FSU Shadow

Host Information Session:

• Contact FSUShadow@fsu.edu to schedule a one-on-one consultation

Host Dates:
Host Registration: Closes October 13
Matches Sent to Hosts: November 19
Host Welcome/Schedule Email Due: December 3

Host Registration: Click Here

The FSU Shadow Program follows a structured matching process that connects student participants with one-day shadowing opportunities for career exploration and introduction to the world of work. FSU Shadow opportunities will not result in academic credit or monetary compensation, yet FSU Shadow Site Hosts and Student Participants greatly benefit by this experience. Benefits for Hosts may include:

• Building Your Brand > The FSU Shadow Program introduces students to your organization and its commitment to informed career choices. Upon return to campus, FSU Shadow Student Participants will become an unofficial ambassador for your organization once they are able to learn what it takes to succeed at your organization!
• Recruiting FSU Talent > You may find your next star employee through the FSU Shadow Program! Student Participants who have insider knowledge of your organization will be excited to apply for full-time or internship opportunities within your organization.
• Giving Back > Your advice as a professional is invaluable to students wishing to gain information about a career field.   

The Career Center asks FSU Shadow Site Hosts to have Student Participants accompany, or shadow alumni and/or employees as they move throughout their normal responsibilities so they can get a true feel for a typical work day in the host’s organization. Site Hosts can choose to integrate activities into their FSU Shadow experience such as:

• Conduct informational interviews with a variety of employees
• Participate in a guided tour of the facility
• Attend meetings or organizational events
• Observe and ask questions while shadowing daily tasks
• Participate during interactions with clients
• Meet and greet college hires or current interns
• Lunch with FSU Alumni
• Learn about career/internship opportunities within the organization

Whatever activities are selected, The Career Center recommends communicating a clear description on the day’s activities and what the FSU Shadow Student Participant can expect to experience.

Please use the example below as a template for your FSU Shadow position description:

Organization: XYZ Company
Contact: Steven Seminole, ss@xyz.com , (850) 555-6653
Title: Marketing/Digital Strategy FSU Shadow
Description (please include ALL of the following including a preset Agenda):
Date: December 18, 2022
Arrival Time: 8:45am
Departure Time: 5:00pm
Address/Location: 123 Company Lane, Tallahassee, FL 32306
Parking Information: Check in at security gate to receive parking pass.
Meal Information:  Bring your own lunch! We have appliances you may use in the staff break room that include a refrigerator and microwave.
Dress Code: Business Casual
Special Instructions and/or Waivers Needed: FSU Shadow Student Participant will sign non-disclosure agreement prior to arrival at XYZ Company.

The Marketing/Digital Strategy FSU Shadow experience will provide Student Participants with exposure to a day-in-the-life working in social media marketing and digital strategy.  Selected FSU Shadow Student Participants will observe meetings with clients, creative development of materials, editing/revising content for websites as well as general management tasks as this position supervises two interns.

Agenda:

For more templates in a variety of industries, please view our FSU Shadow examples

There are ten (10) preset dates throughout the academic year on which structured, matched FSU Shadow experiences will occur. All FSU Shadow program days occur during academic breaks so not to interfere with the academic calendar. Upcoming FSU Shadow sessions include:

Fall 2025 Session Date: Monday, December 15
Spring 2026 Session Dates: March 17-19
Summer (May) 2026 Session Dates: May 5-7

• 80% of FSU students call the State of Florida home. It may be advantageous to post multiple opportunities at multiple locations within the State to garner the most applicants for your FSU Shadow experience(s). 
• We also welcome national opportunities as FSU alumni do relocate after graduation to all 50 states.
• For FSU student/alumni origin information by state and Florida county visit:
  • Geographical Origin of Students by State
  • Geographical Origin of students from State of Florida by County
  • Residence of Alumni by State

FSU Shadow Host submissions for the following sessions are now open!
Fall 2025 Session: December 15

Before you register, be sure you have all your information ready including:

• How many students you'd like to host on which days
• Whether you'll be hosting in-person or virtually
• Details about your shadowing day
• Ready to register? Register here by October 13

• During the FSU Shadow Program session, FSU Shadow Student Participants will report directly to their designated FSU Shadow Host organization location.
• FSU Shadow Hosts agree to read the following policies/disclaimers as outlined on The Career Center website:
  • FSU Career Center Disclaimer
  • FSU Career Center Privacy Statement

• FSU Shadow Student Participants agree to uphold the FSU Student Conduct Code during their experience. 
  • Additionally, as a recipient of Federal financial assistance for education activities, FSU is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to ensure that all of its education programs and activities are free from discrimination on the basis of sex. Sexual discrimination includes sexual misconduct (sexual violence, stalking, intimate partner violence, gender based animosity and gender based stereotyping). If you have questions about Title IX or wish to file a Title IX complaint, please visit the FSU Title IX website: www.titleix.fsu.edu or call Aishah Casseus, Interim Title IX Director 850-644-1774.  Please note that as Responsible Employees, all faculty are required to report any incidents of sexual misconduct to the Title IX Office. 
  • For information about the confidential on-campus Victim Advocate Program, please visit https://dos.fsu.edu/vap/.

After each FSU Shadow program session, both the FSU Shadow Student Participant and Host will evaluate their experience with the FSU Shadow program. Each Host will receive an emailed survey within 3-4 business days after the FSU Shadow session concludes. The FSU Shadow Host will evaluate the following:

• Overall experience with FSU Shadow Student Participants
• Satisfactory level of information disseminated
• Communication of the FSU Shadow Program
• Areas for feedback and improvement 

• Do I need to be in the Tallahassee area to host?
  • No, FSU Shadow Student Participants travel to you to experience a day in the life of your organization. We have had FSU Shadow Hosts nationwide. 
  • You also have the option of hosting a virtual shadowing experience.
• Is there a cost involved in hosting an FSU Shadow experience?
  • No, FSU Shadow Student Participants provide their own transportation, and they are not compensated so the only cost is your time.
  • Some FSU Shadow Hosts outside of the State of Florida have sponsored travel to their location, but it is not a requirement for an FSU Shadow Host to provide travel support.

• What kinds of industries may participate?
  • All industries are welcome, and encouraged, to participate.

• Which students participate?
  • The program is open to ALL degree-seeking FSU students, both undergraduate and graduate level, in addition to recent graduates.

• Can I host more than one FSU Shadow Student Participant at a time?
  • Absolutely! You can share the responsibility of hosting one or more Student Participants with a colleague or choose to Host multiple Student Participants individually. Please indicate the amount of Student Participants you are willing to host on your FSU Shadow Host submission form.

• Can I host a student(s) for all four days of the FSU Shadow Program session?
  • We prefer organizations to Host a Student Participant(s) for just one-day. If you prefer to Host different student(s) each day of the session, you will need to create four separate FSU Shadow opportunities for different days during the session you are registered for.  Please be sure to include the specific day of each shadowing experience in your job description as outlined in the template under the What kind of experiences are FSU Shadow Student Participants looking for? tab.

• Do I need to provide meals/lunch for FSU Shadow Student Participants?
  • Many FSU Shadow Hosts will choose to provide breakfast, coffee, and/or lunch for FSU Shadow Student Participants. However, this is NOT a requirement.  Hosts who choose NOT to provide meals must include dining options and information on meals to the Student Participant. (Example: “FSU Shadow Student Participant will need to bring their own lunch and store it in the employee break room”).

• Can I host a FSU student another day if the dates for FSU Shadow does not work with my schedule?
  • Absolutely! If you wish to provide a Job Shadow opportunity for FSU students outside the dates of the FSU Shadow Program, please reach out to the FSU Shadow Program Manager to discuss an opportunity outside the session. For more information, email FSUShadow@fsu.edu 

• What if I need to cancel my FSU Shadow experience?
  • If a FSU Shadow host is unable to follow through on their commitment to hosting an FSU Shadow Student Participant(s) for any reason, the Host is responsible for notifying the FSU Shadow Student Participant(s) AND FSU Shadow Program Managers, a week prior to the planned FSU Shadow session.  Except in the case of extenuating circumstances (such as natural disasters), cancelling without at least a week notice will prohibit Hosts from participation in future FSU Shadow Program sessions.