The Ultimate Guide to Handshake Jobs in 2024

Finding a job amidst the competitive modern-day job market is quite a task, especially for a college student or recent graduate who may have zero professional experiences. Thankfully, websites such as Handshake have been developed to make job searching a whole heck of a lot easier. Handshake is an online career development platform targeted to close the gap between students and employers in need of fresh, young, academically enlightened workers. That said, this guide will look closer at Handshake jobs, how one can make the most out of the site, and tips to help increase the likelihood of finding a good job.

What are Handshake Jobs?

Well, Handshake jobs are positions posted specifically through the handshake platform in which companies target students or recent graduates. This includes a wide variety of job types, including:

Internship: Normally short-term and available when one is still in school, used to get a feel of hands-on experience in a given profession.
Part-time Jobs: They are jobs which employ for fewer hours; they may be targeted for students to be able to work while going through school.
Fulltime Entry Level Jobs: Fulltime positions made available for graduates who would want to start their professional careers.
Working Remotely: The jobs where employees are allowed to work from anywhere, stimulated by COVID-19 pandemic.
Unlike any other job searching platform, Handshake streamlines the process of connecting college students with employers specifically looking to hire emerging professionals. Most employers posting their jobs on the portal have much interest in building connections with universities, hence targeting hiring from specific schools. Because of this, it is relatively easier for students to personalize job searching on Handshake than anywhere else.

Why Students and Graduates Need Handshake

Unlike other job boards, such as LinkedIn or Indeed, Handshake has put most of its efforts into the nurturing and development of students and recent graduates by introducing features to make job searching easier and more targeted. These features include:

School-Specific Job Listings

Many employers on Handshake post positions targeting students from specific universities. This means that if your school is a partner of Handshake, you could get access to job listings that are nowhere else.

Personalized Job Recommendations

Handshake’s job recommendations are based on your profile, including major, skills, and experiences. By paying attention to these personalized suggestions you will save time and be applying to positions most closely aligned with your career goals.

Employer Engagement

The Employers who use Handshake are proactive in reaching out to students, rather than passively posting job descriptions and waiting for applicants. You may get direct messages from recruiters, or be invited to apply to a job based on your profile.

Career Fairs and Events

Handshake also hosts virtual career fairs, workshops, and networking events where you get to meet the employers face-to-face or online. Attending such events remarkably increases one’s chances of landing a job or an internship through the opportunity to connect with others and learn about specific companies.

Mentorship Opportunities

Some universities and employers in Handshake offer mentorship programs where students receive career guidance by professionals already working in a desired field.

Getting Started on Handshake

Using Handshake takes a bit more than job searching. Follow these steps to drive your job search process:

Create an Account and Sign Up

Sign up for Handshake with your university email. Scores of universities have direct partnerships with Handshake, meaning you’re able to log in with your school credentials. If your school isn’t partnered, you can still make an account with a personal email. However, some features might be limited.

Complete Your Profile

Consider your Handshake profile like your LinkedIn profile-your first impression for most recruiters, and having a profile that is complete and professional can greatly impact your interview prospects. Be sure to:

Upload a professional headshot

Concise yet compelling summary of interests, goals, and qualifications in your career field
Adding education: major, GPA, expected graduation date
Adding relevant work experiences, internships, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work
Emphasize key skills, which are technical-python, Adobe Creative Suite, etc.-and soft skills-communication, teamwork, etc. Utilize Job Filters and Keywords
After you have activated your profile, start searching for jobs within Handshake. You can filter your search results by location, job type, industry and more. Using specific keywords, such as “remote work, ” “entry-level,” or “marketing internship” helps narrow the search even more. Once you perform a search, you have the opportunity to save those search terms for future reference to access a listing of similar job postings.

Apply to Jobs

Now that you have found a good fit for jobs to your interests, it is time to apply. Be certain to:

Tailor your resume and cover letter to fit the position to which you are applying. Even if you do not have work experience, focus on transferable skills and relevant coursework.
Apply early. Most recruiters use Handshake as their application portal, and they can see applications coming in as they come in. Often applicants who apply earlier in the process get more attention.
Utilize Handshake’s integrated resources to manage your applications and stay on top of application deadlines and interview opportunities.
Attend Virtual Career Fairs
Handshake often offers virtual career fairs and company events. These provide a platform to engage with the recruiters in real time, an excellent opportunity to ask questions, learn about the culture of various companies, and express your interest in specific positions. Remember to:

Dress professionally-even for virtual events

Come prepared with a brief elevator pitch to introduce yourself
Research companies in advance so you can ask intelligent questions
Finding Remote Jobs on Handshake
As opportunities for remote work continue to grow, you can essentially work from almost anywhere. If you are interested in learning more about remote opportunities, Handshake makes it easy to find remote jobs by applying specific filters and searching with key words and terms. To search for remote jobs:

Use keywords such as “remote, ” “virtual, ” or “work from home” to refine your job search. Alternatively, you can filter your search results by selecting “remote” from the dropdown menu option labeled “job type.” Keep your eyes out for job industries that would tend to have a remote option available when looking to fill their positions, such as marketing, software development, customer service, and education.
Remote jobs on Handshake have the unique ability to enable students and new graduates to balance work with other commitments or pursue new career opportunities without relocating.

Check out the Remote Jobs in 2024 guide for more tips on preparation and success within remote work.

Stand Out on Handshake Tips
While you are before countless job opportunities through Handshake, standing out from a pool of applicants requires some sort of strategy, and here is how:

Keyword Your Profile
Make your profile contain relevant keywords relating to the types of jobs you will be applying for. If you are looking for a marketing internship, you should include terms like “digital marketing,” “SEO,” and “content creation.” These are words that make it easier for a recruiter to find you.

Power of Recommendations
Handshake’s job recommendation engine will automatically suggest jobs based on your profile. Check these regularly as they are usually very relevant to your interests and qualifications.

Contact Employers
And don’t be afraid to take initiative by reaching out directly to employers via Handshake. Whether you’ve already applied or you’re very interested in a company, go ahead and let them know by sending a friendly but professional message to introduce yourself and express interest. That puts you on the radar with hiring managers.

Follow Companies
You can even follow employers, which means that you will be notified of their new job listings or events. Following companies you like gives a leg up on early application and attending networking events.

Handshake Success Stories
Students and recent graduates have found huge success using Handshake to get their careers under way. Here are just a few examples:

Marketing Intern: One UC Berkeley student, who attended a virtual career fair through Handshake, met recruiters with one of the top marketing agencies, sent a tailored resume and cover letter, and secured their digital marketing internship, which they then converted into a full-time position.
Software Engineer Role: A computer science graduate from MIT landed a remote software engineering role at a startup through Handshake. By attending workshops hosted by the companies and networking with the recruiters, the applicant was able to impress against other applicants.
Finance Analyst: A student from the University of Texas connected with a financial firm through a virtual event on Handshake and, after multiple rounds of interviews, landed an entry-level financial analyst role.
More Resources
To get the most from your Handshake job search, check out the following very useful resources:

How to Build a Standout Handshake Profile
Virtual Career Fairs: How to Prepare and Succeed
Remote Job Search Strategies for Students

Conclusion

This would most definitely be a great opportunity for the student and alumni to transition into the professional world from academia. With specialized focus, ease of interface, and connection to thousands of employers, Handshake acts as the most important asset for early career professionals. Take the following steps in order to optimize your profile and apply to the right job, thereby taking full advantage of the networking opportunities available.

Whether it be internships, remote work, or full-time jobs, Handshake is the place where you need to start your journey. Get started today, complete your profile, and take your first step into your future career.