Handshake is the number one site for college students to find a job. Today, the Handshake community includes 10 million students and young alumni at over 1,400 colleges and universities and 750,000 employers.
Check out these top tips to make the most of your Handshake experience at WashU.
1. Check out the curated list of employers great for McKelvey students. These are companies that have hired WashU students in the past, attend WashU recruitment events, or just have opportunities that are well-aligned to our programs. Just make sure your profile is complete and updated to show you’re a student in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. You can then find the curated employers by searching under the Career Center and viewing the collections. Check them all out, but “Great for School of Engineering and Applied Science” is specifically for you.
2. Follow specific employers on Handshake. You’ll receive notifications when they post jobs and events, and your job recommendations will improve and become more relevant. To follow an employer, click the FOLLOW button at the top of their page.
3. Save jobs and job searches. Save a job you’re interested in. When you’re ready to apply, easily find the job in your saved tab on the job search page. Have specific criteria you search over and over? Location? Job Role? Just save your search for easy access next time. This will help streamline your search process making it more effective and less repetitive.
4. Upload your resume to Handshake. By uploading your resume to Handshake, you make it easier to apply for jobs on the platform. When you’re ready to apply, you can select your uploaded resume to include with your application. Additionally, if your profile is set to public and you’ve allowed document visibility, some employers may have access to view your resume directly, potentially increasing your visibility to potential employers. Be mindful of what information you include on your resume and profile and adjust your privacy settings as needed. See here for specifics on document visibility.
5. Tailor your notifications. Adjusting your notification settings to your preferences is important to ensure you receive the right about of info in the way that best suits you. Receiving too many notifications? Not enough?? Would you rather have a push alert than an email?? Adjust your notifications.
6. Find events. Search the events page to find upcoming info sessions and events with employers (on-campus and virtual), career fairs, and workshops to help you prepare for everything, from resume workshops to your LinkedIn profile to grad school applications.
