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Handshake offers a way for college students to pursue their dream careers. With how it works, it’s also a great platform to look for easy ways to make money online. There are some part-time and hourly jobs here available for students in need of side hustles. While how much you can earn depends on the company that hires you, it’s $7.25 per hour on average.
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Compare to Other Side Hustles
Branded Surveys
$0.50 – $5 on average per survey with bonus points ($1 sign up bonus)
Average survey length is 10-20 minutes and minimum payout is $5
Collect rewards in PayPal, Direct Deposit or gift cards (100+ brands)
Survey Junkie
$1 – $3 per survey + extra ways to earn up to $100 with focus groups
Each survey time varies, but on average it takes 15 minutes to complete
Redeem rewards using PayPal, e-giftcards or bank transfer ($5 min)
How Does Handshake Work?
Handshake is an online job platform that specifically caters to college students. It was founded in 2013 in Michigan, United States, aiming to help students build their careers regardless of their educational background.
With the Handshake app, you can sign up and create a job profile. It should include your interests, skills, studies, and what job you’re looking for. You’ll also need to add your location and the specific roles you want to work in.
This allows you to receive personalized job recommendations. Besides that, you can set up meetings with employers and learn about their company culture and available jobs.
You can go through several companies and check open positions to consider which of them fits your career choice and skills. When you’re ready to send your application, just tap on the Apply button.
Handshake allows users to follow company profiles in the app. With that, you’ll get a heads up when your preferred companies have job openings. Also, the app lets you check if the companies you follow are heading to your school for an event.
How Much Can You Earn on Handshake?
Earnings on Handshake depend on the job or side hustle you find. However, most Handshake partner universities require employers to post jobs with at least a minimum wage rate. Considering that, jobs at Handshake pay at least $7.25 per hour.
Suppose you’re looking for high-paying side hustles. In that case, you can personalize your profile to further reflect skills that are marketable to employers. It’s also recommended to use the search feature on the platform.
Handshake Reviews: Is Handshake Legit?
Handshake is a legitimate company that works with employers and universities to help students find their dream jobs. It has a 3.4 rating at Trustpilot and a 4.3 rating at G2. Users liked how they were able to easily submit their resumes to employers.
Additionally, some graduating college students complimented how it helped them build their connections through career fairs and mock interviews.
Meanwhile, some users had issues with the job recommendations they received as some are irrelevant to their profiles. There are also some complaints about the outdated job details on the platform.
The Handshake app is rather performing well, as evident by the ratings and reviews at the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Users at the Apple App Store gave it a 4.8 rating, while on Google Play Store, it has a 4.5 rating.
Who Is Handshake Best for?
Handshake is an excellent app for college students looking for a side hustle. As some companies here offer telecommuting work arrangements, you can also use Handshake for jobs to earn money online.
If you have zero work background, you can find a side hustle with no experience required at Handshake. And as the platform caters to college students, looking for internship roles can be easier with Handshake.
Ways to Earn Money With Handshake?
Some of the ways to make money online with Handshake are the following:
Follow Employer Profiles
Following employer profiles at Handshake can help you secure a job. Indirectly, doing that increases your chances of receiving event invitations from employers. You can also see any available job openings on companies you’re following.
That way, you can send your application right away and have employers review them. Moreover, employers can see if you follow them on Handshake. Having mutual interests in an organization gives a good impression and increases your chances of getting hired.
Keep Your Profile Updated
Ultimately, securing a job through Handshake is the way to go when it comes to earning money online. That can only happen if you’re getting employer invitations and checking relevant jobs on the platform.
It’s crucial for Handshake to know what you’re looking for in a job and whether you want an internship, full-time work, or online side hustles. That way, it can curate job recommendations that fit your profile.
For that, make sure that your profile is updated. Add skills and interests that you consider using in your future jobs. Make sure that information on your profile is consistent with your resume.
Explore Jobs Based on Your Major and Interests
When it comes to looking for ways to make money online, keep in mind that the operative word there is “looking.” While Handshake can curate job recommendations based on your profile and companies that you follow, it still helps to proactively search for jobs.
You can explore the platform and look for jobs based on your major and interests. The platform also allows you to filter search results to see only part-time or full-time jobs. Finally, you can use keywords to search for specific jobs.
Handshake Requirements
To sign up with Handshake, you’ll need to be at least 16 years old. You might also need a university email to sign up.
Handshake Payout Terms and Options
As Handshake serves only as a job marketplace, the payout terms and options still depend on the employer that hires you. You can find out information about this either through the job post or employer event at your university.
What Are the Handshake Pros & Cons?
Handshake Pros
- Free to sign up
- Easy to use and look for jobs
- Extensive search options
- Includes free resources to get hired
Handshake Cons
- Some job details are outdated
- Not all job recommendations are relevant
How Good Is Handshake Support?
Handshake support offers an exclusive Help page for students looking for jobs on the platform. You can find articles organized based on topics, as well as tutorial videos to help you navigate the platform.
The website also has a blog section that includes tips and tricks on finding jobs and getting hired. Finally, you can contact Handshake support through the chat icon on the Help page. Just click on it, type your question and provide additional details.
It’s also crucial to provide your active email as it’s where they will reply to you. You can also attach a file in case you need to report an issue using their platform.
Handshake Review Verdict: Is Handshake Worth It?
Handshake offers a way for college students to pursue their dream careers. With how it works, it’s also a great platform to look for easy ways to make money online. There are some part-time and hourly jobs here available for students in need of side hustles.
While how much you can earn depends on the company that hires you, it’s more than $7.25 per hour on average. It’s also noteworthy that some of these companies are looking for interns that may be amenable to working for free. If you’re looking for high-paying side hustles, it can be a challenge.
Still, earning at least a minimum wage while chasing your dream career is not bad. On top of that, the platform works with your university, so you can be sure that your information is safe and that you have access to support when you need it.
How to Sign Up With Handshake?
To sign up with Handshake, you can download its mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. You can also visit its website and click on Sign Up.
From there, enter your .edu email address, then your school’s name. Finally, create a password with at least 8 alphanumeric characters. Make sure to check the box next to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, then click on Create Account.
After creating your account, the platform will prompt you to enter:
- Your complete name
- Major
- Graduation month and year
You can also change these details later.
After completing your initial profile, go to your email inbox and check the confirmation email from Handshake. Tap on the red Confirm Email button and sign in on the Handshake website to complete your profile.
Sites Like Handshake
| Comparison | Handshake | Branded Surveys | Survey Junkie | Swagbucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earning potential | $7.25+ per hour | $0.50-$5 per survey | $1-$3 per survey | $0.50-$1.50 per survey |
| Schedule | Self-selected | Flexible | Flexible | Flexible |
| Best for | College students | Mobile surveys | Focus groups | Answering questions |
Handshake vs. Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys Summary
- $1 sign up bonus
- Earn $0.50-$5 on average per survey
- Average survey length is 15 min
- Pays by bank transfer, PayPal & gift cards
Sites like Handshake and Branded Surveys provide a side hustle from home for college students. There are opportunities here that allow you to work part-time or flexible schedules.
But when it comes to job relevance, you might find that Branded Surveys offer limited options. After all, what you can do here is mostly participate in survey studies and be a part of market research.
Handshake vs. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie Summary
- $1-$3 average earnings per survey
- Extra points if you screened out of survey
- Additional ways to earn up to $100
- Install Survey Junkie extension for bonus
Compared to Handshake, Survey Junkie offers jobs that are more likely considered gigs. Similar to Branded Surveys, you can only join studies here and share your opinion as a consumer to get paid.
If your major is related to business, marketing, or similar fields, Survey Junkie is one of the easy ways to make money online.
Handshake vs. Swagbucks
Swagbucks Summary
- 18 ways to earn money and e-gift cards
- $5 sign up bonus
- Up to 10% cashback when shopping online
- $1 minimum e-gift card withdrawal
Earning money online is possible with platforms like Handshake and Swagbucks. While Handshake offers jobs that are related to your major or study background, Swagbucks offer gigs and paid tasks that may be aligned with your interests.
For example, there are games you can play and videos to watch that reward points. Then, you can use the points to redeem cash rewards or gift cards.
Handshake FAQ
What Is Handshake?
As such, the platform has over 9 million active student users and works with more than 1,400 colleges and universities. Through it, users can connect with more than 650,000 employers around the country. The platform has reached over $3.5 billion valuations.
Does Handshake have an app?
Yes, you can get the Handshake mobile app from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
Is Handshake a free app?
Yes, students can download and use the app for free.
Can alumni use Handshake?
Yes, Handshake allows alumni to use the platform to look for career opportunities.
Who are the founders of Handshake?
Michigan Tech University students Garett Lord, Scott Ringwelski, and Ben Christensen founded Handshake.
Can I see who viewed my profile on Handshake?
Yes, you can see up to 200 employers who most recently viewed your profile on Handshake.
