@State Jan-Feb 2020 - Handshake
SDSU Launches Handshake
The new online career platform for students has content tailored to each student, connects them with thousands of employers and job opportunities nationwide.
By Aaron Burgin
Career Services is partnering with Handshake to bring SDSU students a new online career platform that connects them with thousands of employers and expanded job and internship opportunities nationwide.
Handshake, which replaces Aztec Career Connection, went live for SDSU students and recent alumni earlier this month.
The leading online career platform connects students to opportunities for their future. Students create profiles highlighting their accomplishments, skills and interests. Handshake then generates personalized content for each student, providing jobs and internships that fit their interests.
"Handshake provides SDSU students with direct access to Fortune 500 companies and local employers – all right from their smart phones,” said Chris Turntine, associate director of Employer Services for SDSU Career Services.
Faculty and staff at SDSU who wish to connect with potential student employees can also sign up for an employer account in Handshake.
Similar to a social media platform, Handshake enables students to build their network by communicating directly with employers, students from other universities and recently hired graduates.
Handshake also streamlines student access to campus resources. Through the Handshake platform, students can register for career fairs and workshops, apply for a range of on-campus jobs and easily schedule career advising sessions.
Northwestern Mutual, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Qualcomm, Deloitte, GEICO, Fidelity Investments and Berkshire Hathaway – companies with a long history of hiring Aztecs – are some of the major employers who have migrated to Handshake.
“Handshake is the right resource for SDSU to position itself nationally as a source for educated, diverse and career-ready talent,” said James Tarbox, executive director of Career Services.
A spokeswoman for Enterprise Holdings, the parent company of Enterprise Rent-A-Car and a gold partner sponsor with SDSU Career Services, said the company’s experience with Handshake has been excellent, and it looks forward to strengthening its partnership with SDSU.
“Handshake is a great tool that allows our talent acquisition team to streamline our recruiting efforts for multiple opportunities with our top college partners like San Diego State University,” says Chrissy Conde, talent acquisition manager for Enterprise Holdings. “Not only can students learn more about our company, it helps us recruit top talent by capturing information about students and alumni with a variety of backgrounds and experiences – giving us a diverse candidate pool.”
Visit career.sdsu.edu to learn more and to register with Handshake.