Handshake Search for Jobs & Internships (Tips & Best Practices)

Click the Jobs section in the left navigation menu to open the default Jobs page. The jobs shown on the left are are based on your job-seeking interests in Handshake. 

Scroll through the list of jobs on the left side of the page to find jobs of interest, or use the following methods to identify the most relevant jobs and narrow down your search:

  • Search field: You can use this field to search for jobs based on keywords, jobs titles, job ID numbers, or by employer name.
  • Filters button: Use this section to begin narrowing your search by:
    • Job type: (Job, Internship, Fellowship, On-Campus Student Employment, and more).
    • Work study: – check this box if you have been awarded a Federal Work Study (FWS) financial aid package through the Office of Financial Aid.
    • Location: You can enter a city, state, and/or country and narrow the range by using the slider button to decrease the radius.
    • Pay and benefits: Search by pay type and use the dropdown menu to search for specific benefits (signing bonus, insurance, bonus…)
    • Onsite/remote: Find fully remote, hybrid, or on-site positions.
    • Majors: (not recommended) Searching by major can be limiting in Handshake, since many employers welcome applicants from a wide range of majors for the same role.
    • Qualifications: Some employers may include applicant preferences in their job postings. You can check the box to see only jobs where you meet all of the listed preferences, or use the down arrow to select which qualifications to filter by. Keep in mind, however, that searching by major can be limiting since many employers consider students from a wide range of majors for the same role.
    • Employers: If you are interested in seeing current postings from an employer you can begin typing in the name. When searching for jobs in Handshake, don’t rely only on the Employer filter. Employers may have multiple accounts, some profiles may be outdated, or a posting may not be connected directly to Emory. To avoid missing opportunities, combine employer searches with keywords, job functions, or industries. This gives you the widest view of relevant roles.
    • Industries: Use the dropdown menu to select the industries that interest you.
    • Employer contacts: Check the box to explore employers that are open to messaging.
    • Job roles: Handshake’s job roles are based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ classification system. Begin typing in letters to search through the hundreds they have categorized.
    • Work authorization: you can filter jobs by Work Authorization to see positions open to U.S. work authorization, international students requiring sponsorship, or both, depending on employer preferences.

You may be used to advanced search tools that let you control how keywords are combined, but Handshake works a bit differently. Instead of reading whole phrases, it looks at each individual word you type. Jobs are listed from newest to oldest rather than by relevancy, so it’s worth clicking through multiple pages—your perfect opportunity might have been posted a few weeks ago but is still open. Finding the right results can take a little extra effort, but don’t worry—we’ve got tips and suggestions to make your search easier.

TIPS!

  • Begin with a wide search – type in a general keyword, then refine your results with filters, like job roles, industries, job type, or if they accept OPT/CPT.
  • Think beyond the obvious when entering keywords. Research industry lingo or buzzwords and try those in your searches. For example, if you’re interested in green careers, you might use keywords like conservation, climate, or renewable. While this may not return hundreds of results, it could uncover employers you hadn’t considered before. Since employer profiles are included in job descriptions, Handshake scans for those words too—helping you discover new organizations to explore and save.
  • The list of job roles in Handshake is very long and can be hard to navigate. Try typing a few letters to see matching roles, but to avoid missing options, download an attachment of the full list to explore and prepare in advance. The first tab in the file contains the names of the job role groups. In the second tab, each group name is mapped to over 8,600 job roles. 
  • You can’t sort Handshake jobs by a specific date range—only by newest or oldest. One strategy is to skip ahead a few pages into the results. That’s often where you’ll find roles with closer deadlines or hidden opportunities you might otherwise scroll past. From there, work either backward or forward to catch those “in the middle” jobs that could be a great fit.
  • If the top results don’t match your interests, update the Career Interests section of your profile. Completing this helps Handshake’s algorithm better understand what you’re looking for and connect you with more relevant jobs and employers.
  • Save opportunities to revisit by clicking the bookmark icon on a job posting; all your saved jobs will appear under the “Saved” tab in the Jobs section for easy access later. If you see a role that isn’t a fit, click the X on the job card and to “Hide Job” to remove it from your search results. Saving jobs not only helps you stay organized but also improves your recommendations, since Handshake learns from the types of roles you bookmark.
  • Searcy by Collections. A Collection is a group of jobs, employers, or events that has been curated by your career center and coaches. From the Jobs tab, look for the Collections dropdown menu to select a Collection or view the full library of Collections here.
  • If Handshake directs you to apply to a job externally, make sure you return to the job posting on Handshake to complet the application process:
    • A blue box will open on the job posting asking “Did you apply to this job? You started an application on the employer’s website.” Click Yes if you have. Learn more about applying externally here.
    • If you have not, click No, then click the Save bookmark to return later and complet the two-step applicaton process later.
  • Save your most used Job filters and searches to receive notifications whenever new job postings match your query. This feature helps you stay on top of opportunities, ensuring you never miss a perfect fit.
  • Track your applications and review your application status through the My Jobs section under your Profile Icon.