Handshake is USC’s primary platform for job and internship searching, career advising, networking, and campus events.
If you’re an incoming student or haven’t fully explored what it offers, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of it.
🤝 How to Get Started
Activate your Handshake account by logging into the platform at usc.joinhandshake.com using your USC NetID and password, the same credentials you use across campus. It is important you do not create an account as this might delay your access to the platform.
Already graduated? Alumni also have access. Update your primary email or add a secondary one to maintain your Handshake profile after graduation. If you run into any issues, visit our help page or contact us at careers@usc.edu.
✨ Key Features
- Job & Internship Search
Handshake features an expansive online job board where students can find on-campus jobs, internships, and full-time opportunities. Use the filter tabs to narrow results by job type, location, work study eligibility, and more. You can also search by specific employer to see their current postings and find campus recruiting contacts. - Events Calendar
Find and register for USC career fairs, employer info sessions, workshops, and networking events all in one place. Handshake also provides access to external employer-hosted virtual events that happen year-round. - Career Center Tab
This specific tab lets you book advising appointments, access resume and cover letter templates, watch tutorial videos,and more. Content is organized by your specific college so what you see is relevant to your field. - Collections
Curated lists of jobs and internships organized by school, interest area, or upcoming events. The USC Career Center has the following collections that are curated on a weekly basis: On-Campus Jobs, Trojans Hiring Trojans (Internships posted by alumni), Trojans Hiring Trojans (Jobs posted by alumni)
- Explore the resource library.
The Career Center tab also allows students access to all the online tools available to them and additional resources. Students can explore resume and cover letter templates, industry guides, networking tutorials, and college-specific content. - My Documents
To streamline your application process, the personal document library allows students to upload and manage their resume, cover letters, writing samples, and class schedules.
✌️ Tips for Making the Most of Handshake
- Complete your profile before you search.
Handshake uses a relevancy algorithm — the more complete your profile, the more tailored your job results will be. At minimum, fill in what you’re looking for, where you want to work, and your skills and interests. Also double-check that your graduation year and major are accurate, as these are user-selected and don’t always update automatically. - Set your visibility intentionally.
Choose “Community” if you want employers and fellow students to find and contact you. Choose “Employers” if you only want employer visibility. Keep it “Private” only while you’re still building out your profile for the first time. - Upload your resume and make it public.
Go to your avatar at the top right, click My Documents, upload your resume, and mark it public. At in-person career fairs, employers have QR codes at their booths — when you scan one, your public resume and profile are instantly shared with that employer. The same applies to virtual career fairs hosted on Handshake. - Use filters and set up job alerts.
The filter tabs on the Jobs page are the most reliable way to find the right opportunities. Once you have two or more filters set, save that search and turn on alerts — Handshake will email you automatically when new positions matching your criteria are posted. - Download the app.
Available in the App Store and Google Play. Makes it easy to check job alerts, register for events, and stay connected on the go.
