Handshake sends emails to undergraduate and community college students who have not yet logged into Handshake. These students are referred to as unactivated students.
This article covers initial activation emails, ongoing activation campaigns, and job recommendations.
What triggers the initial activation emails?
When a school uploads a student through the Importer and the student has not logged in, Handshake automatically sends a series of emails asking them to activate their account.
When are the initial activation emails sent?
Unactivated students receive activation emails on the following schedule:
- Day 2 after account creation
- Day 9 after account creation
- Day 16 after account creation
What each initial email includes
- Day 2 email: Greets the student by name and explains that their school has set up a Handshake account for them because it is the career platform their school trusts. The email notes that other students at the school are already using Handshake to find internships, on-campus jobs, and full-time roles. It also states that the student’s account is ready to activate and includes an Activate my account button.
- Day 9 email: Highlights that employers are looking for students like them and displays a row of employer logos. The email explains that these employers are on Handshake and actively recruiting. It encourages the student to activate their account to find employers hiring at their school and includes an Activate my account button.
- Day 16 email: Explains that the student’s school has started their profile and prompts them to complete it. The email includes a profile preview showing the student’s name, school, class year, and major, along with fields for location, interests, and a resume. It also explains that employers cannot find the student until they activate their profile and includes a Finish your profile button.
What happens after Day 16
If a student still has not logged in after the Day 16 email, they move from the initial email series into Handshake’s ongoing activation campaigns.
What are activation campaigns
Activation campaigns use seasonally relevant content to encourage unactivated students to start using Handshake.
Who receives activation campaigns
All unactivated students at a school receive activation campaigns, not only students who were recently uploaded.
Campaign content may be customized by class year or other student attributes to keep the messaging relevant.
How often are activation campaigns sent?
Activation campaigns are sent every two weeks on average.
What content do activation campaigns include?
Campaign content varies depending on what resonates most with students at the time. Examples include:
- Curated job recommendations
- Curated lists of employers to follow
- Tips for navigating a job search
- Suggestions for getting the most out of Handshake
Example campaign emails
Your account is waiting: Encourages the student to activate their account before summer. The email explains that employers are posting summer and fall opportunities, including internships, part-time work, and full-time roles. It includes an Activate my account button.
Welcome back to campus: A back-to-school campaign that encourages the student to activate their account to explore career fairs, internships, and jobs. The email highlights signing up for career fairs and events, exploring work opportunities, and completing their profile to stand out to recruiters. It includes an Activate your account button and promotes a chance to win a customizable water bottle.
When do students stop receiving activation campaigns?
A student stops receiving activation campaign emails after they log into Handshake for the first time.
Do unactivated students receive job recommendations
Yes. Unactivated students receive weekly job recommendations by email before they activate their account.
What does the job recommendation email include?
The email is titled “Jobs for you this week” and greets the student by name. It reminds the student that their school partners with Handshake and prompts them to activate their school-created account using the Activate account button.
The email lists individual job opportunities, including the employer’s logo, job title, employer name, and industry.
How are job recommendations personalized?
Job recommendations for unactivated students are customized based on:
- Class year
- Location
- Major
- Employers hiring at the student’s school
What changes after a student activates their account
After activating their account, the student stops receiving weekly job recommendations for unactivated students.
Instead, they receive more in-depth job alerts and recommendations based on their preferences and activity in Handshake.