The School of Business

Handshake Guide for Employers

What is Handshake?

Handshake is a digital platform where college students and alumni look for full-time or part-time jobs and internship opportunities. Please follow these instructions to post your opportunity on Portland State University’s Handshake account.

Step 1:

Create an account or log into Handshake: https://portlandstate.joinhandshake.com/login.

(using your work email for the email log-in option as shown below)

CLICK HERE for a step by step guide for how to create an account on Handshake. Use of Handshake constitutes the employer's agreement to the following policies. 

Step 2

Post the job! CLICK HERE for a step by step guide to submit a posting on Handshake and check out the second page of this handout for more tips on how to create your job/internship posting.

Step 3

Once you have submitted your posting, please email bizcareers@pdx.edu and we can approve the posting quickly for you. 

 

Requirements for Job/Internship Postings:

This section includes any information that is required to be on the job post. 

  • Whether U.S. work authorization is required or not/ if you are open to hiring a student on OPT/CPT. 
  • The application deadline. 
  • Work setting - will the job be in-person, remote, or hybrid? 
  • Where the students should submit their application - should they submit it directly on Handshake, or somewhere externally?
  • A description of the position.

Recommendations for Job/Internship Postings: 

This includes any additional information that is strongly recommended to be added to the job posting to increase the chances of attracting students. 

  • Specific pay rate, salary, and any other benefits the position may offer. Adding these will significantly boost the chances for students to apply. Job relocation assistance, if offered may be an important factor for students to make a decision to apply. 
  • Add information about your organization! Include the mission and vision statement, as well as a short description about the company culture, what it's like working there, actions towards increasing inclusion and belonging, etc (provide link to existing websites). 
  • Required knowledge, skills, abilities, and any other characteristics required or preferred for the job. It is best to keep these as limited as possible, if you list too many students may not think they are qualified to apply. 
  • Consider adding a statement like: "Studies hav shown that individuals with marginalized identities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every qualification in the job description including the preferred qualifications. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our preferred qualifications. If you are unsure whether you meet the qualifications of this position, or how this would be determined, please feel free to contact us to discuss your application"
  • Details about the hiring and onboarding process including a tentative hiring timeline. 
  • A projected start date and any important scheduling dates - this is especially recommended for internships.
  • A clear and straightforward position title. For example, instead of "Summer Intern" use "Finance Intern". Avoid gimmicky titles like "Social Media Wiz", instead use "Social Media Specialist".