Handshake FAQs for Students
The University of Cincinnati is transitioning to Handshake, a nationally recognized platform, to enhance the job search experience for students and employers. Handshake offers a centralized platform for managing both co-op and full-time job searches, facilitating long-term connections with employers. Some of the key benefits include:
- Dynamic Profiles: Build and showcase your skills and experiences.
- Employer Engagement: Follow employers and connect directly with contacts.
- Expanded Network: Read reviews and greatly expand your network.
- Wide Adoption: Used by over 1,400 colleges and universities and hundreds of thousands of employers.
If you are an enrolled UC student, a Handshake account has been created for you. To access your account:
- Visit the UC Handshake login page: https://uc.joinhandshake.com/
- Select “University of Cincinnati Login”
- Log in: Use your UC username and password
Log into Handshake now to get started. Rest assured, you will receive focused UC-specific instruction from your co-op faculty in the classroom or during instructional meetings this Spring semester. For a head start:
- Access Getting Started with Handshake, housed in Handshake's Student Help Center.
- Create a profile, upload documents, and follow employers.
As Handshake becomes the primary job search platform at UC, we are committed to enhancing the job search experience for students. We understand that in the past, some students felt overwhelmed, especially those in majors where employers were previously more active on other platforms like PAL. However, we are actively transitioning these employers to Handshake, which means you will soon see a wider array of major-specific job opportunities.
Steps to Optimize Your Handshake Experience:
1. Optimize Your Profile and Preferences:
- Profile Completion: Ensure your Handshake profile is fully completed. This includes adding your resume, skills, and a professional photo. The more information you provide, the better Handshake can match you with relevant opportunities.
- Set Preferences: Adjust your job search preferences. Specify the types of roles, locations, and industries you are interested in. This helps the algorithm tailor job recommendations to your interests.
- Regular Updates: Keep your profile updated with new experiences, skills, and achievements. This keeps your profile attractive to potential employers.
2. Utilize Curated Employer Collections:
- Program-Specific Collections: Explore the curated collections of employers that are specific to your program. These collections feature both existing UC partners and new connections made through Handshake.
- Explore Freely: While the curated collections provide a great starting point, feel free to explore other opportunities on Handshake. This allows you to discover a broader range of potential employers and roles.
3. Leverage Support from CCPS and Faculty:
- Workshops and Instruction: Attend workshops and sessions offered by CCPS and your co-op faculty. These will focus on optimizing your Handshake profile and making the most out of the platform.
- Employer Training: We are also providing support and training to employers on how to effectively use Handshake. This ensures they can connect with students like you more efficiently.
Additional Tips:
- Engage with Employers: Use Handshake to follow employers you are interested in. This keeps you updated on any new job postings or events they may host.
- Network: Participate in virtual career fairs and employer events hosted on Handshake. Networking is a powerful tool in securing job opportunities.
- Feedback Loop: Provide feedback on your Handshake experience. Your input is valuable in helping us improve the platform for all students.
By following these steps and utilizing the resources available, you can confidently navigate Handshake and find job opportunities that are well-suited to your skills and career goals.
Frequent Communication and Extensive Resources
UC is committed to providing frequent communications and a wealth of resources to support employers during the transition from PAL to Handshake. Employers will receive guidance on best practices for naming their positions (e.g., “Fall 2025 Industrial Design Co-op”) and ensuring that positions are posted at intervals that best align with our semesters.
Supportive Tools and Personal Assistance
To facilitate this transition, we have developed an Employer Quick Start Guide and a comprehensive Employer FAQs section. Additionally, we will continue to offer personalized support via email and phone.
Monthly Handshake Onboarding sessions will also be hosted to assist employers in navigating the new platform effectively.
Encouraging Active Employer Engagement
In the past, it was often discouraging to see positions posted in PAL without employer engagement or response to applicants. We believe that the structure of Handshake, combined with the strong relationships that CCPS has with employers, will empower and encourage them to keep their postings up-to-date. It is highly likely that any position you see in Handshake was recently posted by an employer who is highly motivated to hire.
Exciting Opportunities for Employers
We believe that employers will be excited about the increased opportunities to connect with students. We are thrilled to welcome new employers who will partner with UC to hire students through Handshake. This transition promises to enhance employer-student engagement and foster successful partnerships.
For the spring 2025 and summer 2025 co-op searches, the process will continue to include a "referral date" for PAL positions. Here’s how it works:
1. Application Start:
- You can start applying to positions on Handshake as soon as your application materials are uploaded and optimized.
2. Referral Date:
- Most instructors will establish a "referral date" for Handshake applications.
- After this date, we will notify Handshake employers that a complete list of applicants is ready for their review.
3. Application Requirements:
- For both spring and summer semesters, co-op faculty might require students to apply to a minimum number of positions in both PAL and Handshake.
- Specific instructions related to your program will be communicated through syllabi or other messages from your co-op faculty.
By following these guidelines, you can effectively navigate the co-op search process and ensure that you meet all necessary requirements.
PAL will be fully retired on Friday, August 22, 2025. The last action students may take in PAL is to complete student reports for summer co-op in PAL. Please note some majors may be piloting Student Reports in new platform during summer 2025. Your co-op faculty will ensure you are informed of requirements for your specific program.
Support for PAL will be phased out as we transition fully to Handshake. For the spring and summer 2025 semesters, students will be working in both platforms. CCPS will be working diligently to assist employer partners in transitioning their positions to Handshake during this same timeframe. As the transition timing may vary slightly by major, please expect to receive specific instruction from your co-op faculty.
Spring semester (begins January 13, 2025):
- New and existing employers will begin posting all new positions, including summer 2025 co-ops, in Handshake.
- Existing positions may still be active in PAL.
- Students may apply for co-ops in both PAL and Handshake.
Summer semester (begins May 12, 2025):
- New and existing employers will post all new positions, including fall 2025 co-ops, in Handshake.
- Last set of Round 1 referrals sent through PAL will happen in June 2025.
Fall semester (begins August 25, 2025):
- PAL will be sunset on August 22, 2025, and all co-op position searches for spring semester 2026 and beyond will take place fully in Handshake.
By fall semester 2025, all co-op students will transition to completing these reports in Canvas. Your co-op faculty will provide specific instructions when it is time for you to begin completing your reports in Canvas.
Reflection is a core tenet of experiential learning at UC and Student Reports are one method of facilitating reflection that will remain a part of your program requirements. Reflecting, synthesizing, articulating will continue to happen through instructional interaction with co-op faculty and peers.
By fall semester 2025, all co-op students will transition to using UC’s Course Evaluation system for evaluating their co-op faculty. This is the same system used for evaluating classroom experiences. Specifics will be provided by your co-op faculty when it is time for you to begin completing your evaluations in UC’s Course Evaluation platform.
This feature will no longer be offered as we transition to Handshake. For travel and housing plans, we encourage students to prioritize connecting with other UC students in your network. Some student organizations offer specific resources, like the DAAP Tribunal Housing website, to assist with housing needs.
Handshake works best with the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
Handshake offers a mobile app available for students on both iOS and Android devices. Read How to Log into Handshake Mobile for additional information.
If you need assistance with Handshake, there are several resources available to you:
1. Co-op Faculty Support:
- Your co-op faculty will offer procedural information and resources. This support is available through your spring professional development classroom course or during the initiation of your summer 2025 or fall 2025 co-op search semesters.
2. Online Resources:
- Visit the UC Handshake Transition webpage for guidance and updates.
- Explore the Handshake Student Help Center for a variety of help articles and FAQs.
3. Direct Contact:
- For personalized assistance, students can email queries to HandshakeHelp@uc.edu.
By utilizing these resources, you can effectively navigate and make the most of Handshake for your co-op search.