Edison Ip
Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the VSB O’Donnell Center Workshop: Handshake on November 29th, 2023, and there, I gained valuable knowledge on the tools and the purpose of Handshake. The lecture was given by Kaitlin Grady, the Assistant Director of Experiential Education and Employer Outreach. Through this lecture, I was able to utilize the resources on the platform and maximize my ability to get internships and externships. I strongly encourage other Villanova students to attend this lecture because it can greatly improve your experiences and broaden your networking with potential employers.
In this lecture, Grady initially taught us how to navigate Handshake and what first-time users should do on the app. She said to make sure all information about yourself on your profile is correct and current, like your past experiences and school year. She emphasized the importance of Handshake and how it is easy to find jobs and opportunities specific to your interests because on the app you can filter jobs and go to qualifications to find opportunities that fit your interests.
Grady also gave many tips on how to use Handshake. For example:
- You can add courses that you are taking at Villanova
- All Villanova events are posted on Handshake and going to events can put you on employers’ mailing lists
- Employers have their page on Handshake with information about their company and upcoming events
- Employers also have reviews and interview sections on their company written by college students
- You can send a message to an employer through their company profile
More and more colleges and employers are using Handshake, so this platform helps give students an advantage in the process of finding internships and jobs. This will allow us to network with other employers and even other college students who have had that internship.
The many events that are on Handshake are very beneficial to students because of their diverse interests. The events target all majors, and they give students an overview of different companies and programs. These events are crucial to networking and broadening interests.
Overall, after attending this event, I encourage everyone to attend this event as it is ongoing throughout the year. I would also encourage students to attend events that are listed on Handshake as it is a very helpful tool for your success at Villanova. Here is the link to Handshake https://app.joinhandshake.com/stu, and I hope that everyone will join and utilize Handshake to its maximum.
VSB O'Donnell Center Workshop: Handshake 