Handshake Student & Alumni FAQ

Need assistance navigating Handshake? Not a problem! Below is a list of answers to FAQ specific to the Georgia Southern University. In addition, please note the following resources:

  • Handshake Help Center – Handshake created articles specific to student/alumni users to assist you with navigating and utilizing the platform! This help article includes general Handshake FAQs for student accounts.
  • Handshake Support Team – Contact the Handshake Support Team directly for any technical difficulties you may be experiencing or general questions about utilizing Handshake
  • Handshake Blog Series – Handshake creates dozens of blog posts every quarter with helpful tips about using Handshake, navigating the job search and interview process, attending career fairs, and other topics.
  • Georgia Southern’s OCPD – Email us with any questions you have specific to Georgia Southern University on Handshake, such as log-in issues, locked profile fields, events & appointments, etc.

Accessing Handshake

Question: I tried to log into Handshake with my MyGS credentials at georgiasouthern.joinhandshake.com/login, but was led to a screen to either ‘Set Up Single Sign On’, ‘Register an Account’, or ‘Cancel SSO Configuration’. What should I do?

  • To have an account set up for you in Handshake, you must be registered for the current or upcoming academic term at Georgia Southern University or East Georgia State College.
    • Please do not attempt to create an account in Handshake, as it will NOT be connected to Georgia Southern!
    • If you are a registered student still encountering access issues, please email ocpd@georgiasouthern.edu with your full name and Eagle ID number.
  • Georgia Southern University alumni should complete a request form to have an account created for them if they have not attended Georgia Southern since 2020 and/or no longer have access to their MyGS student information.
  • Armstrong State College/University alumni also qualify for all Georgia Southern University alumni benefits. Complete a request form to receive access to a free account.

Handshake Profiles

Question: The ‘College’ listed within my Primary Education is locked and I need to change/update it. How can I do that?:

  • Students can edit all information in their profile except their school, college, major, and GPA information – find instructions how here.
  • Handshake reflects your current or most recent Georgia Southern college and major for which you are working toward a degree. If you have been accepted into a new program/college, Handshake will be updated as soon as the information is processed by the university and reflected in all other places (EAB, Banner, etc.).
  • Please email us at ocpd@georgiasouthern.edu for questions or to inquire about changing to the ‘College’ field in your profile, and include your full name as well as your Eagle ID number.

Question: If I set my profile settings to “Employer” or “Community,” how can employers find me?

  • Employers can search for and identify student profiles by class level, major group, individual Georgia Southern majors, a graduation date range, an overall and departmental GPA range, and the career interests and skills to add to your Handshake profile.
  • They may also directly message you through Handshake if your skillset or interests match a role they are looking to fill, so keep your profile information up to date!
  • Find out more about privacy settings here.

Question: Why should I complete my profile?

  • A robust Handshake profile can be as helpful as a detailed résumé or LinkedIn page.
  • Employers are searching for students on Handshake based on the information in their profiles, and messaging candidates with event invites or to encourage them to apply for new job opportunities.
  • See more ideas to maximize Handshake by checking out our Handshake Profile Challenge and Handshake’s profile guide!

Appointments

Question: Where can I find/How can I see Appointments in Handshake?

  • You’ll be able to book an appointment with your respective Career Center by logging into your Handshake account, navigating to the ‘Career Center‘ tab, and selecting ‘Appointments‘. Please note that not all Career Centers manage appointments through Handshake.

Question: Which type of appointments should I make in Handshake?

  • Career & Internship Advising appointments: include major exploration, career assessment interpretation, résumé and cover letter assistance, job search support, and mock interviews.
  • Pre-Professional Advising appointments: provide support and preparation for pre-law and all pre-health students
  • Legislative Internship Program appointments: for students who are interested in participating in the Eagles in Atlanta or Eagles in D.C. program

Job Search

Question: I’m an international student. How can I search for jobs that I am eligible to apply to?

  • Once you’ve indicated your Work Authorization status as well as OPT/CPT eligibility from within your profile, you may search for opportunities that are open to international student applicants.
  • From the job search page, simply select the ‘Filters’ button, and scroll down to the “Work Authorization” section.
  • If you’re unsure of your status, we recommend connecting with Georgia Southern’s Office of International Student Admissions and Programs (ISAP).

Question: How can I search for jobs within one city only, without pulling in hits that are in the surrounding areas?

  • Type in the city within the ‘Keyword’ search rather than the ‘Location‘ search. This will ensure you are presented with a list of opportunities located in the exact city you’re looking to pinpoint. However, if you do use the ‘Location’ search, you can edit the default radius of 50 miles to a much smaller area.

Fraudulent or Scam Postings

Question: Are there any fraudulent or scam postings in Handshake?

  • Using Handshake, the Career & Internship Center strives to maintain a job and internship board full of compelling and legitimate opportunities. Handshake’s Trust and Safety team uses a multi-step process to screen employers for legitimacy and investigates any reports of potential fraud.
  • Ultimately, however, a student’s safety during their job search process is their own responsibility. The University of Washington and the Career & Internship Center are not liable for any losses incurred by students, financial or otherwise.
  • Familiarize yourself with security-related tips and resources that will help you evaluate job and internship opportunities and avoid any potentially fraudulent postings by reviewing our Identifying Scam & Fraudulent Job Postings resource.