Networking on Handshake

best ways to explore an organization, or a position, is to talk to people who have been there.

Handshake’s networking features give you direct access to:

  • Dartmouth students and alumni who belong to the Handshake community
  • Approximately six million active students and alumni. You can see what they studied, where they work and have worked, and message them to get tips and advice
  • Company contacts, recruiters, and hiring managers

To use the network, complete these three steps:

You can find recommendations on students to potentially connect with through the left sidebar on your “My Profile” page. You can filter this group by categories, including: Name, Major, Employer/Previous Employer, and Year.

To see only Dartmouth students and alumni, select Schools: Dartmouth College Only:

You can also find students to connect with through Employer pages: 

Click on the Message icon to draft a message. Agree to the terms to draft your message.

Templates are available for Professional Experience, Education Recommendations, Resume Advice, Interview Advice, or Q&A. The message will be delivered to your intended recipient directly through the Handshake Inbox.

What can you ask other students about?

When you open a message, you’ll be asked to choose the topic of your question. The topics are: Professional Experience, Education Recommendations, Resume Advice, Interview Advice, Reviews or Q&A, and Other Career Related Topic.

  • Professional Experience. Search for someone who has interned or works at a company you’re interested in, and ask them about company culture, intern projects, and more. 
  • Education Recommendations. Find out the best courses to take to prepare for a particular career. Alternatively, you can ask a graduate school student about their work, professors, and experience if you are thinking about applying to their school.
  • Resume Advice. Learn what to include on your resume that best highlights your courses, projects and unique experience. 
  • Interview Advice. Gain insight into a company’s interview questions and process.
  • Reviews or Q&A. Ask for more information on a student’s review or Q&A question. (See individual employer pages for student reviews and Q&As. Note: Not all employers have this feature enabled.) 
  • Other Career Related Topic. Ask any other career-related question.

After you have selected the topic of your question, you will see a customizable template to help you draft your message.