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Talent Acquisition

Handshake

Connect students and graduates with employers through an AI-powered career networking platform

4.6/5 Rating
SOC 2 Type II
1400+
ISO 27001
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Category
Software
Ideal For
Universities
Deployment
Cloud
Integrations
50++ Apps
Security
Role-based access control, data encryption, audit logging, compliance frameworks
API Access
Yes - RESTful API for enterprise integrations and custom workflows

About Handshake

Handshake is a comprehensive career networking platform serving over 1,400 colleges and universities globally, designed to bridge the gap between early-career talent and employers. The platform streamlines student job searches while providing employers access to diverse talent pools through intelligent matching algorithms and robust search capabilities. Core features include resume hosting, job posting, event management, and direct employer-student communication tools. Handshake integrates with university career services systems, enabling seamless workflow management. Through AiDOOS, organizations can enhance deployment scalability for large university networks, optimize integrations with existing HR systems, and implement governance protocols for institutional oversight. The platform's intelligence layer provides analytics on placement outcomes, hiring trends, and career pathway optimization, enabling data-driven decisions for both educational institutions and recruiting organizations seeking to build sustainable talent pipelines.

Challenges It Solves

  • Students struggle to identify relevant job and internship opportunities from vast employer listings
  • Universities lack centralized platforms to track and manage career outcomes across graduating classes
  • Employers face difficulty accessing qualified early-career talent pools from specific educational institutions
  • Career services teams manually manage job postings, interviews, and employer relationships inefficiently
  • Limited visibility into hiring trends and employment outcomes across institutional cohorts

Proven Results

64
Increase in student job placements within 6 months
52
Reduction in time-to-hire for entry-level positions
78
Improvement in employer-university relationship engagement

Key Features

Core capabilities at a glance

Intelligent Job Matching

AI-powered algorithm connects students with relevant opportunities

78% higher application-to-offer conversion rates

Employer Dashboard

Streamlined recruitment and candidate management interface

40% faster hiring cycle for entry-level positions

Career Services Integration

Native integration with university career management systems

Centralized tracking of 10,000+ annual placements per institution

Virtual Event Hosting

In-platform career fairs and networking events

3x increase in employer-student interactions per event

Analytics & Reporting

Institutional insights into placement outcomes and hiring trends

Data-driven decisions for curriculum and career programming

Resume & Profile Management

Centralized student professional profiles with ATS compatibility

95% resume completion rate among active users

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Real-World Use Cases

See how organizations drive results

University Career Services
Universities leverage Handshake to centralize job postings, manage employer relationships, track student placements, and provide alumni career support services. Career advisors gain visibility into employment outcomes and can tailor programming based on hiring trends.
85
Improved student placement tracking and career outcomes
Employer Talent Acquisition
Companies source entry-level talent and interns directly from university networks, reducing recruitment costs and improving cultural fit. Employers access pre-screened candidates and build employer brand awareness on campus.
72
Cost-per-hire reduction for early-career recruitment
Student Job Search
Students discover internships, part-time roles, and full-time positions tailored to their skills and interests. Handshake provides career resources, interview preparation, and direct employer engagement in one centralized platform.
68
Faster time-to-job for graduating students
Internship Program Management
Organizations manage end-to-end internship programs including recruitment, onboarding, tracking, and feedback. Universities oversee institutional internship partnerships and outcomes systematically.
76
Streamlined internship program administration
Alumni Career Services
Universities extend career support to alumni through Handshake, maintaining lifelong employment connections. Alumni access job opportunities, networking events, and continuing professional development resources.
58
Enhanced alumni engagement and retention rates

Integrations

Seamlessly connect with your tech ecosystem

W

Workday

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Integration with enterprise HCM system for seamless candidate data flow and hiring workflow automation

S

Salesforce

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CRM integration for employer account management and sales pipeline tracking of recruiting partnerships

B

Banner Student Information System

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University SIS integration for automatic student roster synchronization and enrollment verification

G

Google Workspace

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Authentication and collaboration features enabling institutional account management and document sharing

M

Microsoft Teams

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Integration for virtual event hosting, notifications, and direct messaging within enterprise communication platforms

S

Slack

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Real-time notifications for job postings, application updates, and career services announcements

L

LinkedIn

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Resume import and profile data synchronization to streamline account creation and profile building

A

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

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Two-way sync with major ATS platforms for candidate data management and hiring workflow continuity

Virtual Delivery Center · A new delivery category

A Virtual Delivery Center for Handshake

Pre-vetted experts and AI agents in the loop, assembled as a delivery pod. Pay in Delivery Units — universal pricing across roles, seniority, and tech stacks. No hiring, no contracting, no procurement cycle.

  • Plans from $2,000 — Starter Pack, 10 Delivery Units, 90 days
  • Refundable on unused Delivery Units, anytime — no questions asked
  • Re-delivery guarantee on acceptance miss
  • Pre-flight delivery sizing — you see the plan before you commit
Get a delivery plan for Handshake What’s a Virtual Delivery Center?

How a Virtual Delivery Center delivers Handshake

Outcome-based delivery via AiDOOS’s VDC model. Why VDC vs traditional consulting? →

Outcome-Based

Pay for results, not hours

Milestone-Driven

Clear deliverables at each phase

Expert Network

Access to certified specialists

Implementation Timeline

1
Discover
Requirements & assessment
2
Integrate
Setup & data migration
3
Validate
Testing & security audit
4
Rollout
Deployment & training
5
Optimize
Performance tuning

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Alternatives & Comparisons

Find the right fit for your needs

Capability Handshake Blackbaud Schoology Workday Student
Customization Good Excellent Good Excellent
Ease of Use Excellent Good Excellent Good
Enterprise Features Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Pricing Fair Fair Good Fair
Integration Ecosystem Good Excellent Good Excellent
Mobile Experience Excellent Good Excellent Good
AI & Analytics Good Good Good Excellent
Quick Setup Excellent Fair Excellent Fair

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Handshake suitable for small colleges and universities?
Yes, Handshake serves institutions of all sizes, from small liberal arts colleges to large research universities. The platform scales to meet institutional needs, and pricing is typically based on student population. AiDOOS can help optimize deployment for institutions with limited IT resources.
How does Handshake protect student data and comply with FERPA?
Handshake maintains SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certifications with full FERPA compliance protocols. Role-based access controls ensure only authorized career services staff access student information. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest, with regular security audits.
Can employers integrate Handshake with their existing ATS?
Yes, Handshake provides API access and maintains two-way integrations with major applicant tracking systems including Workday, Greenhouse, and Lever. AiDOOS can facilitate custom integration development for unique enterprise ATS solutions.
What analytics and reporting capabilities does Handshake provide?
Handshake offers comprehensive analytics including placement rates, hiring trends, time-to-hire metrics, and student engagement dashboards. Institutions receive custom reports on employment outcomes by degree program, major, and employer sector.
How quickly can a university implement Handshake?
Typical university implementations take 4-8 weeks including data migration, staff training, and student onboarding. AiDOOS accelerates deployment by managing technical integration, custom workflows, and change management across large institutional networks.
Does Handshake support international employers and students?
Yes, Handshake operates globally with support for international universities, employers, and visa sponsorship workflows. The platform supports multiple languages and currencies for global career marketplace functionality.

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