Job Shadow Program

Take a Wave to work!

Introduce current Pepperdine students to your profession by hosting them in your workplace or virtually sharing insights into your career.

The Pepperdine Job Shadow Program gives undergraduates the chance to gain practical knowledge aligned with their career goals. Students are matched with host professionals in the Greater Los Angeles area or virtually worldwide, exposing them to a wide range of industries and roles. Through this experience, students benefit from hands-on learning guided by alumni, employers, parents, and community partners.

Serving as a Job Shadow host is a rewarding way to mentor students, help them build connections within the Pepperdine community, and boost their confidence as they prepare to enter the professional world.

Matching Hosts & Students

Alumni, parents, and friends of Pepperdine register to host 1-3 undergraduate student(s) by using the Job Shadow Program registration form.
Student applications are accepted during the first month of each semester. Once the application period begins, students are matched with hosts on a rolling basis throughout the application window.
Hosts will be notified if a student match is identified. All students are required to submit an application and attend a preparation orientation to ensure a successful experience.
When a match is confirmed, the host will be introduced directly to their assigned student(s) via email. From there, the host and student can coordinate a mutually convenient time for the job shadow experience.
While matches are not guaranteed, we do our best to pair as many students as possible with alumni, parents, and friends of Pepperdine. Following the introduction, we kindly ask hosts to arrange the shadowing experience within 1–3 weeks.

Planning the Job Shadow Experience

The format and schedule will vary between companies but a session may include:

A tour of the company
Insight and observance of the host's daily responsibilities and activities
An informational interview with the host and/or other employees such as recent hires and alumni
Attendance at team meetings and/or organizational events
Information about the company's hiring process, career/internship opportunities, etc.
Internship/job tips, graduate school guidance, etc.

Sample Half-Day Agenda (Virtual or In-Person)

9 - 9:30 am	Introductions and tour (if possible), company overview, mission, culture, etc.
9:30 - 10 am	Informational interviews with various employees/leaders within the organization to learn more about pathways into the organization or observation of projects and/or meetings
10 - 11 am	Panel Meet and Greet with recently hired college grads to share their experience of the hiring process and what they experience in a “day in the life”

Sample Full-Day Agenda (In-Person Recommended)

9 - 9:30 am	Introductions and office tour including an overview of various departments, functions, etc.
9:30 - 10:30 am	Observation of projects, meetings, client calls, creative briefs, etc.
10:30 - 11:30 am	Rotate through various departments/functions and conduct brief informational interviews with pre-assigned employees
11:30 - 12 pm	Meet with senior leadership staff to learn more about their professional journeys and job functions
12 - 1 pm	Lunch with new college hires to learn about the transition from college to career

If you are interested in serving as a Job Shadow Day host, please fill out the short form below. Based on your responses, we will work to match you with a student. Although a match is not guaranteed, we look forward to matching as many students with members of the Pepperdine community as possible. Volunteer today to share your professional expertise with students and become an essential part of their Pepperdine experience!

Testimonials

Job Shadow Day 2019

The little we can do to educate, enlighten or inspire can be very beneficial.

This is a wonderful program and it was a true pleasure to host.

Job Shadow Host

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the host/student matching process work?

Alumni, parents, and friends of Pepperdine register to host 1-3 undergraduate student(s) by using the Job Shadow Program registration form.
During the designated student application window, hosts will receive notifications if there is a student match. Students are required to submit an application and attend an orientation to prepare them for a successful experience.
Upon finding an appropriate match, hosts will be promptly notified and introduced directly to their assigned students. Together, they can then coordinate and mutually agree upon a convenient time for the job shadow experience. Although a match is not guaranteed, we look forward to matching as many students with alumni & friends of Pepperdine as possible.
Following the initial introduction, we kindly request our hosts to make arrangements for the experience within 1-3 weeks.

Can I host more than one student?

Yes. The number of students you host is up to you. Please indicate your preference on the registration form.

I work from home/don't have an office. Can I still participate as a host?

The world of work has changed and we understand many people work from home either entirely or part-time. When possible, we prefer in-person shadowing to take place at a place of business. If the meeting is virtual, hosts can conduct the shadowing experience from their home offices.

Am I responsible for the student's housing, transportation, and other expenses?

No. The students assume all of the expenses associated with their experiences.

I don't live in Southern California. Can I still participate as a host?

Yes, virtual job shadowing can be conducted from anywhere you are located. Connect with a student via video conference, invite them to attend virtual meetings, and more.