Enhance your job search skills with pro tips for Handshake

By Sally Bishop

In a struggling economy, University of Cincinnati students must use every advantage to attract the attention of prospective employers and land internships and summer positions.

Handshake, a career network platform similar to LinkedIn but designed for college students, can be an invaluable ally in the search, showcasing student aptitudes, accomplishments and career interests and connecting them with companies seeking their skills.

UC adopted Handshake a few years ago, requiring incoming freshmen to create an account. Employers with positions listed on Handshake specifically seek UC students and have hired them in the past for internships and full-time positions after graduation. 

Handshake coaching is an integral service offered by UC's Bearcat Promise Studio, which offers extensive professional development and job search consultation. Here, director Ellie Bridges shares her top tips for students who want to make the Handshake experience pay off for them: 

Students who have a complete profile are five times more likely to receive a message from an employer than students without a complete profile, Bridges says.

There are more than 8,900 opportunities in Handshake. During spring, the platform added over 1,000 new positions. So consider applying to internships, co-ops and full-time jobs. Right now, more than 6,000 positions have zero UC applicants.

Remember to fill out the career interests section. This ensures you will receive emails about opportunities that are relevant to your skills and interests. 

Schedule an appointment with the Bearcat Promise Career Studio. Professional studio staff are available to remotely review your resume, conduct mock interviews, and reassure you that you’re on the right track. 

To find out more about remote professional consulting services available through the Bearcat Promise Career Studio, click here. 

To find more helpful resources, tips and instruction, head to the Bearcat Promise Career Studio.

Featured image at top: Student explores career opportunities online. Photo/Pixabay