How to Use Handshake

As a UMass Amherst student, you already have access to Handshake! Logging in as simple as the steps below: 

1. Go to umass.joinhandshake.com/

2. Login using your UMass Net ID and Password 

When you first log onto Handshake, you'll be asked to complete your profile and answer questions about your career interests. Filling out this information will help Handshake learn more about what information to present to you based on your background and goals. The most important section to complete and keep updated is “Your Interests.”

Profiles are automatically set to private, so if you want your profile to be viewable by employers or for networking, you need to change it to a Community Profile. A community profile is only viewable by employers connected with UMass Amherst. You can have a community profile and keep some information (for example, your GPA) private.    

How to Change Profile Privacy Settings  

1. Click your name in the main menu in the top right corner  

2. Select "Settings & Privacy "

3. Select "Account Information" in the upper left side of the page, then in the Privacy section, select the option that meets your privacy preference  

Note: If you want to participate in virtual career fairs, you should to set your profile to community  

GPA Privacy Setting  

1. Click your name in the main drop-down menu in the top right corner   

2. Select My Profile  

3. Click the edit symbol in the Education section and Select the options that meets your privacy preference  

With the exception of Isenberg School of Management students who make appointments with career counselors through Navigate, all undergraduate UMass Amherst students use Handshake to schedule an appointment.

To Make an Appointment through Handshake: 

1. Login to Handshake 

2. Select “Career Center” from the left-hand navigation bar 

3. Click Appointments underneath the header 

4. Click on the ‘Schedule a New Appointment’ button 

5. Pick your Category and Appointment Type 

   • Choose whichever option most closely matches your need. This selection helps us to prepare for your appointment. Note: The list is personalized based on your profile. You may not be eligible for all appointment types. The more information you provide before the appointment, the better we can help.   

   • Use the arrows and calendar to find the date you want the appointment 

   • Select the time slot you want and click ‘Request'. Note that most Handshake appointments are set to automatically accept your request, so once you've found a time slot that works for you and a career advisor, you're set!

6. Review or edit your appointment by returning to ‘Appointments’. If you find out you have a conflict with your appointment time prior to your appointment, Handshake provides the option to cancel on this screen. Don’t “no-show”!  

With thousands of employers posting jobs on the platform, Handshake is a powerful tool for your internship and job search needs!  

1. Click Jobs on the left navigation menu 

2. Use the following methods to identify the most relevant jobs and narrow down your search: 

   • Search Bar: search for jobs based on keywords, job titles, job ids, or by employer. Looking for remote opportunities? Use the keyword search!  

   • School Collections: find jobs curated specifically for your school by your career services department. 

   • Location: find jobs in a particular city, state, zip code, or country. Note: the location filter defaults to a 50 mile radius. Use the slider to move the dot across the line to change the radius, left to decrease and right to increase the mileage.  

   • On-site/Remote: filter on jobs that are in-person or work from home.  

   • Full-time Job: browse available full-time positions. 

   • Internship: browse internships. 

   • Part-time: browse available part-time positions. 

   • All Filters: access even more search filters to narrow your search! 

3. Results using the above search filters are displayed immediately on the left side of the page. 

Handshake advertises both in-person fairs, as well as virtual fairs that can be attended on Handshake. In order to book appointments and join a virtual fair: 

1. Log in: https://umass.joinhandshake.com (Use Chrome, FireFox or the Handshake mobile app)  

2. Go to the Events tab -> Career Fair -> Find Fair  

3. Click Register (note that scheduling typically opens a week before the fair)  

4. Review the details of the fair, as well as the companies and the positions offered. You can use filters and save favorite companies for your own notes.  

5. Once you know which companies you'd like to meet, review the available meeting times. There are two types of possible meeting times:  

   • 1 to 1 Appointments (10 mins.)

   • Group Meetings (30 mins.)  

6. Sign up for scheduled meetings, then upload resume to your profile – click Feature On Profile  

7. Profile Visibility needs to be on Community, not Private  

8. If you need to cancel your meetings for any reason, click “Your Schedule” on the right side  

9. On the day of the fair, click “Your Schedule” to join sessions you've signed up for up to 5 mins. before the meeting starts 

10. Join the session by clicking the blue Launch Video  button

For the visual learners, here is a great 7-minute video by UMass Amherst Career Services highlighting:  

• What is Handshake  

• Setting up & maximizing your profile (1:05) 

• Connect with employers (3:52) 

• Events – how to search & register (4:47) 

• UMass Career Centers & schedule a career advising appointment (5:37)