Optimize your use of Handshake
We are encouraging students to focus their energy on maximizing their use of Handshake through this disruption, and offer you these tips to do the same.
- Update your employer profile, job/internship positions and recruiter contact information. View your posted positions through a sample student interface to see how they look to students. Check out Handshake’s help article for details.
- Search Handshake to identify candidates who meet your position criteria and send them a message inviting them to apply. Learn more about using the search function and messaging tool.
- Configure your automated messages to applicants to help keep the conversation flowing with interested students/alums.
- Review Handshake’s employer blog, featuring tips for success within the platform and beyond.
Host a virtual event
Virtual events are a great way to connect with students from all across the country. Handshake's webinar will help you consider what kind of virtual events would work best for your organization and how you might execute them. We suggest that you take the following into account:
What is the goal of your event?
Are you hoping to raise student awareness of your brand, recruit for an open position, educate prospective employees about important industry trends, or simply work on building a relationship with early talent?
What format makes the most sense?
Depending on the purpose of your event and the capacity of your team, a panel of employees a Q&A with your hiring manager might make sense. If your office is still open, maybe a behind the scenes look at your work is the right fit.
What technology and skillsets do you have access to?
Can someone on your team edit videos, or build a new webpage about recruitment during COVID-19? If you choose to run a panel, do each of your panelists have access to a quality webcam, microphone, and internet connection?
How will you promote the event?
Posting it to Handshake with a compelling title and detailed description of how to connect and what to expect is a great start. Contacting our office to discuss additional promotional opportunities might be helpful, as we can promote the event to students in related Interest Groups. And, you could consider reaching out to students directly through Handshake's messaging tool or posting about it on your own social media pages.
Best Practices for Remote Recruiting
We've compiled a few resources to help you consider what elements of your recruitment and hiring process can be managed remotely.
Remote Recruitment Overview
- Handshake's webinar on 100% remote recruitment
- LinkedIn blog post on remote recruitment and hiring
Interviewing
- Society for Human Resource Management article on Virtual Interviewing in response to COVID-19
Networking
- Contact our office to connect with the Interest Group(s) that aligns most closely to your industry
- Leverage LinkedIn to source and connect with potential candidates
- UVM Alums - make the most of UVM Connect and the UVM Career Connection group on LinkedIn
Business Continuity
- Consider hosting a micro-internship to fulfill short-term needs and connect with UVM talent remotely throughout the year.
- Many employers are planning to continue their summer internships - check out this blog post from NACE for reasons to offer remote internships along with tips for success, and our guidelines for hosting internships during COVID-19
- If you are an alum and have the capacity to host a virtual intern this summer, join the UVM Connect Virtual Internships group
- Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility Guide to Planning & Preparing for COVID-19
- COVID-19 Guidance for Vermont Businesses
