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Intern For a Day

What is Intern for a Day?

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. After participating in a mandatory orientation and completing an application, University Career Center staff match you with an professional of interest for a half- or full-day job shadowing experience or a virtual informational interview.

Please note: Intern for a Day is currently only available to UMD undergraduate students.

Intern for a Day Spring 2026

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Spring 2026 Host List

The Spring 2026 Intern for a Day host list will be available in mid-February 2026 on ifad.umd.edu

Spring 2026 Hosts Will be Found Here
Intern for a Day Mandatory Orientation, University of Maryland Division of Student Affairs, University Career Center and the President's Promise

Mandatory Orientation

Participating in an orientation for Intern for a Day is mandatory in order to participate in Intern for a Day. 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. Other questions can be directed to ifad@umd.edu.

In-Person Orientation Options:
Take place in the University Career Center (3100 Hornbake Library, South Wing)

Starting Feb 9, click here to access the Asynchronous IFAD Orientation

Questions can be directed to ifad@umd.edu

Intern for a Day Spring 2026 Timeline for Students

RSVP for an In-Person Orientation OR a Virtual Orientation.

In-Person Orientations:

All in-person orientations are held in the University Career Center, 3100 Hornbake Library, South Wing. If you want to complete your mandatory orientation in person, you only have to register for one of the two in-person orientation sessions in Handshake/listed below. 

 

Virtual Orientation and Add to Your ELMS Page:

This link will be available by February 9, 2026.

Please be sure to complete the mandatory orientation by Sunday, February 22, 2026.   Students can choose to attend either the in-person orientation OR complete the virtual orientation.

Students will be prompted by IFAD Coordinators to complete their profile on ifad.umd.edu after February 22, 2026.

Intern for a Day applications will be sent to you on or around Monday, February 23 if you complete the mandatory orientation requirement by 11:59pm on Sunday, February 22.

  • If you completed the orientation and do not have the application sent to you by Wednesday, February 25, please check your spam folder. If you've checked your spam folder and still do not have the application, please reach out to us at ifad@umd.edu and we can help you.
  • If you have a special circumstance that caused you to miss the deadline to complete orientation, please email us at ifad@umd.edu as soon as possible.
  • Intern for a Day applications are due by Sunday, March 1 @ 11:59pm. We will not be able to accept late applications because we will begin matching applicants with a host on Monday, March 2.
  • On your application, please only preference hosts that you have an intention of meeting with.

University Career Center staff will begin the process of matching applicants with hosts on Monday, March 2.

  • We will do our best to match as many of you with your top preferred hosts as possible.
  • 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. This is why we ask you to provide your top 8 host preferences.

You will be contacted by email, connecting you with your host or notifying you that we were unable to match you this semester in late March.

  • We will connect you directly to the host you were matched with over email. It is up to you to connect with your host directly to schedule your in-person shadowing or virtual informational interviewing experience.
  • If we are unable to match you with a host (due to the # of student applicants exceeding the amount of host spaces available), we will make sure to follow up with you.

We encourage students to try to complete their in-person shadowing or virtual informational interview during spring break, if schedules allow.  Please complete your experience before classes end in May 2026.

  • We will also send you a feedback form for you to tell us about your experience with Intern for a Day.

Intern for a Day promotion for interested hosts

For Professionals Interested in Hosting Intern for a Day Students

Host registration for Intern for a Day in Spring 2026 is NOW OPEN through Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
Go to ifad.umd.edu to create a host profile and register as a host for spring 2026!

Click here for the Intern for a Day Host Guide, which is regularly updated and features information about the purpose of the program as well as information that can support you as you plan to host UMD students for job shadowing and informational interviewing opportunities! 

Questions? Reach out to ifad@umd.edu. 

Intern for a Day General Timelines

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. We will always list the current semester's IFAD dates for students and hosts in the sections above.

Fall Intern for a Day General Timeline

July-Sept: Host registration is open

Early/Mid-Oct: Students complete a mandatory orientation on workplace etiquette, program logistics, and more

Mid/Late Oct: Students apply and rank order their top hosts of interest

Late Oct/Early Nov: University Career Center staff match students with hosts & notify both parties

Nov-Jan: Intern for a Day experience takes place! Students and hosts determine the day that works best with their schedules for the shadowing or virtual informational interviewing experience.

Spring Intern for a Day General Timeline

Dec/Jan-Feb: Host registration is open

Mid/Late Feb: Students complete a mandatory orientation on workplace etiquette, program logistics, and more

Early Mar: Students apply and rank order their top hosts of interest

Early/Mid-Mar: University Career Center staff match students with hosts & notify both parties

Mar-May: Intern for a Day experience takes place! Students and hosts determine the day that works best with their schedules for the shadowing or virtual informational interviewing experience.

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