The Cooler (and Friendlier) LinkedIn

Why BU Students Should Be on Handshake

By Keira Shannon

Photo by Emma Almaraz

Looking for your next part-time job in Boston or a summer internship in New York, Los Angeles or even abroad? 

Handshake is Boston University’s official career platform made exclusively for students. Think of it as a college-only LinkedIn where you compete with other students instead of seasoned professionals.

Why Handshake Works

Handshake is more than a job board; it’s a full career hub with opportunities designed for students who are still building experience. Employers like Morgan Stanley, Tesla, Amazon, EY and even top graduate schools such as MIT, NYU and Columbia use it to post positions and campus events tailored to BU students. Because it is a closed network, you face far less competition than on mainstream job sites.

Events You Don’t Want to MissBeyond job listings, Handshake’s Events Board is a hidden gem. You can RSVP to résumé workshops, Interviewing 101 sessions, and free professional headshot pop-ups hosted by BU’s colleges. Employers also post networking sessions and coffee chats here, making it easy to meet recruiters without leaving Commonwealth Avenue.

Find Alumni and MentorsHandshake also lets you search for BU alumni working at your dream companies and message them directly through the platform. For students in the College of Communication, it can even help you secure the COM575 internship credit you need to graduate.

Use It Before You Lose ItYou only have access while you are enrolled at BU. Once you graduate, that pipeline to exclusive entry-level roles, alumni mentors, and career events disappears.

Bottom LineHandshake is the cooler and friendlier LinkedIn built just for college students. If you are at BU, it is your backstage pass to internships, mentors, and on-campus events that can shape your career. Do not wait until senior year to tap into it. The earlier you start, the more doors it can open.