5 Reasons to Claim your Handshake ASAP

by Casey Covel · Published September 13, 2023 · Updated October 18, 2023

Did you know that Handshake is the #1 way college students find jobs?

Did you know you can access Handshake as an EFSC student or alumni?

Handshake is part social media platform and part job board. We don’t want anyone to miss out on the incredible advantages of being on Handshake. Here are the Career Center’s top five reasons to claim your Handshake account ASAP!

1. Getting Access is EASY

Log in with your student ID and password. That’s it! Then, you can complete your profile at your leisure—which we highly recommend! Students who complete their profile are 5 times more likely to be directly messaged by employers, meaning the jobs come to you instead of you searching for them.

Your profile showcases your best of the best accomplishments. That A+ group project in speech class? List it! Your recent certification in CPR or Network+? Post it! The fact that you can juggle twelve tomatoes while riding a unicycle and playing the kazoo…? …We’ll leave that one up to your discretion.

Filling out your profile doesn’t just increase your job prospects; it’s also incredibly rewarding to see all that you’ve accomplished in one place!

2. There are a LOT of Employers

…Over 8,500 approved and registered through EFSC, in fact. Even better: 100% of the Fortune 500 companies have accounts!

Handshake doesn’t let just any employer create an account and post jobs. Employers prove their legitimacy through a rigorous screening process first, so that you’re guaranteed to get only authentic opportunities. Best of all, you can access any employer’s business page, learning who works there, what opportunities they have to offer, and more. Some employers even allow you to message them directly!

3. It’s more than just Jobs

It’s rightfully called a “job board”—with thousands of full-time, part-time, seasonal, temporary, and remote opportunities to apply for. But did you know Handshake also features internships? These work experience opportunities (both paid and unpaid) allow you to collaborate with a business in your area of interest—from animation and graphic design to AutoCAD and engineering.

Internships make incredible resume-boosters, and we believe every student should experience at least one internship while going to college. Gaining work experience, networking with professionals, putting your skills to the test… the advantages are numerous.

4. Gain skills through free Employability Workshops

Want to brush up on your communication skills? Getting ready for your first job fair? Nervous about that upcoming interview? Our self-paced employability workshops have you covered—and you can find them all on (you guessed it) Handshake!

5. Get the Scoop on Job Fairs and Hiring Events

Whenever EFSC announces an upcoming job fair or employer recruitment event, Handshake users hear about it first!

Not only can you register in advance (getting VIP treatment!), but you can also read up on which employers are attending, what specific roles they’re hiring for, and how you can maximize your chances of success during the event. There’s a whole host of insider information right at your fingertips!

This puts you at a huge advantage over other students who stumble across the event day-of, or only hear about it from campus fliers or the website banner. Because you were on Handshake, you had plenty of lead time to freshen up your resume, press your best business clothes, and prepare to land that dream job!

BONUS: No Experience Required!

If you’ve spent even five minutes job hunting on Indeed or LinkedIn, you’ve probably stumbled across an “entry-level” job that asks for 1-3 years of experience. This is where Handshake is a real game-changer!

While not all jobs on Handshake are entry-level, this job board is specifically created with students and recent graduates in mind. This means you’re more likely to find employers willing to work with your busy school schedule, lack of hands-on experience, and overall need for flexibility.

Looking for more Career Advice and Job Search Help?

EFSC students and alumni have free, remote-friendly, for-life access to all the Career Center’s services—from job hunting and resume writing to career exploration and interview preparation.

Through Handshake, the Career Center can assist you with job and internship searching, boost your professional profile by crafting resume-ready descriptions, and research local career opportunities in your area of interest.

If you have questions about accessing Handshake, searching for jobs, or even writing an eye-catching profile, we’re here to help! Contact your campus’ Career Center or book a virtual or in-person appointment. (And be sure to browse Handshake’s tips and best practices, too!)

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Casey Covel

As a Career Center Coordinator on the Cocoa Campus, Casey helps students chart career paths and land dream jobs. She earned national honors while completing her A.A. degree at EFSC, graduated with a B.A. in Human Communication through UCF and holds memberships in both Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Leadership and Success. An award-winning writer on matters of faith and pop culture, Casey’s hobbies include sipping tea, wielding chopsticks, gaming in the realms of Tellius and Hyrule, growing her action figure collection and squinting at strange words.