Handshake for Students

If you are studying in the United States, you will probably meet Handshake in your first weeks: an email from the career center, an invitation to complete a profile, a link to a fair. It is one of the main places where US colleges and employers meet, and it is worth spending an hour on. Done well, it brings internship postings, employer events and career center appointments into one place. Used carelessly, it becomes another inbox of emails you skim. This guide explains how to set it up and use it well.

This guide describes the platform's general purpose; features change, and access depends on your school. Other countries have their own university job platforms, and the principles here apply to those too. Check your career center for current instructions.

What Handshake is

Handshake is a career platform that colleges license so that students and alumni can:

• Search and apply for jobs, internships and co-ops.
• Browse employer profiles and follow organizations.
• Register for career fairs, information sessions and workshops.
• Book appointments with career advisers.
• Share a profile that employers can search.
• Message employers and recruiters, depending on settings.
• Receive job recommendations based on interests.

Employers use it to reach students at specific schools, often at lower cost and with more targeted audiences than general job boards. In many US universities, it is the main route to campus recruiting.

Access and eligibility

• You usually log in with your university account. Your career center sets up the connection.
• Access depends on your school's partnership. If your college does not use it, ask your career center what it offers instead.
• Alumni may keep access for a period. Check policies before you graduate. Our after-college section covers transitions.
• Some schools open it to recent graduates or to students at partner institutions.
• Employers need to be approved by the platform and often by your school, which reduces but does not eliminate scams.

Set up your profile

A complete profile helps employers find you and helps the platform recommend jobs.

Basics

• Name, photo and headline. Use a clear photo and a short statement of what you study and want.
• Education details: major, expected graduation date, GPA if you choose to show it and relevant courses.
• Career interests: industries, job types, locations and work preferences.
• Skills: a handful you can support with examples.

Experience

• Jobs, internships, volunteering and leadership. Use short bullet points that describe actions and results.
• Projects: coursework, research, competitions or personal projects.
• Resume upload: a clean PDF. Keep it consistent with your profile. Our resumes and interviews section explains how to write one.
• Documents: cover letters, writing samples or portfolios, if useful.

Links

• Add your professional profile and portfolio site.

Keep information accurate. Employers may verify.

Privacy and visibility

Choose settings deliberately.

• Profile visibility. You can usually decide whether employers can find your profile, whether only your school sees it or whether it is private.
• Messages from employers. Decide who may contact you.
• Information shown: consider whether to display your GPA, graduation date and contact details.
• Opt-outs. You may be able to opt out of certain communications and recommendations.
• Data sharing. Read the privacy settings and terms. Know who can see your information.
• Use a professional email address.
• Secure your account with a strong password and two-factor authentication. Our digital safety section explains how.

If you want to explore without exposure, keep your profile private at first, and open it when you are ready.

Search for jobs and internships

• Use filters: job type, location, industry, remote options, work authorization, pay and posting date.
• Save searches and set alerts so that new postings arrive in your inbox.
• Follow employers you like.
• Read postings carefully. Note required and preferred skills, deadlines, pay information and application instructions.
• Check the application route. Some postings are applied for in the platform, others redirect to company sites.
• Apply early. Many employers review applications on a rolling basis, and internship recruitment can start a year ahead. Our internships section explains timelines.
• Do not apply to hundreds of roles blindly. Tailor your applications to roles you can explain.

Applying well

• Customize your resume for each role, using keywords from the posting honestly.
• Write a short cover letter if requested or helpful.
• Answer screening questions carefully and truthfully.
• Proofread everything.
• Keep a log of applications: employer, role, date, contact and status.
• Follow instructions about documents and formats.
• Prepare for next steps: online tests, video interviews and phone screens. Our resumes and interviews section covers practice.
• Follow up politely if appropriate.

Events, career fairs and information sessions

Handshake lists employer events, workshops and fairs.

• Register early, because some events have limited spaces or require sign-up for time slots.
• Research employers before attending. Read their profiles and open roles.
• Prepare a short introduction and questions.
• Bring or upload your resume, and dress appropriately for in-person events.
• Follow up with a thank-you message to people you meet.
• Treat virtual events seriously: test technology, use a quiet space and engage in chat or Q&A.

Career center services

Handshake is often the booking system for career center help.

• Book appointments for resume reviews, mock interviews, career planning and application advice.
• Join workshops on topics such as networking, negotiation and graduate school.
• Use drop-in sessions.
• Ask about alumni connections and mentoring programs.
• Use job-search resources such as industry guides.

Advisers know the local market and your college's employers, so make use of them.

International students

International students can use Handshake, but they face extra rules.

• Check work authorization. Many programs limit the type and timing of work. Practical training or cooperative education may require approval. Speak to your international student office before applying or accepting offers.
• Use filters for employers who sponsor visas, but verify directly with employers.
• Be honest about your status when asked, and follow the rules.
• Be cautious about unpaid roles. Unpaid internships can have legal implications, especially for visa holders. Ask your international office.
• Use the career center's international student resources.
• Beware of scams that target international students with fake sponsorship promises.

Rules change, so rely on your school's official advice and government sources.

Stay safe from scams

Platforms screen employers, but scams slip through.

• Never pay to apply, train or receive equipment.
• Be suspicious of vague postings, high pay for little work, requests to use personal bank accounts or to buy gift cards.
• Verify employers through their official websites and contact details, not only via the platform.
• Be careful with unsolicited messages.
• Report suspicious postings to the platform and your career center.
• Protect personal information. Do not share ID numbers or bank details before a formal offer.

Making the most of it each term

• Start of term: update your profile, resume and preferences. Check upcoming events.
• Early weeks: set job alerts and register for fairs.
• Midterm: apply for roles with early deadlines, book a resume review and practice interviews.
• End of term: record experiences, update your skills and thank people who helped.
• Before graduation: check alumni access and set up alternative job-search routes.

Treat Handshake as one tool among many. Also use networking, professional associations, company websites and referrals.

Preparing for a career fair using the platform

Before the event, read the list of attending employers, shortlist five, and read their posted roles. Prepare two questions for each. Update your resume, and print or save copies. On the day, arrive early, start with a company that is lower on your list to warm up, and keep notes after each conversation. Afterward, apply to the roles you discussed and mention the conversation in your application.

Common mistakes

• Leaving the profile incomplete.
• Applying without tailoring.
• Ignoring events and career center services.
• Missing deadlines.
• Trusting every posting.
• Ignoring work authorization rules.
• Letting emails pile up unread.

A quick checklist

• Is my profile complete, accurate and consistent with my resume?
• Have I set privacy and notification preferences?
• Have I saved searches and registered for events?
• Do I know my school's career center services?
• Have I checked work authorization rules if relevant?
• Am I verifying employers and avoiding scams?

Final thoughts

Handshake can make your campus job search easier, but it rewards active use. Complete your profile, choose your privacy settings, apply thoughtfully and attend events. Use your career center, check work rules if you are an international student and stay alert to scams. A small amount of regular attention each term can lead to internships, contacts and advice you might otherwise miss.