Attending via Video on Handshake

Students have the option to attend virtual events, fairs, and appointments by video using Handshake's mobile app.

For more information on downloading and logging into the app, refer to How to Log into Handshake Mobile.

 

Topics:

• Accessing a virtual Event
• Accessing a virtual Appointment
• Using Handshake video via mobile app

 

Accessing a virtual Event

1. Open the app on your device, then tap Events at the bottom of your screen - upcoming events at your institution will be listed on the screen. 

2. Tap the calendar icon, located in the upper-right corner of the screen, to the left of the bookmark, to view all registered events.

3. Tap on the event name you plan to join. 

4. Tap the blue button Join session on the events overview page. 

Note: the Join session button will become available 5 minutes before the session starts. If you try to join the session before that, it'll be greyed out, and you won't be able to join. 

If you haven't provided Handshake access to your microphone or camera, you'll be prompted to do so via a push notification on your device — Tap Ok to provide access.

5. Use the video preview to adjust your camera settings how you wish, then tap the blue button Join session. 

Note: your audio and video will be turned off upon entering the session. 

 

Accessing a virtual Appointment

1. Open the app on your device, then tap Account at the bottom of your screen. 

2. Tap Career Centre, then tap Appointments. 

3. Upcoming Appointments will be listed at the top of the screen - Tap on the appointment you plan to join. 

4. Scroll to the middle of the screen then tap the blue button Join Video Appointment. 

Note: the Join Video Appointment button will become available 5 minutes before the appointment starts. If you try to join before that, it'll be greyed out, and you won't be able to join. 

5. Use the video preview to adjust your camera settings how you wish, then tap the blue button Join session. 

Note: your audio and video will be turned off upon entering the session.

 

Using Handshake video via mobile app

Once you've joined your session via the Handshake mobile app, use the icons at the bottom of your screen to perform the following actions: 

• Microphone icon to unmute and mute yourself
• Camera icon to turn your video on and off
• Hand icon to raise your hand during a session
  
  • *this icon is only displayed if you are:
    • in a group session (such as a virtual fair group session or event) and
    • the host has enabled the feature
• X icon to leave the session
  • *if the session is with an employer, a prompt with the option to follow the employer will appear. Learn more about Following an Employer in Handshake.

To view chat messages, and participate in the chat, tap the Message icon, located in the upper-right corner of your screen. 

To view the participant list, tap the Person icon, located to the left of the Message icon, at the top of your screen. *this is only available in group sessions. 

To report a problem, turn on Closed Captioning, or share your screen, tap the three dots, located in the upper-left corner. 

Note: Closed Captioning is only available on iOS devices (iPhone X or newer).

 

 

Clicking to join a video session on desktop web will open in a new tab on your browser, so make sure your browser allows popups! 

In the new tab, your browser may prompt to allow access to your microphone and camera. You'll need to allow this access in order to use audio and video in the session. 

 

Topics:

• Video session page overview
• View participants and chat
• Report a user
• Raise hand feature
• Share your screen
• Manage audio and video settings, or report a technical issue
• Leaving a session

 

Video session page overview

On the right of the page is a preview of your video.

• • Mic and camera buttons are at the bottom middle of the video — click either of these to turn your audio and video on or off. 
  • The three dots menu in the lower-right corner of the video provides access to: 
    • Audio Settings, Video Settings, and Report a Problem
      • These are described in more detail below!

Note: in Chrome, a blurred background is on by default. If you'd like to display your normal background instead, you can toggle this setting off in the upper-right corner of the video preview. 

Blurry background also works on Edge, however, Chrome is Handshake's recommendation for the smoothest experience with all of our features!

 

On the left of the page are the session details. This includes: 

• • • • • name of the session (i.e. event title, appointment type, etc.)
        • session host(s)
        • date and time of the session 
        • note indicating your audio is muted upon joining

Click the blue Join now button below the session details to proceed to your session.

Once the session has been launched, the following options are available:

• Settings (three dots, located in the lower-left corner)
  
  • Audio settings
  • Video settings
  • Report a problem
• Microphone, Camera, Screen share, and Raise hand (at the bottom middle of the screen)
  • Note: the Screen share* icon is only displayed if the host has enabled this feature, and the Raise hand* icon is only available in a group session (such as a virtual fair group session or event) and if the host has enabled this feature.
• Leave session (in the lower-right corner)

Note: if you'd like to turn on Live Caption for media in Chrome, follow the steps outlined in Google's Help Centre.

If you join before the host has launched their session, a message displays briefly in the upper-left corner of the page "Your host has not arrived yet."

Here's an example of the initial page:

 

Once your host has joined, additional options will become available at the bottom middle of the screen. 

• Chat
• Participants

 

View participants and chat

If multiple attendees are participating, the active speaker will appear in the largest tile of the screen, while the attendees are shown on the carousel, located on the left side of the screen. This is the default view in Handshake, and currently the only view. 

For mobile users, up to 6 attendees are displayed, while on a desktop, up to 7 attendees are displayed. To view additional participants, click the up and down arrows, located at the top and bottom of the carrousel. 

Note: for group sessions with 15 or more total participants (including hosts) registered, we automatically disable audio and video for attendees - this is to preserve your audio, video, and screen-sharing quality.

 

To view the participants list during the session, including the host, click the participant icon (people) in the bottom middle of the screen. A list of participants displays on the right of the screen.

To chat with your host and other attendees, click the chat icon (message box) in the bottom middle of the screen. The chat window will appear on the right of the screen. Only messages sent and received while you are present in the session will be displayed. For example, if you leave and come back, the message history will be reset. 

Note: There isn't a way to save the chat, so if there's message content you'd like to save, we recommend you copy/paste the text or take a screenshot! 

 

 

Report a user

To report a participant, right-click on their name in the participants list, then click Report User. 

Note: the user won't be alerted that they've been reported, but the session host will be notified, and they'll have the option to remove that user from the session. 

For more details on this process (including screenshots of what the forms look like), refer to Reporting an Issue as an Attendee.

 

Raise hand feature

In group sessions, the meeting hosts may choose to enable the Raise Hand feature. If enabled, you can click the hand icon to raise your hand. A confirmation will appear in the upper-left corner of the video that states, "You have raised your hand. Your host will call on you when it is your turn."

 

When the host calls on you to participate, you'll be able to use your audio and video to interact.

Note: in group sessions with more than 15 registered participants, we automatically disable audio and video to preserve session quality. If this occurs and you are using the Raise Hand feature, your audio and video will become usable once the host calls on you.

 

 

Share your screen

Screen sharing in a session is possible via:

• desktop web 
  • If you are using a Mac, additional settings need to be configured–refer to Mac system requirements for screen sharing in our Attendee Requirements article. 
• the Handshake mobile app for iOS 

In order to share your screen, hosts must choose to enable this feature for attendees per session. If enabled, click the computer icon button to initiate screen-sharing.

 

 

Sharing options depend on the browser you're using. For in-depth information per browser, refer to Share Your Screen in a Video Session.

For example, in Chrome you can choose to share your full screen, a particular application window, or a specific tab within your browser window. Here's an example of sharing options in Chrome: 

 

Manage audio and video settings, or report a technical issue

To access and manage Audio or Video settings or report a technical issue:

• click the three dots menu icon on the Join now page, or
• once you're in the session, either:
  • click the Settings icon (three dots) in the lower-left corner

Audio Settings

In the audio settings, make sure the correct devices are selected for your Microphone and Speakers. Click the microphone icon to test your input, and click the word Test to test your sound output.

 

Video Settings

In the video settings, make sure the correct camera is selected from the dropdown menu.

A preview of the video is displayed if your video is also on in the session. If your video is off in the session, no preview is displayed.

Note: the Blur on video setting is only available on Chrome.

 

Report a problem (Technical Issue)

You can report an audio issue, video issue, chat issue, or other. This will generate a ticket for our support team to review, as well as help us continue to improve our product. 

For more details on this process (including screenshots of what the forms look like), refer to Reporting an Issue as an Attendee.

 

Leaving a session

Sessions will end automatically 20 minutes after the scheduled end time, to allow for additional conversation. 

You may leave a session and rejoin, but you may only be connected to a session via one device. 

If you're attending an appointment virtually on Handshake, when the session ends, the tab will close and you're taken back to the appointment overview page.

When a session with an employer ends, a prompt appears with additional steps to take with the employer, including the option to follow them in Handshake and review recommended jobs — you can also click View all to review all posted jobs at your institution from this employer. 

Learn more about Following an Employer in Handshake.