Handshake is UC Irvine's online job and internship career hub for our students. Use Handshake to post jobs and internships, register for recruiting events, and sign up for On-Campus Interviewing.

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Use Handshake, the Division of Career Pathways’ online portal, to post your positions. Posting on Handshake is free and will give your positions the broadest visibility among current UCI students.

Frequently Asked Questions About Handshake

  • How do I post a job/internship on Handshake?
    Please log-in or create a FREE account. Once you are logged in, click on the "Post a Job" button to complete the job form.
  • Why does it take a few hours/days for my posting to go up?
    When you submit your posting, it's added to a queue that includes all of the other pending positions awaiting approval from the Division of Career Pathways. Depending on the day and staff availability, our queue may contain a 100+ postings in it. And while we try to review them as quickly as possible (many are cleared within hours of posting), on occasion there is heavy traffic on Handshake, or other internal Division of Career Pathways demands (events, university holidays, etc.) that may contribute to a delay of a few business days. When this happens, we'll often pull additional in team members to help with approving jobs to ensure that your position is posted as quickly as possible.
  • Why do my job postings need to be approved?
    It's in our students' best interest for us to screen and verify employers and the opportunities they present. We do our best to ensure that each employer registration is legitimate, and that each posting meets our University criteria. By giving us the time to do that, we ensure that our students' needs are a priority.
  • Why aren’t more students applying to my posting?
    There are many possible reasons including:

    The time of year and academic quarter may present a challenge

    For example, there are times of the year when Handshake isn't used as often due midterms, finals, spring break, and summer session. All of these shifts in the calendar mean that students are either busy or away, and that they are only checking Handshake periodically. There are also instances when the recruitment season is in full swing and it's busier on Handshake, which may create more competition with your posting.

    How much (and what kind of) information is in the posting

    Our students are very savvy. Clear, concise, and error-free descriptions that demonstrate your company's needs are appreciated. Blank sections, vague information, or unclear messages will deter applicants.

    The pay of the position

    Compensation depends on a number of factors, including position type, responsibilities, industry, hours per week. We recommend that you benchmark your compensation against other similar types of opportunities. Also, if you are considering having an unpaid internship, please ensure that your positions are in full legal compliance.

  • How do I reach out to more students/alumni about my job opportunity?

    Access to Public Resumes

    With a Handshake account, you will be able to access resumes for students who have made their profile public. You can use this tool to reach out to potential candidates for the role(s) you are recruiting for. For questions about this process, you are welcome to contact Associate Vice Provost Suzanne Helbig.

    Volunteer with the Division of Career Pathways

    We welcome and encourage employer volunteers. There are opportunities available throughout the year for employers to speak on a panel, perform resume reviews, and offer mock interviews, etc. All of these opportunities allow for direct interaction with students to help you with your recruitment efforts. Volunteer opportunities are usually in high demand by employers, so if you are interested, please let us know and we can discuss next steps. Space is limited and we need to ensure that the information that you are providing is consistent with our University values and land grant mission.

    Reach out to student organizations

    The UCI Student Organizations website allows viewers to locate clubs and contacts. And there are hundreds of campus clubs, many of which have a professional focus. It's free for employers to find student groups that may be interested in their organization.

  • Can you email out my job description for me?
    This service is reserved only for a select number of Division of Career Pathways Alliance Group Packages . Specifically, the Division of Career Pathways receives thousands of postings and we strive to make sure that we're not "spamming" our students. The majority of UCI students use Handshake as their job, internships, volunteer, and career opportunity hub.
    Rather than sending a message through the Division of Career Pathways, employers can target specific student organizations. Contact information for most organization is available via UCI's Campus Organization homepage. We are happy to help if you need assistance reaching out to one of our Club Affiliates.
  • If I tell you what I’m looking for, can you send over a student to work for me?
    Unfortunately, the size of our student body makes it difficult for us to understand all of the skills and qualifications of each student, and therefore, we are not able to recommend individuals. However, consistency pays off. Our Career Counselors recognize and are aware of the companies that routinely conduct recruiting at University events and take a more active role in our Career Services.
  • Will you refer me to a faculty member who can recommend their best and brightest?
    While the Division of Career Pathways has strong relationships with many campus partners, including Faculty, we are not able to refer you to individual faculty members. With that being said, there are organizations that build lasting and mutually beneficial relationships with faculty members, for example, participation in a case study. This effort can certainly help your University recruiting efforts. If you wish to contact faculty members, please understand that you need to make direct contact.
  • I think I want an intern, what should I do?
    Internships can be a fabulous experience for both students and employers. There are a couple of steps necessary to prepare a meaning internship.  Don't hesitate to let us know if you would like more information about our students.

    Please review the Division of Career Pathways internship policies. We've included information about Department of Labor policies, points of contact on campus, and best practices.

    Please consider your goals for the position and what type of experience you will offer to the student. We recommend that you identify the supervising employee that will guide the student through their internship. Create both a clear internship description that outlines the intern's duties and an internal plan for how you'll ensure that both intern and supervisor goals are met. Also, plan to share opportunities for growth throughout their stay, and please evaluate them at the end of their internship.

    Once you are ready to post the opportunity, you can visit Handshake to share it with a wide audience of UCI students and alumni.

  • The internship opportunity I’m offering is unpaid, so that means you’re giving my intern credit, right?
    Students only receive credit for specific internships and must enroll in an academic internship course through their academic program or the Division of Career Pathways.  This is not an automatic process and students will need to complete all enrollment requirements prior to beginning the internship.
  • I am a local community member looking for a tutor, childcare, elder care, etc. Can I post on Handshake?
    Unfortunately, Handshake is not an option for opportunities outside of licensed businesses. Postings on Handshake require a business license, business email, and link to the business's website. These measures were put into place to protect students from fraudulent postings and to protect folks from liabilities associated with work taking place in their homes. However, you can take advantage of these resources, which are not affiliated with UCI:

Ethical & Legal Standards

Are employers asking to be put in contact with your “top students”? Read this important guide first!

Job Classification & Hours

Students are hired under the Student Assistant series. We recommend you review the Student Assistant Job Evaluation Matrix to ensure appropriate classification. UCI students hired in the class of Assistant I, II, III, IV are casual employees expected to work no more than 50% time on a week by week basis during academic quarters.  Students may work more during academic breaks.

Scenarios

Question: A student is employed by two different departments on campus. Who is responsible for managing the total number of hours worked?

Answer: The student and payroll managers at both departments.

Question: A student who is working more than 50% time calls in sick. Is the department required to pay them for the time off?

Answer: YES, up to the total number of sick hours accumulated in accordance to UC sick leave policies.

Faculty & Staff Career Resources