Step 1 Activate Your Handshake Profile
Handshake is the free career hub at the University of Arizona. Complete your profile to connect to internships, jobs, career coaching, workshops and campus events.
Made for college students.
All Wildcats have a free Handshake account.
Activate your profile by logging in with your NetID – no experience necessary.
Creating a Strong Handshake Profile
A complete profile helps Handshake deliver personalized recommendations for events, resources and opportunities that match your interests.
All students at the University of Arizona have a free Handshake account.
After activating your Handshake account, the next step is to set up your profile. A complete profile helps Handshake recommend opportunities that match your goals. Complete these four steps:
- Update your individual profile – add coursework, skills, jobs, internships and volunteer work
- Upload your resume and other documents if you have them
- Write a brief description in the “Get to Know Me” section
- Select your Career Interests
Use advanced filters and alerts to save time and find opportunities that match your criteria.
Tailor your search to your needs with these four steps:
- Set up customized alerts using the advanced filters
- Focus on one priority when filtering – position, location or keyword.
- Try different search terms – employers use varied job titles for similar roles.
- e.g. “Student Support” vs. “Front Desk Clerk”)
- Employers who list internships as part-time jobs
- Research typical pay ranges before using salary or ‘pay’ filters
When evaluating options, consider roles that:
- Align with your interests
- Offer the types of challenges that you’d like to solve
- Help you gain skills that support your future goals or are transferable to other paths
The mobile app offers personalized content, updated regularly, with new job and internship opportunities, career support and industry insights.
- Explore events, fairs, and jobs
- Apply for jobs and internships
- Access and register for on-campus interviews
- Schedule career and internship coaching appointments
- Receive notifications for application deadlines and upcoming events
- Check into an event via QR code
LinkedIn and Handshake both have similar job search tools, but Handshake has these unique features for college students:
- On-campus positions are posted on Handshake frequently
- Sort jobs by your college qualifications (Major, GPA, etc.)
- School labels tell you about an employer’s connections to the University of Arizona
- Sort by Collections – ‘Arizona’ collection, ‘Wildcat Career Alliance’ collection, ‘Recruits at your School’, etc.
Use filters and customized alerts to be notified of opportunities and postings that match your interests.
Video – How To Use Handshake
Handshake is designed for college students.
Hop on Handshake to connect with jobs, internships and career support that match your skills and interests as a Wildcat and beyond.
Handshake is the free career hub used at the University of Arizona. It connects students with internships, part-time and full-time jobs, career coaching, workshops, and campus events. Students can research employers and opportunities both on and off campus. For support with Handshake or help creating an effective profile, students can visit LifeLab.
For a job search, Handshake is similar to other platforms but offers key benefits for college students. Users can find on-campus positions, filter opportunities by major or GPA requirements, and view collections of employers connected to the University of Arizona. Organizations recruiting on Handshake seek early talent – students and recent graduates.
Handshake is more than a job board. Students use it to schedule career and internship coaching appointments, register for career fairs and workshops, and learn about volunteer opportunities and campus organizations through the Center for Career Readiness (CCR). Students at the University of Arizona have lifetime access to Handshake. Log in with your NetID at arizona.joinhandshake.com. Graduating students should update their email address to maintain access after commencement.
Center for Career Readiness formerly Student Engagement & Career Development (SECD)
