Handshake 101 – Getting Started
Handshake is WVU’s comprehensive career services platform and your hub for all things college to career – jobs, internships, career fairs, events, interviews, and more. It is designed to be streamlined and provide career information tailored to personalized interests and goals. This platform allows WVU students and alumni to:
- Schedule Appointments to meet with their Career Development Specialists
- View and apply for jobs and internships across a variety of industries
- Register for career fairs, networking events, and more
- Create a streamlined profile that outlines your experiences and education
- Register for and review employers’ on-campus interview schedules
*It is recommended that you use Google Chrome as your browser with Handshake.
Get Started with Handshake
Check out the information below and at Handshake’s Support Center to learn how to take advantage of the platform and start launching your career.
- Visit the Handshake Login.
- Select “West Virginia University Sign On” and enter your WVU login credentials.
- Following, in as little as five minutes complete your profile and access the entire platform.
- The Handshake mobile app is available on the App Store and Google Play.
- Handshake does not offer a Faculty platform; however, they suggest requesting a student account allowing you to see what your students see. For Faculty and Staff who wish to post jobs in Handshake, please contact the Student Employment Team at Career Services by emailing studentemployment@mail.wvu.edu or calling 304-293-2221.
Alumni are provided continuous access to Handshake and are encouraged to use Handshake post-graduation for their job search, finding available appointments (where applicable), career transitions, attending programs, and more!
If you no longer have access to your MIX email account, please contact us at careerservices@mail.wvu.edu and request your email address be updated.
Handshake is where employers of all sizes can “Hire a Mountaineer“. West Virginia University students and alumni exemplify what organizations seek in employees— intelligence, motivation, and drive to succeed. Start connecting with Mountaineers in Handshake!
- Visit the Handshake Login webpage.
- Select “No account? Sign up here.”
- Under “Are you an employer?” Select “sign up here.”
- Under “Sign up as an Employer” enter the required account information and select “Sign up.”
- Following, in as little as five minutes complete your profile, confirm your email address and access the entire platform.
- To request a connection with WVU, visit School Network Management to learn more.
- To maximize your use of Handshake, check out the Help Center and these Training articles to enhance your campus engagement.
For more information on connecting with WVU Career Services and our career center partners, please visit our dedicated Employer Engagement webpage.
Best Practices
ince Handshake uses machine learning to understand your interests, your feed of opportunities will be better-matched when your profile is complete and you’re actively using the site.
These articles can help as you create your profile:
Tailor and Upload Your Resume
- Visit Resume/Cover Letter page for resume & cover letter resources and services.
- When your document is ready, use the upload button for Handshake’s guide to upload a new document to your profile, making it public for employers to see.
- How to Upload a New Document
According to Handshake, below are the top three tips for finding the roles you want using Handshake’s in-product features, including:
- Use search filters
- Utilize keywords
- Save jobs you like
Watch the following HANDSHAKE video to learn How to Search for Jobs.
In summary, Handshake is an essential tool for WVU students and alumni, offering a streamlined approach to managing your career development from college to professional life. By activating your account, completing your profile, and utilizing Handshake’s resources, you can effectively navigate job searches, internships, networking events, and more. Start today by setting up your profile and exploring the many opportunities available to you on Handshake.