Tips and Tutorials

Make the Most Out of Handshake

  1. Update your resume and profile information after each semester (you can edit your degree, major, year, GPA, etc)
  2. Change your notification settings
  3. Make your profile public if you want employers to see your information and possibly contact you with interview offers
  4. Do your research for career fairs by viewing employers registered

How to Search and Apply for Positions

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Tutorials

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Applying for a Job

To apply for a job through Handhsake, select the specific job posting you are applying too. By opening the job posting you are able to view application closing date, organization industry, location, salary, more information about the specific role and employer.  

To apply look for the green Apply button (it will either say Apply Internally or Apply Externally). The employer chooses how applicants must apply to a given opportunity.  Apply internally means that you are applying directly on the employers website, and Apply externally means they are accepting applications directly through Handshake. Once you click on the green ‘Apply’ button you will either be prompted to attach your resume and answer any application questions on Handshake, or you’ll be redirected to the application on the employer’s website. 

Document upload

Edit Document

Profile Privacy

Find Career Events

Events are another way for you to engage with employers you are interested in working for or want to learn more about.  Check the Events tab on the top of the screen.

Here, you can search the employer’s name to see if they are hosting a recruiting event or information session. You can also search by keyword to explore other events that may help you network in your field and solidify connections for future job opportunities.

Registering for Virtual Fairs

Save Searches

You can save your job search criteria and set up job alerts so that you receive a notification via Handshake or via email by clicking Save your search on the left-hand side where your job results appear. 

This will send you a notification of similar job postings. You are able to edit the job alert by clicking at any time by selecting Edit Notification Preferences.

You are able to edit your notification name, how you receive notifications (e.g., Gmail or in-app), and frequency of alerts (daily or weekly), at any time.  To edit notifications click on your Name (in the upper right corner), select Notifications from the dropdown menu, and then clicking on Edit Notification Preferences.

Searching and Filtering Positions

To search for jobs, internships, and other opportunities on Handshake, click on Jobs on the upper left navigation bar.

Once you are on the jobs page you can filter opportunities in the following ways: keyword search, location, industry, job type, and more.

Selecting filters will allow you to see relevant opportunities that align with your criteria. 

If you find that applying filters your search results become to narrow, try broadening your search by using fewer filters.  We recommend beginning with 1 or 2 filters and then deciding if more are needed. For instance, select location and all job functions that might loosely apply.  

Logging In

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Help Center

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FAQs

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How do I register for Handshake?

Go to handshake.umn.edu, click on Students & Alumni Login, you will be prompted to login with your UMN Internet ID and password.

First time logging in

You will be prompted to review the User Agreement.  Read through the agreement, and review the terms.  By logging into Handshake, you acknowledge that you have read, understand, and agree to the terms of the user agreement. Now you are ready to start using Handshake.

Login and complete your profile, there will be a few fields automatically completed.  You will be asked some questions, and will need to fill in additional fields.  

Returning user

We recommend updating your resume and profile (GPA, Classification, etc) at least once per year to ensure you are getting access to information that is most relevant for you.

Who has access to Handshake?

Handshake is available to all enrolled, degree seeking students and alumni from the University of Minnesota (this includes all campuses: Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, Twin Cities).

Alumni must have graduated. 

Students lose access if you are not enrolled in classes for 2 academic semesters.  

Forgot password?

Your password for Handshake is the same as your UMN password for other applications, such as your UMN email. If you have forgotten or need to reset this password, contact 612-301-4357, [email protected],  http://www.oit.umn.edu/ for assistance.

Who do I contact if I have problems with Handshake?

Contact the Career Services office in your college.

Do I have to upload a resume?

In order to apply for any position through Handshake, you must upload a resume. Note, if you are in a college that reviews your first resume that is uploaded, you are not able to apply for a position through Handshake until your resume has been approved.

Which colleges review the first resume?

CCAPS, CDes, CEHD, CFANS, CLA, and CSE.

How do I upload my resume?

Log into Handshake, click on My Profile underneath your name in the upper right-hand corner; scroll to the bottom-right of the page to Documents, and click on Manage Documents.

 

What types of documents can I upload?

Microsoft Word, PDF, or RTF format. 

How to edit a document

Two minute training on editing a document.

Why would I need more than one resume in Handshake?

We recommend tailoring each resume to the specific position for which you are applying.

In Handshake, you can select if you want your resume to be visible to employers. Employers are only able to view your default resume.

Why is my resume pending?

Many Career Services offices review your first resume; it can take up to 2 business days. If there are no questions, your resume will be approved. If follow-up is needed before approving your resume, you will receive email notification. If you have additional questions, contact your college's Career Services office.

How long will my resume be in 'pending' status?

Most resumes are reviewed within 2 business days of being uploaded.

Resume not approved

If you are in a college that reviews your first resume and you receive email notification that your resume was not approved, your next step is to get your resume reviewed at your college's Career Services office. Once your resume has been reviewed and updated, your next step is to resubmit your resume for a second review.

What kind of positions will I find?

Professional opportunities that are related to majors and degrees offered at the University of Minnesota that enhance student and/or alumni career development.  Opportunities can be full-time jobs, part-time jobs, summer jobs, internships, and volunteer positions.

On average, there are between 3,500-4,200 opportunities on Handshake per week.

Receive email notifications for jobs / internships, events, and interviews

Receive email notifications for jobs / internships, events, and interviews

  • Login to Handshake, and look for your name in the upper right-hand corner,  click on your name
  • In the drop-down menu, select Notifications
  • On the Notifications page, click on the Edit Notification Preferences button
  • Follow the instructions on how to receive notifications for various activities in Handshake.

How do I search for opportunities (job, internship, volunteer)?

Begin by clicking on Jobs.  To view all current positions, simply wait for all search results to load.

  • To narrow your search, write in your search criteria in the search bar
  • To search geographically, enter in CityState, or Zip Code
  • To refine your search by job type select options including Full-TimePart-Time, or Internships

When I search for opportunities, I am getting little to no results. Why is this happening?

Your search criteria may be too narrow. When you choose search criteria, try broadening your search to get more results (try adding to industries or functions or removing specific majors).

I received an email or phone call from an employer about a position I did not apply for. Why did this happen?

When you set up your Handshake account profile, you can choose to make your resume and profile available for employers to search and view. You do this by selecting "Allow employers to be able to find and view my profile" in the Privacy settings in your profile Settings & Privacy. Employers then have the ability to view your resume and contact you about open positions. If you do not want to be contacted, go into your profile and select "Make Profile Private".

Search for interviews on campus

To View On Campus Interviews (OCI), click the On-Campus Interviews tab in the Jobs menu.  Select any of the search options in the left-hand search menu to narrow down results.  

If the On-Campus Interview you are searching for does not show up in your resutls, contact your college's Career Services office.

Search for career events (job fairs, info sessions)

You may search for Job / Career Fairs by choosing the Search Fairs tab.  

To view all other upcoming career events, click on the Events tab. This will bring you to a page where you may search for Upcoming Events, by choosing the Search Events tab.

What additional resources do I have access to?

GoinGlobal: Is a resource that assists students and alumni in finding professional opportunities throughout the United States (U.S.) and abroad. You can learn resume advice for different countries, U.S. H1B sponsoring organizations over the past 2 years, and much more.

Interview Stream: Online interactive interview preparation tool with over 7,000 pre-recorded interview questions available for practice interviewing for anything from case interviews, professional school, or a specific industry sector. You can record your responses and share the link with whomever you would like feedback. 

CandidCareer: An online video library designed to help you explore career paths and navigate the job search process via advice from experts - aka the people working in those fields. University of Minnesota alumni along with many professional across the nation are interviewed on topics ranging from "what a day in the life is like" to how to effectively network. The basics, such as resume and cover letter writing, as well as the nuisances of different career fields are all covered in this treasure trove of over 7,000 videos.

Maroon and Gold Network: Brought to you by the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, this online networking community provides purposeful career-related connections and advice for students, alumni, and the University of Minnesota community.

*Access these additional resources through under the "Career Center" tab and "Resources."