New year, fresh start! If your resolution is to land a great job or internship, now is the perfect time to take action. And unlike some lofty goals that may fizzle by February, there are simple steps you can take now to see real results in your job search.
Here is your five step plan to fulfilling your job resolution in Handshake.
Handshake is here to help DePaul University students and graduates find great jobs and internships. And we want to clear a few things up! So we’ve collected some common misconceptions about your profile, employer events, applications, and more. Read below to learn the truth about your job search and how to really find the right job for you on Handshake.
Completing and updating your profile may just be the most important thing you can do on Handshake to get hired! Employers who are hiring at your school are searching for candidates based on the information on their profiles: the roles they’re looking for, the cities they want to work in, the skills they have, etc. So it’s extremely important that you fill out all of your interests and experiences in your profile. This will help recruiters find you for the jobs that match what you’re looking for.
When posting a job or internship, employers may select “preferences” or qualifications that they’re looking for in potential candidates. These preferences, like major, GPA or school year, will show up when you click on the details of a job posting, and Handshake will tell you which preferences match your profile. Think of them as a guide that can help you understand if you’re a good match for the job.
However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t apply for the job if you don’t match all of the preferences. If you’re interested in the job, you can definitely still apply. If there are other required documents, like a cover letter, as part of the application, that is where you can shine and tell the employer why you think you’re a great candidate.
While some job postings may take you to an external application, you can apply for many jobs right on Handshake in a few clicks. And rest assured that if an employer accepts applications on Handshake, recruiters are actively viewing those applications. But don’t take our word for it, check out just a few of the success stories from students who have been hired!
The main goal of Handshake is to connect students to the right job opportunities, no matter who they are or where they go to school. And that’s exactly why more than 500,000 incredible employers are hiring here—they can recruit from any corner of the country without leaving the office.
And since Handshake is connected to DePaul University’s Career Center, all of the jobs you see are meant for DePaul students and graduates.
Even if you’re just starting out and not sure what you want to do yet, you can learn a lot about careers and employers on Handshake. You can find part-time and on-campus jobs, explore careers that students at your school and in your major pursue, read employer and internship reviews from other students and recent grads, and much more. Plus, it’s never too early to start looking for your first internship! There are opportunities for every student no matter your school year.
If you’re a recent grad and don’t have your @depaul.edu email address, you can use a personal or generic email address to sign up for Handshake. After you sign up, someone from DePaul University Career Center will approve your account to get you set up.
Employers are changing the way they’re hiring students. Recruiting is now nearly all virtual, so virtual recruiting events are an essential way to learn about who’s hiring at your school and connect with companies that will want to hire you.
A major benefit of attending virtual events is that you don’t have to wait in line for a chance to talk to popular employers. When you register for a virtual recruiting event on Handshake, you sign up for session times with the employers you want to meet. These sessions will help you make a personal connection with employer ambassadors and learn about current job and internship opportunities.
Once you’ve created your resume, you can easily share your resume with employers by uploading it to your Handshake profile and making it visible. If you’ve previously uploaded your resume, double check that it’s marked as visible so that employers can view it. After you attend a virtual career fair, employers will have access to your resume when they download a list of participants from their sessions.
Learn how to check your resume’s visibility.
Log into depaul.joinhandshake.com to put this new knowledge into practice and refresh your job search!
Recruiting season may look different this year, but luckily thousands of employers are searching for students on Handshake. So, how can you be ready to land your next job or internship virtually this year? Follow these steps to make the most of your online job hunt.
This is always our first piece of advice for student job seekers, because your profile is fundamental to getting hired on Handshake. Employers are searching for students to recruit based on the information in their profiles such as major, graduation date, and interests (job type, cities, roles). And you can highlight all of the things that make you uniquely qualified including your courses, organizations, work experience and skills. When you complete your profile, you’ll be more likely to receive direct messages from employers inviting you to events or to apply for jobs.
The next step is crafting your resume with the information included in your profile. Upload and save your resume to your Handshake account so it’s ready when you’re applying to jobs. You can upload more than one version of your resume—so consider adapting it for different roles that you want to apply for.
You’ve probably heard that networking is important, and it can sound a bit intimidating. But “networking” really just means making a connection with someone from your school, extracurriculars, volunteer groups—or just reaching out to someone you don’t know who shares the same professional interests. There are many different ways to start networking online.
Find alumni of your school on Handshake who have or had roles that you’re interested in and send them a message. Introduce yourself and tell them you’d like to learn more about their experience. Ask them a question you have about their organization or how they began their career. And don’t forget to thank them in advance for connecting and sharing their advice.
Try looking for online professional interest groups to make connections with people in the fields that you’re exploring. It may take some research; you can also reach out to your professors or club leaders for their suggestions.
When you see an employer on Handshake that you like, click the Follow button on their page. If you’re on the Handshake app, click the star button. Following employers on Handshake is so useful because you’ll receive email alerts when they post new jobs and events. Plus, it helps improve your job recommendations. The more you explore and follow employers you’d like to work for, the more relevant your recommendations become.
Additionally, you can set search engine alerts for your top employers and follow their social media accounts. These are easy ways to learn about new initiatives, jobs, and other notable updates on their organization.
One of the biggest opportunities to connect with employers this year is at virtual events on Handshake. Employers are hosting group and 1:1 sessions to give students a look at their organizations and to recruit for open jobs and internships. Be sure to check your email for event announcements and log in often to see upcoming events for students at your school. You’ll also be notified when employers you follow are attending virtual fairs on Handshake.
When you register for a virtual fair, you can sign up early for sessions with the employers you want to meet and learn more about—a major advantage over traditional career fairs. Don’t miss these prime recruiting opportunities!
Just like in-person interviews, it takes some practice to get comfortable with virtual interviews. This is the time to call in some reinforcements. Ask a friend or family member to help you practice. Start with your “elevator pitch”—a brief introduction about you, your background and career goals. Then have them ask you a few common interview questions and ask them for any feedback on your answers. While you don’t need to memorize exactly what you’ll say, it’s very important to get more comfortable answering interview questions.
Check out our post with more ways to impress employers during a virtual interview.
Your school’s career center staff are an incredible resource, so take advantage of their knowledge. They can answer your job and internship questions, help you craft your resume and cover letters, or even practice for virtual interviews. They also have insight on employers that are hiring at your school and those that may have strong alumni networks. Call your career center and schedule an appointment—they’ll be happy to help you.
You can’t get a job if you don’t apply, right? It may go without saying, but you’ll greatly increase your chances of getting hired if you apply to a lot of open jobs. And try to keep an open mind, especially if you’re not quite sure what you want to do. Now is the time to gain different experiences and learn what you do and don’t like about a job.
Luckily Handshake will surface recommendations based on your profile, to help you find the jobs you want to apply for. Once you have your profile filled in and resumes uploaded, you’ll be able to apply to many jobs on Handshake in just a few clicks.
No matter where your job search takes you, be consistent and follow up. Whether it’s a message from an employer, an application, virtual event or interview—always consider three p’s: be proactive, prompt and polite. For interviews, whether informational or for an open job, it’s best practice to send a thank you note within 24 hours. In your thank you note, share something specific that you enjoyed learning or talking about, and reiterate your interest in the job, career path, etc.
If you discussed an open job or internship with an employer during a virtual event, make sure to apply as soon as possible. If the employers shared their contact information with you, send them a note thanking them and letting them know you’ve applied.
Your online actions are especially important when recruiting is virtual. If you can’t make a great impression in person, it’s best to be extra responsive and appreciative to the connections you make online.
Log into Handshake now to get started on your virtual job search!
Guidance Provided By: The Handshake Team
You signed up for Handshake—congratulations! You’re on your way to finding a great job or internship. To help you get started, we’ve outlined five steps to take during your first five days on Handshake. Read below for tips that will put you on track to landing your next opportunity.
Don’t skip the most important step of getting started on Handshake—completing your profile. This is absolutely necessary to have success in finding a job or internship. The information in your profile helps you receive the most relevant job recommendations, and helps employers find you in their candidate searches.
Make sure to fill in your job interests including job type, cities, and roles that you want to explore. Don’t worry if you’re not quite sure what you want to do or where you want to be, you can update your profile at any time. Next, add your work experience, courses, organizations and skills. The more information you include in your profile, the better your chances are of hearing from recruiters.
Once you’ve filled out your profile, you’ll receive personalized job recommendations based on this information. And as you add interests and update your profile, your recommendations will update as well—helping you find the right jobs for you.
As you’re viewing your recommended jobs on Handshake, save the ones that catch your eye. This will store them on your dashboard and in the Saved tab on the job search page—helping you quickly find them when you’re ready to apply. You’ll receive important notifications about saved jobs, including reminders to apply before the deadline.
Saving jobs also shows Handshake what you’re looking for, so your job recommendations become even more relevant. To save a job, click the bookmark icon located on the right side of the job preview or on the left hand side of the job page.
The employers you see on Handshake want to hire students at your school. And with top employers in every field, you’ll be able to find organizations you want to work for. When you see an employer you like, be sure to follow them by clicking the Follow button on their page—or the star button if you’re on the app.
You’ll receive alerts when the employers you follow post new jobs and events on Handshake. Plus, following employers helps improve your job recommendations.
Virtual recruiting events are taking center stage this year, giving you an opportunity to meet employers through your device. Employers will be hosting sessions with students at your school to recruit for open jobs and internships. This is also a good reason to follow employers you’re interested in—because you’ll be notified when they’re attending virtual fairs on Handshake. Also be sure to check your email and log in often to see upcoming events for students at your school.
Virtual fairs on Handshake are unlike the traditional career fair you may be familiar with. When you register for a virtual fair, you’re able to sign up early for sessions with the employers you want to meet. So forget the lines and register for virtual recruiting events!
Spend some time today going through your saved jobs and new recommendations, and start applying! Because you’ve filled out your profile and uploaded your resume, you’ll be able to apply to many jobs on Handshake in just a few clicks. We recommend keeping an open mind and applying to as many jobs as you’d like, especially if you’re interested in more than one field. It’ll increase your chances of finding a great job and help you explore potential careers.
If a job posting requires a cover letter, check out these tips for crafting a letter that will help your application stand out.
That’s it—just follow these tips to make your first week on Handshake a success! Log into Handshake now to get started.
Guidance Provided By: The Handshake Team
Handshake is for DePaul students like you looking for an internship or job that opens the door to a fulfilling career. We know this can be an intimidating process, and you probably have a lot of questions, like:
How do I get an internship without experience?
I know what I like about my major. How do I make this a career?
And maybe the most common:
Where do I start?
From exploring career paths and starting internships, to accepting your first full-time job after graduation—Handshake will help you every step of way.
When you create your Handshake profile, you highlight your interests, your studies, and what you’re looking for in a job. You tell us the locations you’d like to work in and what job roles interest you most. Handshake takes this info and shows you jobs and internships that are a good fit for you.
“I never knew how many roles my major could be applied to! Handshake shows jobs in an easy, descriptive way so I could explore my career path without having to search all of the internet.”
Kara
The employers on Handshake are searching for students at your school to hire for internships and jobs. When recruiters see your profile, they will proactively message you to invite you to events or encourage you to apply for new opportunities. Students love Handshake because they can find jobs without spending hours searching and applying.
“A lot of times you will find a job and maybe you don’t have enough experience, or they are looking for candidates with a certain major. Handshake connected me with employers looking for candidates like me, with my major at my school.”
Lloyd
Handshake has thousands of employer and internship reviews from students, so you can learn what it’s really like to work at the companies you’re interested in. You can explore our Q&A feature to see answers to common student questions, and even message your peers for advice about interviews, internship projects, and more.
If you’re ready to start your career, join Handshake and create your profile today!
Guidance Provided By: The Handshake Team
Do you have questions about how to find a job or internship on Handshake? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. That’s why we’ve compiled answers to the most common questions from college students.
1. Why should I make a Handshake account if I already use other job sites?
Handshake is the only place that connects you, your school, and employers together. All of the jobs on Handshake are meant for students—in fact, Handshake has the most opportunities for students and new college grads of any job platform. It’s also the only place where employers are recruiting specifically at your school.
2. Why do I need to fill out my Handshake profile?
Your profile is the key to finding a job or internship on Handshake. When you fill out your profile:
3. Which parts of my Handshake profile are most important to include?
In addition to your major, Handshake also uses your job interests to recommend opportunities to you. Your job interests include:
TIP: You can change and update your interests at any time.
4. What are the top things employers search for?
After job interests, these are the most popular fields that employers use to find students they’d like to message:
5. Why should I make my profile public?
Employers are able to find and view your profile only when you make it visible to them. So help employers find you! Make it public so you’ll show up when they’re searching for students to recruit for jobs and internships. You can also make your profile visible to other students, so you can connect with them for advice, or help them.
Don’t worry—your profile will not be public to employers that have not been approved by your school, or to anyone without a Handshake account.
6. Can I use Handshake on my phone?
Yes! Download the Handshake App from the App Store or Google Play, to search and apply to jobs right from your phone. You’ll also be notified when you receive a message from an employer, be first to see new job postings, and can apply to jobs in two clicks with Quick Apply.
7. What is the best way to use keyword search and filters?
Keyword search and filters are a great way to narrow down and customize the jobs you see on Handshake. You can filter through jobs by criteria such as job type, location, work authorization, and industry. Keyword search helps you find jobs whose description includes a word that you’re looking for. For example, if you search for the keyword “accounting,” you will see jobs where the word accounting appears within the posting.
TIP: Save your searches to quickly access a set of filters you’ve used in the past.
8. Why should I contact other students on Handshake?
When you view a job or employer page, you can see other students who have worked there and reach out to them with your questions. You can get an inside look at company culture, interview tips, and more through company reviews. You can also find answers to common career questions (or ask your own!) in Q&A.
TIP: You can also search for students based on their major, work experiences, and more.
