Handshake for Students

Handshake is a job search and career networking platform designed for early‑career students seeking internships and full‑time opportunities. Additionally, the Office of Career Services manages internship agreements and all Career Fairs through this platform.

Every Kean University student receives a Handshake account upon enrollment. It is the student’s responsibility to activate their profile and keep it updated as employers actively use Handshake to identify potential candidates.

Update Your Handshake Profile

Students can activate their Handshake profile by entering their @kean.edu email address to begin the process. If using a personal email address, your request will not be approved. To complete the registration process, complete the following:

• Name
• Major
• Graduation Year
• Contact Information – please list both a kean.edu and a personal email address
• All previous employment and brief description as to what you did in the role

Once an account has been updated and created, students can utilize the Job Search feature to identify and apply for roles for both internships and full-time opportunities.

For-Credit Internship Submissions in Handshake

If you plan to complete an internship for academic credit, you are responsible for submitting a Handshake Experience. The following majors use Handshake Experiences for internship approval:

To submit:

1. Log in at https://kean.joinhandshake.com/login
2. Select Career Center on the left-hand menu
3. Select “Experiences”
4. Select “Submit an Experience” and complete all required fields
   • Be sure to choose the correct template for your major
5. Submit your experience for approval

Submitted agreements are reviewed and require approval from the Academic Department, Supervisor for your internship, Career Services and the Registrar. It is your responsibility to ensure your supervisor completes their portion and tell them of this process.

Students must track the status of their internship approval process in “Experiences” and ensure it is approved.

What to Expect Once Your Internship Agreement Is Finalized

Once your internship is officially approved for credit and you are registered for the internship course:

• It will appear in Student Planning
• A corresponding course will appear in Canvas
• You will be required to submit weekly assignments in Canvas
• You must complete a Pre‑Assessment before starting your internship
• You must complete a Post‑Assessment at the end of your internship
• Your supervisor will receive and must complete a final evaluation

Non-Credit Internship Submissions in Handshake

Students who complete internships that either do not meet the academic criteria or who not need or have available credits to support an internship may pursue the Non-Credit internship option. This option:

• Provides formal recognition on the student’s Co-Curricular Transcript
• Requires students complete at least 40 internship hours
• Requires supervisor and student evaluations
• Must be submitted and approved through Handshake Experiences.

IMPORTANT

When your internship appears in Student Planning, it is officially a course. If you decide not to complete the internship, you must withdraw from the course following standard university deadlines and procedures, and notify your internship advisor immediately. Failure to take these steps may result in not receiving academic credit or failing the internship course.