Employer Validation

Handshake values the security of our employers and job seekers alike. We aim to instill trust in our community to use our platform with confidence, and we continuously execute policies that minimize risk to keep our users safe.

Handshake partners with SIFT, an industry leader in Digital Trust & Safety, to validate key employer profile data and ensure that each company on Handshake is legitimate and authorized to operate and hire employees. 

Through Sift, we also gain access to a suite of fraud prevention tools, improving our ability to safeguard all activity and user interactions on our platform. 

Account Creation 

During the account creation process, every user joining an existing company profile will be required to provide their email address and a phone number, and users creating a new company profile will also be required to provide the following information to complete registration: 

• Employer website
• Business phone number
• Public email address
• Employer location 
• Employer industry
• Employer description 

Learn how to Create an Employer User Account, Join a Company, and Connect with Schools.

If you are posting personal or caretaker jobs on Handshake, refer to Posting Personal, Babysitter, Household, or Caretaker Jobs.

After an employer account is created, Sift will automatically assess and validate the employer based on the information the user provided to Handshake during the verification process. 

If no risk is detected, the employer will be verified instantly and able to login and carry out activity as normal.

Multi-factor Authentication

To provide an additional layer of security, you may be prompt to conduct 2FA. In this event, you will receive a prompt upon your login session and a notification via email to proceed.

Enter the 6-digit code sent to your email in the input field to verify and access your account. 

Note: the code expires in 15 minutes and can only be used once. 

If the email isn't received, click on Re-send code to send another code. 

To ensure email deliverability, refer to How can I ensure deliverability for Handshake emails?.

Employer Activity 

All activity carried out on Handshake will be continuously monitored for fraudulent activity.

Any activity found to be high-risk will alert our Trust and Safety team and your user and/or employer account will be submitted for review. Based on our review, your access may either be granted or revoked. 

Additional Verification 

When risk is detected upon account creation or in the course of any ongoing activity, your account is temporarily disabled. You will receive a message upon login stating that your account is under review.

An email will also be sent to the address provided in Handshake indicating “Your account is under review”. The message includes next steps and a direct link to contact our Trust and Safety team.

If no safety concerns are found with your account, access will be granted, and a notification is sent via email confirming “Your account is now active”. The email includes a button to log in, and if you’d like more information about the review, click the link at the bottom of the email, “Contact our Trust & Safety team”.

If our review finds safety concerns with your account or a possible violation of our Terms of Service, access will be revoked and you will receive a message upon login stating that your account is temporarily suspended.

Note: if safety concerns are found across all users, the company profile will be suspended and made inaccessible, and you will receive a message indicating "Your organization's account has been suspended by our Trust and Safety team for a potential violation of our Terms of Service". 

The Trust and Safety team will review and verify your account as appropriate. Verifiable and supporting documentation may be required to complete the verification process. 

Supporting documentation or evidence may include: 

• Endorsement from a university partner 
• Proof of personal identity, e.g. driver’s license, passport 
• Proof of affiliation with company, e.g. business license 

To verify a​​nd reestablish your account on Handshake, contact our Trust and Safety team. 

If no action is taken to contact our team, your user account and/or employer account will remain suspended.

On-Campus Employers 

To minimize risk to our platform, on-campus employers and employer accounts created by career services users (on behalf of employers) will still be subject to the employer verification process. 

However, in the event that a legitimate on-campus employer account or an employer account created by a career services user is submitted for manual review, our Trust and Safety team will take action to fast track validation.