Handshake partners with Persona to verify that employers on the platform are legitimate and authorized to hire.
Handshake also uses proprietary fraud detection technology to add additional layers of security during verification and continuously monitors for fraudulent activity after verification to help keep all platform activity and user interactions secure.
Note: Only the company profile owner can validate a company profile. If the current owner is inactive, contact Support.
Haven’t created an employer account yet? Refer to How to Create an Employer Account on Handshake.
Submitting your government-issued ID
When you create a new company profile, a modal appears prompting you to verify your company and identity.
1. Click the black button Get started to begin.
2. On the Let’s get down to business screen, review the auto-populated company details (legal name, business registration number, DBA if applicable, website) and update them if needed. Click Save and continue.
Note: One of the most common reasons employer verifications fail is due to incorrect or mismatched business registration information. To avoid delays, ensure you provide the correct Employer Identification Number (EIN or TIN) and the legal business name exactly as registered with the IRS.
If your company operates under a "doing business as" (DBA) name or any other variation, it will not pass verification. Only the official legal name associated with your EIN/TIN should be submitted.
3. On the next screen, select the country that issued your government ID, then choose the appropriate type of ID (driver’s license, passport, or other available option).
4. Upload a clear, legible photo or scan of your identification document.
You will be prompted to upload photos of the front and back of your ID.
If your images cannot be verified, tips will be provided to help you confirm your identity. After reviewing the tips, click the Retry button to upload your photos again.
5. Persona will process the submission. Upon successful completion, the confirmation message displays:
“Congratulations, you’re done! Thanks for verifying your identity. Click the Done button to finalize the process.
- If Persona cannot process your ID on the first attempt (e.g., due to blurriness, expiration, etc.), you will have four additional attempts.
- After the fifth attempt, no further attempts will be available, and Persona will use your final submission to verify your identity.
After you submit your ID, your company account automatically enters the company verification stage.
Canceling an employer verification request
Verification requests that have entered the verification stage cannot be canceled directly in Handshake.
If you have already reached the verification stage and want to cancel the request, contact Support.
Company verification process
Once your information has been submitted, Handshake begins verifying your company account.
During this time, the following message will be displayed: "Almost there! Verifying your company account... This should only take a moment."
Once your company profile is verified, you will receive an email notification and gain access to Handshake.
The email will read:
From: Handshake <employers@g.joinhandshake.com>
Subject: "Your company profile has been validated"
Body:
"You now have access to Handshake!
Your company profile has been validated. Log in to update your company profile, post jobs, attend or create events, and engage with students.
[Log in to Handshake] button.
Need help getting started? Here are a few helpful insights and tips that will jumpstart your recruiting efforts for early talent."
Further review required
If your company requires additional review by our Trust and Safety team, the following message will be displayed:
"Hang tight—your company requires further review.
Your job is not posted yet.
After new employer verification, your account needs further review by our Trust and Safety team. We'll email you as soon as your account is ready, usually within 1 business day. If you have additional questions, contact us."
Access to the platform will be restricted during this period and will only be granted after the review is complete.
Account could not be verified
If your company cannot be verified, the following message will be displayed:
"Your company could not be verified, and your job was not posted.
Your company didn’t pass our verification check. Please reach out as soon as possible."
Click the Contact us button on the screen to connect with our Trust and Safety team for assistance.
You will also receive an email notifying you that your account couldn’t be verified, along with the next steps to take.
The email will read:
From: Handshake <handshake@notifications.joinhandshake.com>
Subject: "Contact us-your account couldn't be verified"
Body:
"Contact us-your account couldn't be verified. Looks like your company didn't pass our verification check. Please reach out Handshake as soon as possible.
[Contact us] button."
Temporary suspension during or after verification
If a potential risk is detected during verification or subsequent account activity, your company account may be temporarily suspended.
When this occurs, the following message will be displayed:
"Your company is temporarily suspended.
Your job is not posted yet.
{Company name} account has been suspended by our Trust and Safety team for a potential violation of our Terms of Service. If you have additional questions – Contact us."
An email will also be sent to the address associated with the account, explaining the reason for the suspension and providing next steps, including a direct link to contact our Trust and Safety team.
Trust and Safety review
The Trust and Safety team may review your account if company verification cannot be completed automatically, if additional manual review is required, or if your account is suspended.
To complete this process, verifiable and supporting documentation may be required.
Examples include:
- An endorsement from a university partner
- Proof of personal identity (e.g., driver’s license, passport)
- Proof of company affiliation (e.g., business license)
To restore access to your Handshake account, contact Support. After the review is complete and no safety concerns are found, your access will be restored and you will receive an email confirming that your account is active.
Multi-factor authentication
As an additional security measure, you may be required to complete multi-factor authentication when logging in.
A 6-digit code will be sent to your registered email address.
Enter the code within 15 minutes to access your account.
If the code is not received, click Re-send code to generate a new one.
To ensure email deliverability, refer to How can I ensure deliverability for Handshake emails?.
On-campus employers and employer accounts created by career services
To reduce platform risk, most employer accounts are required to complete the employer verification process. However, the review experience differs depending on how the account is created.
Employer accounts created by Career Services staff
When a Career Services user creates an employer account from their Career Services profile using their institution email address, the account automatically bypasses employer verification.
- If a Career Services user creates an employer account with a personal or non-institutional email address, the account will follow the standard employer verification process.
On-campus employer accounts
On-campus employer accounts follow the standard verification process. During this review, our Trust and Safety team identifies eligible on-campus employers and approves those accounts accordingly.
Account monitoring, fraud detection, and review
All employer activity on Handshake is continuously monitored for potential fraud or other high-risk behavior.
If an account is identified as high risk, it may be submitted for review, and access will be granted or revoked based on the Trust and Safety team’s assessment.