Handshake allows users to create and link multiple account types using the same email address. This makes it easy to switch between roles without needing separate logins.
If you already have multiple accounts and want to switch between them seamlessly, this guide will walk you through the process.
If you haven't created a student or employer account yet, check out the resources below:
- For current student users: How to Create an Employer Account Linked to Your Student Account
- For current employer users: Create a Student Account (if you already have an Employer Account)
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If you're employed by a school as a Career Services user, learn how to manage all three account types in Switching User Views!
Switching users from an employer account
1. Click on your name in the upper-right corner of any page, then select Switch users from the dropdown.
2. All connected accounts will be listed. Click on Switch to Students Account to access that account type.
Switching users from a student account
1. Click your account icon in the upper-right corner of the Handshake screen (it may appear as your first initial or a profile photo if you've added one), then select Switch users from the dropdown.
2. All connected accounts will be listed. Click on Switch to Employers Account to access that account type.
Missing account types
If you do not have the option to 'Switch users', or notice that an expected account type is missing, double-check if the account is linked to a different email address.
For example, if your company or institution uses multiple domains—such as @sol.edu and @schooloflife.edu—Handshake treats these as separate accounts and won’t link them for switching.
How to resolve this:
To link your account types for switching:
- Create a new account using the preferred email address you'd like to use for both account types.
- Contact our Support team to request deletion of the duplicate account under the alternate email.
Example:
Let’s say you prefer to use the email associated with your existing student account:
- Create a new employer account using the same email address as your student account.
- Once it's set up, contact our Support team and ask them to delete the existing employer account that uses the other email.
Errors when switching accounts
If you receive a message about needing to verify your email address, it means the email linked to your Handshake account hasn't been verified yet.
To resolve this:
- Click the "verify your email address" link in the message.
- You'll receive a verification email—click the link in that email to complete the process and resume normal account usage.
Why you might see this message
- Your account was manually added by our Support team after a request.
- Support assisted with syncing your account, but it was never fully verified.
Note: Every user account created in Handshake must be verified before it can be fully accessed.
If you encounter a message stating that your email address has not been confirmed, this also means your account isn’t verified.
To resolve this:
- Click the resend confirmation email link ("click here") within the message.
- Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your account.
If you don’t receive the confirmation email, refer to Troubleshooting a Missing Confirmation Email.