Finding your first proper job is rarely straightforward. Knowing where to look, which employers are actually hiring students, and when to apply is half the battle. That’s where Handshake comes in.
Handshake is the careers platform built specifically for students and recent graduates. It’s free, and getting set up takes minutes.
Employers come to you
Most job boards were built for people with CVs full of job titles. Handshake works the other way round. You tell it who you are, what you’re studying and when you’re graduating — and employers use that to find you. Recruiters message students directly through the platform, so a placement or a grad scheme can land in your inbox without you ever having applied.
Paid work that fits around lectures
Term-time earning is one of the most practical things you can do for your finances. Handshake lists part-time, flexible and seasonal roles alongside internships and graduate jobs, so you can filter for work that fits around your timetable.
No experience needed — that’s the point
Every role on Handshake is open to early-career candidates. You’re never competing against people years ahead of you. There’s guidance built into the platform for the bits that feel hardest — writing a first CV, preparing for interviews, working out what an assessment centre actually involves. You can also see what students from your own university went on to do after graduating, and message them directly about it.
Works alongside your careers service
Handshake is where you find the opportunities. Your university careers service is where you get help landing them. Use both: browse and apply on Handshake, then bring what you find to your careers team for CV feedback, mock interviews and course-specific advice.
Think bigger than the UK
Handshake is a global platform. Alongside roles across the UK and Europe, you can browse and apply for opportunities in the US and beyond. Whether you want to start your career close to home or further afield, the same profile that gets you noticed by a London employer can open doors internationally.
Your profile is your best tool — use it properly
Students with a complete Handshake profile are three times more likely to be messaged directly by employers. That’s not a small difference. The quickest way to get started is to upload your CV and let it populate your profile automatically. But the students who really stand out go further — adding languages, skills, the locations they’re open to working in and the types of roles they’re interested in. Each of those details is something a recruiter can search for. The more you add, the more often you show up.
Get set up in minutes
Sign up with your university email, add your course, your year and the kind of work you’re after, then follow a few employers you like. Jobs and messages start coming to you.
Sign up and you’re in the draw
To mark the start of the year, we’re giving away 3,000 Handshake tumblers across September, October and November — 1,000 drawn each month. No form, no receipt, no caption required. Sign up and you’re automatically entered into every remaining draw. Winners contacted by email.
