By Zachary Spring
spriz@mail.broward.edu
As college students, we all need as many resources as possible to succeed, so even if you don’t see yourself using Handshake, I hope that this article can and will inspire you to tell others about it. Handshake is an online career network connecting students with companies in search of employees. Handshake’s organization comprises a membership base of twenty million members, with nearly a million employers seeking applicants.
Handshake has taken a new perspective on employment by utilizing a social media-like interface, making new jobseekers feel comfortable with the platform’s layout. Handshake also has a feature called connections, which enables users to come together in search of jobs.
Handshake was formed in 2014 by Garret Lord, Ben Christensen, and Scott Ringwelski, all Michigan Tech students. The three of them formed the website in the hope of equalizing the job market, as they noticed inequality among larger universities compared to local universities.
Handshake rapidly expanded after launching with the use of partnering with other local universities and encouraging anyone with a Broward College email address to join their website. Due to their success, they expanded, publicizing local events and coaching. Handshake switched from just a job-seeking application to a website connecting people from all over the world.
Handshake was made to be easily accessed and utilized. The social media-like interface makes it easy to use without experience. This interface makes younger applicants more understanding of how the system works, while appealing to recruiters at the same time.
Handshake also offers its users unique opportunities that are not normally available to inexperienced applicants. The vast number of employees on the platform also makes Handshake stand out, with around one million different companies utilizing the system to connect with students.
Another Handshake benefit is career and skill-building sessions. Job fairs, specialized programs, and events are all hosted and displayed on the website, giving applicants the ability to connect with others and take advantage of the special opportunities. Handshake focuses on community and facilitates connections between people in the workforce, which can open doors to many positions within different companies.
For students to fully utilize Handshake, there is a series of steps that must be completed. Creating a profile is the first step and the first thing to do when signing in to the website. The website will prompt users to give some information on your abilities and aspirations within the workforce, including the hours and locations you would prefer. The next step would be to add a resume to the profile. This lets employers know what skills and who the applicant is before contacting them. Once an applicant’s account is fully set up, it’s critical to search through the database of all the jobs that are available. There is a wide range of options, and they’re all specialized to the form that users fill out upon creating an account.
The most important step in the process is getting alerts from the website. When employers reach out to applicants, they need to respond promptly. Allowing the website to send them notifications can be the easiest way to get alerted when a company is reaching out to an applicant.
While some students have note that the number of job opportunities can be overwhelming to people who have a hard time making choices and that it can also be challenging to keep your profile updated, Handshake undoubtedly has benefits that can outweigh these costs.
Handshake has ultimately created an experience that prioritizes college students gaining connections and networking, as well as finding jobs based on location, pay, and hours. The Website is full of different opportunities for students to take advantage of and can shape a user’s future. The only thing left to do is to go and set up an account.