If you're interested in connecting with employers, we highly recommend using Handshake's messaging feature. Handshake is the only platform where employers actively make themselves available to students, eager to connect and assist you in your career journey.
Messaging on Handshake provides a safe, direct way to build relationships with employers. It shows initiative and can help you:
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Gain more details about a job you're interested in
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Learn more about a company
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Prepare for interviews
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Get answers to any questions you may have
Click on the expandable headers to learn more about the benefits of messaging employers in Handshake and how to message to employers!
Messaging Benefits
There are many advantages to messaging employers on Handshake! For instance, employers who are open to connecting with early talent can:
- Recommend jobs that may be a good fit for you
- Share their availability and schedule virtual meetings
- For additional information, refer to Virtual Chats with Employers
- Inform you about upcoming employer-hosted events or meetings
If you want to learn more about which employers can message students or how employers find students to connect with, check out Receiving Employer Messages in Handshake.
How to Message an Employer
If you'd like to reach out to an employer you've never interacted with before, you can message them through:
- An active job posting
- The company's profile page
- A message attachment*
Note: To encourage meaningful connections, Handshake enforces daily messaging limits. For more information about this, refer to Message & Feed Activity Limits on Handshake.
Active job posting
If an employer is open to receiving messages, you can contact them directly from the job posting.
Click the white button Message, located midway down the page under the section titled "Ask [Employer Name]"
Tip: consider asking about the role, company culture, or tips for succeeding in the application process.
In the pop-up that appears, type your message in the text box then click the blue button Send message to send!
A confirmation message will appear, letting you know you message was successfully sent. To review your message thread, go to your Handshake Inbox. For more details on accessing your messages, refer to How to Use Messages in Handshake.
For step-by-step instructions on how to apply for a job, check out Apply for a Job in Handshake.
Company Profile
To message an employer, click on their name to be directed to their profile, then click Message.
In the pop-up, type your message and click the Send button when you're ready!
Message attachment*
Some employers may recommend a team member for you to connect with—this could be someone you've not yet interacted with from the company. If this happens, the employer will send you a message with the recommended team member's profile attached.
Click on the attached user to be directed to their profile and send a message.
To learn more about receiving messages from employers, refer to Receiving Employer Messages in Handshake.