On Handshake, you can connect with schools either by posting a job or by requesting to join their network directly.
Approval process
Each school partnered with Handshake manages its own approval process for employers and job postings. Approval criteria vary by school, and decisions are made based on their individual recruiting policies.
To connect with schools and begin recruiting activities, you can:
-
Post a job to the schools you'd like to recruit from.
- Learn How to Post a Job.
- Request to join their network if you don't have a job to post yet.
Your request(s) will remain in a pending state until each school decides whether to approve or decline your company or job. Learn more about About "Pending" Status at a School and How to Check This Status.
Once approved, you’ll be able to:
- Post events
- Search for students
- Message students directly at that school
Note: You can search for and register for a career fair without being connected to a school or posting a job.
Notifications
Depending on your notification preferences, you may receive an in-app notification when a school approves your employer account.
To set up or adjust your notification preferences, refer to Default Notification Preferences (Employers).
Note: Handshake does not send email notifications when a school approves your employer account. You can check your approvals directly on the platform.
To check approvals via in-app notifications:
1. Click the globe icon in the upper-right corner of any page in Handshake.
2. In the Category section on the left, select Schools.
3. Any recent school approvals will appear as individual notification cards in the main panel.
Each card includes the school name and confirmation that you’re now approved to post jobs, events, and more.
To view the notifications received when you are declined, refer to Declined by a School.
Pro-tips
- To make your job posting more appealing to students, include key details like:
- A clear job description
- Salary and location
- Perks and benefits
- To increase the likelihood of approval from schools, Create a High Quality Employer Profile.