Handshake made the transition from campus to career feel manageable. The events, the employer connections, and the fact that companies are actively seeking students made all the difference. I found a research assistant role and later a full-time position through it. Genuinely the best early-career tool out there.
Outstanding for students entering the workforce
Handshake is brilliant if your university is well integrated with it, with lots of employers and events. My experience was a bit mixed because my smaller college had fewer participating companies, so the local opportunities were thin. The platform itself is excellent, the value just varies by campus.
Excellent platform design for early careers
Opportunity volume depends on your school
As a graduating senior, Handshake was a lifesaver. The job matching understood I was early-career and didn't bury me under senior roles. I attended a virtual career fair through it, chatted with recruiters, and ended up with a full-time offer. Couldn't ask for a better launchpad.
Tailored early-career matching and virtual fairs
Handshake helped me find entry-level roles that actually accept new graduates, which is harder than it sounds elsewhere. Recruiters reached out proactively which was encouraging. The one downside was the initial profile setup asked for a lot of detail and felt long, but once done it paid off.
Genuinely entry-level roles and proactive recruiters
Lengthy profile setup
Handshake connected me with my university's career network and I found an internship that perfectly matched my major. Employers there are specifically looking for students, so I didn't feel like I was competing against people with ten years of experience. The recruiting events feature was a huge bonus.
Student-focused employers and great recruiting events