SRU offers ‘Handshake’ to help students and employers connect
Gabrielle Yanniello, a Slippery Rock University sophomore communication major who works in the Payroll Office, helped design posters promoting Handshake, an online platform that connects SRU students with on- and off-campus jobs and internships.
Aug. 28, 2019
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — A firm handshake often concludes the hiring process for employers and job candidates. For students at Slippery Rock University, getting hired will begin with the Handshake, an online platform that connects students with employers. SRU partnered with Handshake to launch the new service earlier this month, helping students search for on- and off-campus jobs and internships.
The new system replaces SRU Career Connection and can be found online at sru.edu/handshake, along with a mobile app that can be downloaded at app.joinhandshake.com. Students can sign into the system using their SRU email and password.
YANNIELLO
"Handshake doesn't operate vastly different from our previous site, but students have found it easier to use and many employers prefer using Handshake to post jobs and connect with candidates," said Renee Coyne, associate director of career education and development.
Coyne said the main reason for the switch to Handshake was based on suggestions from employers, many of whom are in the Pittsburgh region and already use the platform to find candidates.
"If employers like it and are posting jobs, then our students will see more jobs," Coyne said. "It has a lot of appeal that goes beyond the new look."
In just a few weeks of partnering with Handshake, SRU's Office of Career Education and Development has made more than 500 jobs and internships available to SRU students.
Through Handshake, students are able to:
• Schedule appointments at the CED office for resumes, major exploration, career planning, etc.
• Register for upcoming career fairs, workshops and other events offered by CED.
• Search for off-campus internship and job opportunities.
• View all on-campus job postings in one place.
"Handshake is user-friendly, both for students applying for jobs on campus and for our staff making hires," said Amanda Nichols, management technician in SRU's Payroll Office, who trains staff on how to post on-campus jobs using Handshake. "Students can apply for an on-campus job in just three clicks."
There are more than 150 on-campus job postings available through Handshake, some of which can be filled by multiple students through a single posting. For example, if the Aebersold Recreation Center has 12 openings for desk attendants, only one post is necessary to solicit applicants. Currently, nearly 2,000 students work for the University.
"Having all the job postings in one place is very convenient," said Gabrielle Yanniello, a sophomore communication major from McKeesport, who works both for the Payroll Office and as a desk attendant in Residence Hall F. "Updating your profile is similar to LinkedIn and you can put a lot of your soft skills on there. You can dive a little deeper into your information and abilities than what you include on a resume."
One experience Yanniello can include on her profile was helping the Payroll Office design four posters featuring SRU students to promote Handshake that are, fittingly for Yanniello, titled "I'm more than my resume." The posters are currently in use throughout the University to promote the initiative.
For more information related to students' Handshake account and services provided by CED, contact: 724.738.2028 or career.education@sru.edu.
For questions related to on-campus student employment, including SRU staff seeking training to use Handshake to post their on-campus jobs, contact: 724.738.2069 or studentemployment@sru.edu.
MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu