Intern for a Day at the University of Maryland: An Immersive Career Exploration Program

The University of Maryland (UMD) offers a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to gain firsthand exposure to various organizations and career fields through its "Intern for a Day" program. This program connects students with professionals for job shadowing or virtual informational interviews, providing valuable insights into potential career paths.

What is Intern for a Day?

Intern for a Day matches undergraduate UMD students with professionals working in their field of interest for a job shadowing experience. The University Career Center's popular Intern for a Day program connects undergraduate UMD students with professionals (including alumni, parents/family members, and other off-campus partners) for in-person job shadowing or virtual informational interviewing experiences to explore potential career fields of interest. This initiative aims to provide students with a realistic preview of different work environments and career options.

Program Structure and Participation

The Intern for a Day program offers two participation formats:

In-Person Job Shadowing: Students spend a day shadowing a professional at their workplace, observing their daily tasks, attending meetings, and learning about the company culture.
Virtual Informational Interviews: Students engage in virtual conversations with professionals, asking questions about their career paths, responsibilities, and industry trends.

Read also: Apple Internship: EPM Role

Eligibility and Priority

Freshmen and Sophomore students are given priority for this program.

Mandatory Orientation

Participating in an orientation for Intern for a Day is mandatory in order to participate in Intern for a Day. To ensure that students are well-prepared for the experience, participation in an orientation session is mandatory. There are two ways for you to participate in orientation: attend an in-person session or enroll in the asynchronous orientation module (please note: you only have to complete one of the two orientation options listed below and not both). More details below and most questions about the program will be addressed in the mandatory orientation. All in-person orientations are held in the University Career Center, 3100 Hornbake Library, South Wing. The orientation is self-guided and should take roughly 45 minutes to complete all three modules.

Timeline

Here’s what the typical timeline looks like for Intern for a Day in the Fall and Spring semesters in case you'd like to plan for future semesters.

Nov-Jan: Intern for a Day experience takes place!
Mar-May: Intern for a Day experience takes place!

Benefits for Students

Career Exploration: Gain firsthand insights into different career fields and industries.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with professionals and expand your network.
Skill Development: Observe and learn about the skills and knowledge required for specific roles.
Resume Enhancement: Add valuable experience to your resume.
Informed Decision-Making: Make more informed decisions about your academic and career paths.

Benefits for Employers

Talent Pipeline: Identify and engage with potential future employees.
Brand Awareness: Increase your organization's visibility among UMD students.
Recruitment Opportunities: Connect with students who are interested in your industry.
Community Engagement: Support UMD students in their career development.
Positive Impact: Contribute to the growth and development of future professionals.

Employer Opportunities to Engage with Students Beyond Intern for a Day

The University Career Center and the A. James Clark School of Engineering jointly host the Fall Career & Internship Fair and invite employers to participate in various ways to connect with students. We invite you to support UMD students as they prepare for our upcoming Fall 2025 Career & Internship Fairs!

Career Fair Prep: Employers can participate in-person to provide resume reviews and offer quick tips and best practices to help students succeed.
Set up an Interview Schedule (Virtual or In-Person): On-campus interviews allow you to interview top UMD candidates in a single day, in one location. This is a great way to follow up with candidates after meeting them at the fair.
Schedule an Employer Session (Virtual or In-Person): Invite students to learn more about your organization and your hiring needs.

Information for Employers

If you are an employer who is interested in participating in Intern for A Day, review the Intern for A Day Host Guide.

Important Notes

Registration: Registration is now closed!
Cancellation Policy for Employers: Any employers who cancel after this deadline, for any reason, will remain responsible for payment and no refunds will be administered.
Shipping Manual: Providing freight shipping services to attending employers. The University Career Center does not coordinate the freight for this event.
Disclaimer: Posting note: The College of Behavioral & Social Sciences makes no representations or guarantees about positions posted on this Blog. Additionally, BSOS does not endorse any Employer, nor makes representations or guarantees about positions posted. We conduct a minimum level of due diligence on the employers and positions, however, we are not responsible for safety, wages, working conditions, or any other aspect of employment.
Matching: Due to the reality that many hosts are only able to connect with a small amount of you (1-3 people), we will unfortunately not be able to match everyone with their top preferences.
Application Issues: If you completed the orientation and do not have the application sent to you by Friday, October 17, please check your spam folder.

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