing

The Cal Job Shadow program pairs students with alumni and employers to get an insider view of their workplace. Students gain insight to professional environments, have the chance to explore a career area to which they might otherwise not have exposure, and build their professional network in their chosen career area.

This is your opportunity to see what it’s really like to be a public defender, doctor, architect, engineer, teacher, social worker, writer, scientist, consultant, IT analyst, professor, youth center director, financial advisor, and more.

Advantages of Participating in a Job Shadow Program

• Explore a career field
• Gain real-world workplace experience
• Learn how to apply your academic major through discussions with a professional who has a similar background
• Make career connections and begin establishing your alumni network

Student Experience

Who Can Participate?

Open to all currently enrolled undergraduate students including undocumented and international students. During the winter 2025-2026 session we will be prioritizing for juniors, seniors for parings with special consideration in the matching process for Education Opportunity Program (EOP), Student Support Services (SSS), Transfer students, and Pell grant recipients.

Sign up and Join 

• Registration Opens September 22nd, 2025: Sign up in My Berkeley

More Details

A Job shadow experience is an opportunity that can last from one day to two weeks. It can be virtual or in-person. Opportunities are available in a wide variety of career fields in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, DC, and other domestic and international locations. Through this experience, you can:

• Observe the workday and workplace of your Alumni host; attend meetings alongside them, observe work-related activities, and participate in other learning opportunities.
• Talk to the Alumni host about their career journey and the field
• Provide limited assistance with projects or tasks to help you get acquainted with the organization and the profession

Job Shadow Externship Timeline

Application and Matching Process

• Not all students who register will be matched with a mentor. The number of available externships are based on total number of  available mentors per session.
• During the student favoriting period beginning on November 3rd, students who are signed up for the program will receive a google form to complete where they can view and select their top 3 choices for their job shadow experience.
• Matching will be based on a combination of factors including preferences selected by students and overlap in interests, location and background identified in program registration questions.
• You will receive an email notification once you are matched to your Alumni Host.