Reported By: Mikaela Yanto 

Students can now access Handshake, a platform partnered with the University of Guam, to connect to an internship, part-time job, and full-time job opportunities. 

In a 2017 survey, 87% of UOG undergraduate students said their internships helped prepare them for the workplace and using Handshake makes this more easily accessible for us students. 

To use the platform, students simply need to create an account on UOG’s Handshake website, and fill in the information as accurately and as complete as possible. New signees can provide basic personal information upon sign-up, such as gender and race. 

Career questions asked upon signing up personalizes available job and internship recommendations for each student. Cities preferred to work in and fields of interest are some questions that curate these recommendations. I personally answered that I am open to work in any city and chose to be connected to companies in the field of Media and Journalism.  

Handshake also asks students to provide which company traits they look for in an employer, job positions they may want, and of course any academic courses and skills that can add to their portfolio. 

Handshake is simple and easy to use. Students can open the website on their browsers or download the application onto their mobile devices. After answering the questions and creating their profiles, students can chat with their potential employers directly on Handshake. 

The availability of different opportunities on this platform makes it an ideal stepping stone for students who might not have options for jobs or internships yet. In addition to its accessibility, Handshake is not only limited to students but open to employers to sign up and find people to recruit. 

UOG students can start making their profiles as early as now using their student email on https://uog.joinhandshake.com.