Transitioning from a student to an alumni is an exciting journey, and Handshake continues to be a valuable partner in your career development even after graduation!
As an alumni, you'll continue to have access to a variety of features on Handshake that can help you navigate the job market, connect with peers, build relationships with professionals in your field, and much more!
Benefits of an Alumni Account
🚀Tip: don't limit yourself to internships or your first job on Handshake - take advantage of the platform's search tools to secure your second and third job as well!
- Job Search and Applications: Continue searching and applying for jobs on the platform.
- Profile Maintenance: Keep your profile updated to showcase your professional journey throughout your ever-evolving career. An up-to-date profile can attract future employers and networking opportunities.
- Employer Messaging: Receive and respond to messages from employers. Engaging with employers can provide insights into new companies, roles, and can even lead to other job opportunities down the road.
- Alumni Connections: Connect with other alumni on the platform. Networking with peers can lead to valuable professional relationships and knowledge sharing.
- Career Services Resources: Stay connected to your career center for additional support and resources to aid in your job search and career development.
- Account Flexibility: If you have both a student and an employer account, you can toggle between them as needed. This can be particularly useful if you're recruiting talent or seeking to connect with students from your Alma mater. To learn how to create an employer account connected to your alumnus account, refer to How to Create an Employer Account Linked to Your Student Account.
💡Note: your access to your career center on Handshake as an alumni depends on your school. Some career centers may offer alumni mentoring, guidance for job seekers, assistance in crafting emails, and more!
Keeping an Alumni Account
Alumni accounts on Handshake function similarly to those of student accounts.
You do not need to modify your account to make it an alumni account. However, to keep using the platform as an alumni, we strongly suggest the following steps:
- Update Your Email: Change your primary email address to a personal one to maintain access to your account if you lose access to your school email. To learn more about updating your primary email address, refer to Update Your Primary Email Address in Handshake.
- Create Handshake Credentials: If you used your school's Single Sign-On (SSO) system to login to Handshake, you'll need to create a Handshake password to continue logging in. To create your Handshake credentials, check out Log In as an Alum: Set your Handshake Password.
- Account Approval: Some schools may require approval for alumni accounts. If this is the case, you can connect with your school's career center for more information. To locate your school's contact information in Handshake, refer to How to Locate your School’s Contact Information in Handshake.