Is Handshake Better Than LinkedIn? Differences and Similarities
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Job search sites provide access to numerous opportunities in one place, enable easy application processes, offer salary insights, facilitate employer-candidate matching, and provide career resources. They save time and expand reach beyond traditional networking, making job hunting more efficient and effective in today’s digital world. Among various brands, Handshake and LinkedIn are standing out.
If you are searching for information to decide which platform best serves your career needs, read this post. We will introduce what Handshake and LinkedIn are in detail and the differences and similarities between them.
What is Handshake
Handshake is a career development and job search platform specifically designed for college students and recent graduates. According to Handshake, “Today, Handshake is the number one site for college students to find jobs”. It partners with over 1,400 educational institutions and connects students with 750,000+ employers, ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Handshake is mainly designed for students and employers.
How does Handshake work for you?
- Offers a direct connection to university career services
- Shows personalized job recommendations based on academic background
- Provides access to virtual career fairs and recruiting events
- Early career and internship opportunities
- Employer needs to get verification through university partnerships
- Offers resume building tools and career resources
Unlike general job boards, Handshake focuses on entry-level positions and internships, making it particularly valuable for those starting their professional journey.
What is LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform with over 950 million members, offering comprehensive job search capabilities. What sets LinkedIn apart is its dual function as both a job board and professional social network, allowing users to build their personal brand, maintain professional relationships, and engage with industry content while job hunting. LinkedIn mainly serves for individuals, companies, recruiters, and sales.
As a job search tool, it provides key features:
- Advanced job search filters by industry, location, and experience level
- “Easy Apply” function for quick application submission
- Professional networking opportunities
- Company research and insights
- Salary comparison tools
- Job alerts and recommendations
- Skills assessments and certifications
- Career development resources
Differences between Handshake and LinkedIn
Both platforms serve valuable but distinct purposes in career development. Handshake focuses on college students and entry-level opportunities with university-verified employers, while LinkedIn serves as a broader professional networking platform for all career levels and long-term professional development across industries. Here is a side-by-side comparison between them:
| Feature Category | Handshake | |
|---|---|---|
| Target Audience | • College students • Recent graduates • Entry-level professionals • University-affiliated users | • All career levels • Industry professionals • Global workforce • Broader professional community |
| Best Used For | • Early career development • Finding first job/internship • Campus career events • Early career launching | • Long-term networking • Career advancement • Industry knowledge sharing • Personal branding |
| Job Types | • Internships • Entry-level positions • Campus recruitment • Co-op opportunities | • All career levels • Executive positions • Industry-specific roles • Global opportunities |
| Platform Access | • Requires university affiliation • Free for students • Verified through institution | • Open to all professionals • Free and premium tiers • Public registration |
| User Experience | • Streamlined, simple interface • Academic-focused profiles • Direct campus recruiting | • Complex networking features • Professional portfolio • Industry engagement tools |
Similarities between Handshake and LinkedIn
Both platforms aim to bridge the gap between job seekers and employers, offering digital solutions for career advancement and professional connections, though they serve different segments of the job market.
Key similarities:
- Job search functionality with filtering options
- Direct application capabilities to posted positions
- Profile creation featuring skills and experience
- Employer-candidate matching algorithms
- Professional networking opportunities
- Career development resources and tools
- Company research capabilities
- Job alerts and notifications
- Resume/CV hosting
- Event and career fair features
Handshake vs. LinkedIn for Students’ Internships
If you are a student who seeking entry-level positions, a recent graduate exploring career options, or looking for internship opportunities, you may wonder which platform is better to suit internship needs. Overall, Handshake is for direct university-related opportunities, while LinkedIn is for broader industry networking and long-term career development.
Next, we’d like to help you understand how Handshake and LinkedIn work for your academic status with the column:
| Aspect | Handshake | |
|---|---|---|
| Account Setup | University email required | Free account, student features |
| Target Opportunities | • University-specific internships • Campus recruitment programs • Entry-level positions | • Broader industry internships • Global opportunities • Various company sizes |
| Internship Search Features | • School-specific filters • Major-based matching • Campus recruiter access | • Industry-based filters • Company size options • Location-based search |
| Employer Interaction | • Direct campus recruiter contact • Virtual career fairs • On-campus interviews | • Company research tools • Alumni connections • Professional networking |
| Key Advantages for Students | • Higher response rates • Verified opportunities • Career services integration | • Larger opportunity pool • Industry insights • Long-term networking |
| Best Practices for Internship | • Regular check during recruitment seasons • Attend virtual fairs • Update academic achievements | • Daily networking • Industry content engagement • Professional updates |
| Success Metrics | • Interview conversion rates • Campus recruitment success • Direct employer contact | • Network growth • Industry connections • Professional visibility |
Handshake vs. LinkedIn for Different Job Seekers
Except for the internship, both Handshake and LinkedIn serve complementary roles in career development. They provide different opportunities for job seekers. Here is the comparison in detail:
| Opportunity Type | Handshake | |
|---|---|---|
| Part-Time Work | • On-campus jobs • Local student work • Flexible schedules | • Freelance opportunities • Remote work • Industry-specific roles |
| Co-op Programs | • University partnerships • Academic credit integration • Structured programs | • Limited co-op focus • Company-specific programs |
| Research Positions | • Academic research roles • Lab positions • Faculty connections | • Industry research • R&D positions • Corporate research |
| Graduate Programs | • University-affiliated programs • Direct recruitment | • Corporate training programs • Global opportunities |
| Career Development | • University career services • Mentor matching • Skills workshops | • Professional courses • Industry certifications • Networking events |
| Networking Events | • Campus career fairs • Industry panels • University alumni events | • Professional conferences • Industry meetups • Global networking |
| Application Process | • Streamlined for students • Quick apply • University verification | • Multiple application methods • Company-specific processes • Professional tracking |
What is better, LinkedIn or Handshake?
Handshake is the winner for early career focus and entry-level success rate. Because it is better for students and recent graduates due to university verification and targeted entry-level opportunities. It helps you get higher response rates for internships due to direct university connections. And, it designs a hiring system for your every career path.
While LinkedIn is the winner for long-term value and overall reach. Because it is superior for career progression and professional networking beyond university years. It has a larger user base and broader industry connections globally.
In a word, Handshake specializes in university-connected opportunities with verified employers. LinkedIn offers broader industry exposure and long-term professional networking. You can use both platforms complementarily to combine their strengths and strategies.
FAQs
Do recruiters reach out on Handshake?
Yes, recruiters actively reach out on Handshake. Recruiters frequently contact students on Handshake, leveraging university connections to find qualified candidates. The platform’s verification system makes outreach more targeted and legitimate. It is possible to connect with recruiters on Handshake via the methods below:
- Direct messages
- Campus-specific recruiting campaigns
- Virtual career fair invitations
- Interview requests
What is better than LinkedIn?
LinkedIn remains the largest professional network. No single platform completely outperforms LinkedIn overall, but specialized platforms like Wellfound (startups), Dice (tech), or Handshake (students) excel in their specific niches.
Handshake vs LinkedIn vs Indeed
When comparing Handshake, LinkedIn, and Indeed, you can use Handshake for entry-level opportunities and campus recruitment, LinkedIn for professional networking and career growth, and Indeed for broad job searching and quick applications.
Conclusion
Through the comparisons from different angles. You may find both Handshake and LinkedIn serve for job search with many benefits. Handshake is your immediate career launcher, while LinkedIn is your long-term professional growth platform. You can compare yourself to choose one or use both strategically at different stages of your career journey. And, Jobright.ai is also an AI job search tool for you to get matching jobs. There are over 8 million jobs in its database. Once you submit your resume and skills, the AI will automatically match the most suitable job for you. It makes landing job interviews dramatically easier and faster.