Handshake

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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.

Click on the links below to browse our basic Handshake guides:

Click here to access Handshake's Student Help Center, for questions about how to use Handshake and troubleshoot common issues and errors. 

Click here to see Handshake's Career Exploration Resources for students. 

Have more questions about Handshake? Email us at ucscel@ucsc.edu. 

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. Note: all incoming students will gain access to Handshake on September 4, 2023.

You will then be asked to Login with your UCSC Gold ID and password. When you continue, you will be directed through two-factor authentication (again, use your Gold ID/password to login). 

Once you’re logged in, you should see a homepage with "Jobs", "Events", and "Employer" tabs in the top left, and "Messages", "Career Center" and Profile tabs 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. 

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 at the top right of the Handshake homepage. 

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:

  1. 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. 
  2. Choose an appointment category based off of 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.

  1. Click on the "Jobs" tab at the top left of the Handshake homepage. 
  2. On the Jobs page, you can browse job postings from our verified employers. 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. 

  1. Once you've logged into Handshake, click the "Events" tab in the top left of the page. When you click on this tab, 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. 
  2. 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. You can also see all of these events on our Google Calendar, which is accessible on the homepage of our website. 

If you signed up for a virtual appointment, you'll receive a Zoom link you will use for your coaching appointment.

Questions about attending virtual fairs? Check out Handshake's guide to fairs for students.