In today's competitive landscape, attracting top talent requires a strategic and personalized approach.
Learn How to Send a Student a Message.
To effectively message students and alumni on Handshake, follow these key steps:
1. Put your best foot forward.
Your subject line is crucial. It will appear in the candidate’s email, Handshake inbox, and mobile notifications.
Include your company name for higher engagement—our default subject line “Leah at ABC Company has sent you a message on Handshake” works well.
Customizing the subject line with your brand voice can improve open rates, especially when using terms like “apply.” The best-performing subject lines are 80-110 characters long.
2. Make the candidate feel special.
Personalization matters. Start with a line that shows why you're reaching out: “I saw you’re a Communications major,” or “We’re looking for someone with your skills in GIS.” This increases response rates.
End your message with your real name, not a generic company address. Candidates prefer hearing from “Sally the recruiter,” not “ABC Company Recruiting.”
3. Be clear with your call to action.
Make your call to action (CTA) stand out. Use bold, underline, or color to emphasize key actions like “Apply to this job” or “RSVP to this event,” and hyperlink them.
If you have an application deadline or event date, include it to create urgency. Always direct candidates to apply through Handshake so you can track engagement and optimize your messaging strategy.
4. Bring your brand to life.
Link to your Handshake Brand page or marketing video to give early talent more insight into your company culture. This not only tells your brand’s story but also encourages candidates to research before applying.