Handshake
Handshake is the digital platform that UCSC uses to connect students and alumni with job search and career coaching resources. Through Handshake, you have access to many resources for searching for jobs, finding events, and getting in touch with our team here at Career Success. Check out our brief video overview of Handshake.
Accessing Handshake
All students have a Handshake account already created for them; you just need to activate that account by signing in with UCSC. To sign into Handshake, go to: ucsc.joinhandshake.com.
You will then be asked to Login with your Cruz ID and Gold password. When you continue, you will be directed through two-factor authentication (again, use your Cruz ID and Gold password to login).
Once you’re logged in to Handshake, there will be a menu in the top left with links to “Jobs”, “Events”, “Employers”, “Inbox”, etc. and your Profile tab in the top right.
Setting up your account
When you login to Handshake for the first time, it will prompt you to add a resume and information to your profile. Please do not skip this step, as it will allow you to see relevant job/internship listings, and allow relevant employers to find you more easily.
- Handshake will prompt you to upload a resume to Handshake, so that you can more efficiently apply to jobs. Here is Handshake’s guide to uploading documents.
You will also be prompted to fill out your profile with information about your major, experience, GPA, career interests, and more. The more information you fill out, the more relevant your search results will be. Here is Handshake’s guide to filling out your profile.
Career coaching services
Students can make career coaching appointments through Handshake, as well as browse and register for events hosted by Career Success. View our brief video guide about how to schedule an appointment.
To see these resources, click the “Career center” tab on the Handshake menu.
Appointments and coaching
Career Coaching appointments are either in-person, in our office at 125 Hahn Student Services, or conducted on Zoom. Appointments are easy to schedule through Handshake.
Making an appointment:
- On the “Career center” page, click on “Appointments”. On the Appointments page, you can see your currently scheduled appointments. Click “Schedule a New Appointment” to make a new one.
- Choose an appointment category based on your need, then choose an appointment time and location (virtual or in-person). When you make the appointment, there will be space to add a message/description. Be sure to include specific information about what questions you have and what you would like our coaches to help you with.
Once you’ve made your appointment, you will be able to see the name and contact information of your assigned coach. You also have the opportunity to cancel the appointment or add an additional comment.
If you signed up for a virtual appointment, you’ll receive a Zoom link you will use for your coaching appointment. If you signed up for an in-person appointment, you’ll need to come into our office at Hahn Student Services, Rm. 125, to meet with the career coach.
Finding jobs with Handshake
Handshake is UCSC’s official job search board for on and off-campus part and full-time opportunities. On the Jobs tab of Handshake, you can search through opportunities from employers verified by our moderation team. View our brief video discussing advanced job search strategies with Handshake.
On the Jobs page, you have the ability to filter your results by job type, paid opportunities, on-campus opportunities, work-study positions, location, industry and job title, employers, and relevant majors.
Events
Verified employers can share their in-person and virtual events with our students, so that you can register for them and attend them. Check out our brief video about navigating events in Handshake.
Career Success also posts on-campus and virtual events here. Career Fairs, webinars, and other official UCSC-hosted events are accessible for registration through Handshake.
- Once you’ve logged into Handshake, click the “Events” tab on the menu. You will be able to see all events posted by external employers and Career Success. You can then filter by employer, industry, event type, and more.
- To see only UCSC events, click “All Filters” and check the “Only posted by my school” checkbox.
Handshake separates UCSC-hosted events into two sections: Fairs and Events. Career Fairs are events where many employers are looking for student recruits. Employers are available for group presentations or one-on-one sessions. The Upcoming Events section includes all non-fair events hosted by our office, including webinars, workshops, and panels.
