Handshake provides three profile privacy options for student accounts: Community, Employers, and Private.
If your institution is partnered with Handshake and created you an account on your behalf, the account privacy is automatically set to Private, meaning it is not visible to any employers or peers.
If you have created your own account, or when you activate an account created for you, you have the option to update your privacy setting when you first log in.
Topics:
- What does each profile privacy option allow me to do?
- Example images of privacy prompts in Handshake
What does each profile privacy option allow me to do?
Most features on Handshake are usable without making your profile visible to employers and/or students, including applying to jobs, registering for in-person events or fairs, and scheduling appointments.
Some features within Handshake require either Employers or Community to be selected, such as participating in a virtual 1:1 session, group session, event, or connecting with peers via campus profiles and messaging.
If you choose either Community or Employers, we recommend making sure that your profile is fully filled out for the best experience, as a complete profile enables more intentional and relevant interactions.
Community
The Community option is all-encompassing and includes access to each possible interaction in Handshake. If you select this option, you will not be prompted to update your profile privacy for any action.
With the Community option selected:
- You can message students and alumni with similar experience
- You can receive messages about job opportunities from potential employers
- You can browse jobs and other resources from Handshake or your institution
- Your profile is visible to employers, students, and alumni across all Handshake institutions
Virtual events hosted in Handshake and virtual fair group sessions require the Community privacy option, since employers and other students participate in these sessions.
Virtual fairs and events mimic the in-person experience by participant names being visible in the participants list, interactions via chat, and the current speaker (employer host or student speaking on audio with video enabled).
If you have selected Community, then you can register for virtual events hosted in Handshake and fairs with no setting changes. If you have Employers or Private selected, you'll be prompted to update your privacy setting to proceed with the virtual event or virtual fair group session signup.
Employers
With the Employers option selected:
- You cannot message students and alumni with similar experience
- You can receive messages about job opportunities from potential employers
- You can browse jobs and other resources from Handshake or your institution
- Your profile will be visible to employers
If you'd prefer not to be visible to other students/alumni, you may select the Employers privacy option. This enables employers approved at your institution in Handshake to discover your profile and connect with you via messages or inviting you to apply.
You can register for virtual events hosted outside of Handshake with a different provider. You can also register for virtual fairs in Handshake and sign up for only employer-hosted 1:1 sessions (one recruiter and one student). If you'd like to sign up for group sessions or register for virtual events that are hosted in Handshake, you'll be prompted to update your privacy setting to Community.
Private
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- You cannot message students and alumni with similar experience
- You cannot receive messages about job opportunities from potential employers
- You can browse jobs and other resources from Handshake or your institution
- Your profile will not be visible to the employers you apply for jobs to
If you choose to keep your profile Private, you can search for and apply for jobs, register for in-person events and fairs, and explore career paths. If your institution is partnered with Handshake, you can interact with the Career Centre via appointments, experiences, surveys, First Destination Surveys, and institution-posted resources.
Profile privacy prompt during onboarding
During onboarding, you'll receive a prompt to choose your profile visibility.
Each of the privacy options are listed, and include details as to what it means for you in Handshake.
Virtual fair session signup prompt
When you sign up for a virtual fair session and need to update your privacy setting to join, you'll receive a prompt to make that change. This prompt includes the following message:
"In order to participate in a virtual career fair on Handshake, you will need to change your visibility."
Within the prompt, it will display your current profile visibility setting, and the required options and details to attend.
- Community - Required to participate in a group session.
- Employers - Required to participate in 1-on-1 sessions with employers.
Virtual event registration prompt
Virtual events require either the Employers or Community privacy option, depending on the employer's configuration:
- If the event is hosted outside of Handshake, meaning there is an external video provider like Zoom, the Employers option is the minimum required.
- If you are set to Private, you'll need to update.
- If you have this setting already, you can register for the event as normal.
- If the event is hosted in Handshake with our video provider, the Community option is required.
- If you are set to Private or Employers, you'll be prompted to update.
- If you are already on Community, you can register as normal.
This prompt includes the following message:
"In order to participate in a virtual event on Handshake, you will need to change your visibility."
Within the prompt, it will display your current profile visibility setting, with the required options and details to attend.
- Community - Required to participate in a Handshake virtual session.
- Employers - Required to participate in virtual sessions with employers.