EMPLOYERS — Complete the Knight Shadow Employer Registration Form to participate.
STUDENTS — Applications open on Handshake February 2–15
(Search Handshake JOBS tab for “Knight Shadow” to locate postings. Resume needed to apply)
Consider attending a virtual Information Session to learn more and have your questions answered. Scroll down to view a recorded session, if you cannot attend a live session.
Friday, January 16, 12 – 1:00 pm ET Thursday, January 22, 3 – 4:00 pm ET Wednesday, January 28, 12 – 1:00 pm ET
Employer Info Session zoom link: https://ucf.zoom.us/j/2292969594 Meeting ID: 229 296 9594
Each session is an overview of the UCF Knight Shadow program — a job shadow program for currently enrolled students seeking exposure to careers and industry partners.
Click here to view an Employer Information Session Recording.
Program Manager —Marika Koch (Marika.Koch@ucf.edu) UCF Knight Shadow Program at knightshadow@ucf.edu
The UCF Knight Shadow program is a job shadowing opportunity for UCF students to connect with industry professionals to gain exposure to a wide variety of career fields and industries. Sessions take place during the academic breaks of the Fall (December), Spring (March), and Summer (August) semesters and include in-person and virtual options.
This program is not for academic credit and participants do not receive monetary compensation. Participants are responsible for their meals, as well as, travel costs to and from their Knight Shadow Host Site.
The specific activities involved in a job shadowing experience vary between hosts and industries, and between in-person and virtual opportunities. Some common activities include:
The UCF Knight Shadow program provides either in-person or virtual job shadow experiences, hosted throughout the state of Florida.
Experiential Learning works diligently to provide a variety of job shadow experiences. However, available experiences are only those that are submitted by hosts. While we invite all of our contacts and target all majors/industries to participate in the program, some organizations may not have the resources to provide a job shadowing experience. Therefore, the list of experiences may be limited and vary by semester.
Registration opens at the beginning of each semester. Hosts will be able to register for in-person or virtual options. Emails are sent to all employers registered in Handshake. Individuals not registered in Handshake who are interested in hosting students, can complete our Knight Shadow Host Registration form.*This link is only live during registration period.
There is no cost to participate in the UCF Knight Shadow program. Additionally, students are responsible for finding their own housing, transportation to the job shadowing site, and for all costs related to the experience.
No. Scheduling is at the host’s discretion. We do ask that in-person experiences be long enough for the student to get a substantive view of your career field, but these opportunities can last anywhere from 1 to 5 days.
If necessary, students can be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Job shadowing experiences can also be designed so that they only involve non-confidential activities.
Experiential Learning will match students based on their application materials (resume and cover letter), and information included in the hosts registration form.
Organizations can host as many students they are able to accommodate. You can host a single student or a group of students
We will send your student an e-mail with your preferred contact information. The student will then contact you to begin discussing the logistics.
Absolutely! We encourage hosts to give a broad view of the professional roles available in their organization and industry. Students also appreciate the opportunity to expand their professional network.
Due to a variety of factors, including interest level, location, and the selection process, a match is not guaranteed. However, if you are not matched with a student, there are many other valuable ways that you can help students with their career development. For more information, please contact oel@ucf.edu.
This Document covers the the key aspects of the program from the Timeline, Scope of a shadowing experience, Sample position descriptions, deadlines, and FAQ’s: UCF Knight Shadow Employer Guide SPRING 2026
We look forward to your organization participating in the UCF Knight Shadow Program!
Need a deeper dive? Email the Knight Shadow Program Manager Marika Koch at Marika.Koch@ucf.edu to schedule a one-on-one meeting.
Contact the UCF Knight Shadow Program at knightshadow@ucf.edu