Guide / FAQs for VT student Handshake accounts

Is there a fee to have a VT student Handshake account?

• Career and Professional Development at Virginia Tech pays a significant annual fee to purchase use of Handshake. As an individual student, you do not pay any extra fees to have a VT student Handshake account.

How to access your VT student Handshake account:

• You must use your VT PID email and password to log in to your VT student Handshake account.
• Two-factor authentication is required, just as when you log in to other VT systems.
• Requests for a VT student Handshake account using a non-VT email (gmail, aol, etc.) address cannot be approved.

Who has a VT student Handshake account:

• All currently-enrolled Virginia Tech students, at all VT campus locations:
  You have a VT student Handshake account.
  There is no need to request one.
  Weekly, there is an import of current VT student information (name, email, major, school year, etc.) into Handshake, and that is why all current VT students have a VT student account in Handshake.
  And that is why you must access your VT student Handshake account using your VT PID email and password.
• Newly-admitted / future students:
  AFTER you pay your deposit accepting admission, AND AFTER approximately ten business days that the university is open, you will have a VT student Handshake account. Do not request an account; there is no need, and such requests cannot be approved. Please be patient, and be aware that when the university is closed, university business is not conducted. And as stated above, you must use your VT PID email and password.
• Former students and alumni:
  Depending on when you were enrolled, you might have a VT student Handshake account. Accounts are archived within the first year after you cease to be enrolled, AND when there is no recent activity on the account. However, nothing is deleted, so any past account activity you had is still in your account. Before you attempt to request an account, see Handshake VT student accounts for former students and alumni.
  

If your VT student Handshake account is deactivated, can it be reactivated?

• Yes. If you are a former student and/or alumnus/alumna, and had a VT student Handshake account, you can request reactivation. 
• Accounts are archived within a year after students cease to be enrolled, AND when there has been no recent activity on the account. However, nothing is deleted, so any past account activity you had is still in your account. 
• As stated, you must use your VT PID email and password if you wish to have your VT student Handshake account reactivated.
• See instructions for former students and alumni to request that your account be reactivated.

If you are a former VT student: Can you have a VT student Handshake account?

• Depending on when you were enrolled, you might have a VT student Handshake account. Accounts are archived within the first year after you cease to be enrolled, AND when there is no recent activity on the account. However, nothing is deleted, so any past account activity you had is still in your account.
• Before you attempt to request an account, see Handshake VT student accounts for former students and alumni.

If you are a future VT student, can you request a VT student Handshake account?

• No. It is unnecessary because we create accounts for incoming students, as explained below. If you request an account, it will not be approved, and will delay our taking care of other student needs.
• IF you have been admitted as a future student, and AFTER you pay your deposit accepting admission, AND AFTER approximately ten business days that the university is open, a VT student Handshake account will be created for you, based on import of university student records.
• Please be patient if you do not yet see your account.
• And be reminded that when the university is closed, university business is not being conducted.
• And as stated above, you must use your VT PID email and password to access your VT student Handshake account.

If you are not a VT student, can you request a VT student Handshake account?

• No.
• Under limited circumstances, advisors employed at Virginia Tech may request and be granted a student account in order to advise students (although this is not at all necessary in order to advise students). To be considered, you must see information for Virginia Tech advisors about Handshake accounts.

If you want to hire students, can you have a VT student Handshake account?

• No.
• For posting jobs, recruiting, hiring, and screening candidates, you would need a Handshake EMPLOYER account. Please see and read information for employers about creating and using a Handshake employer account. This includes information for employers EXTERNAL to Virginia Tech, AND information for departments and offices INTERNAL to Virginia Tech that hire students.

If your account request was denied, what was the reason?

• View the other topics on this page pertaining to who you are (non-student, not yet admitted, etc.). That might explain why your request was denied.
• If you are eligible for a VT student Handshake account, and you failed to use your VT PID email and password, your account request is rejected.

Your first step after you open your account:

COMPLETE YOUR PROFILE and indicate your POST-GRADUATION GOALS:

• In Handshake, complete your profile.
• Indicate your post-graduation goals. Even if you are not ready to look for jobs, this is important. And you can change/update this later.
• When your resume is ready, upload it; and you can search and apply for internships or post-graduation jobs.
• View events including information sessions conducted by employers.
• If you have accessed your VT student Handshake account, make the most of it! Watch this How to use Handshake video.

Make sure you receive emails from Handshake:

Add these to your contact list:

• handshake@m.joinhandshake.com
• handshake@notifications.joinhandshake.com

If you are not receiving Handshake emails, and/or you previously unsubscribed to Handshake emails, see the Handshake Help Center information for students on how to re-subscribe to Handshake emails.

If you need assistance related to accessing or using your VT student Handshake account:

• If you have read the above, and have followed instructions, but are not able to access your VT student Handshake account, call Career and Professional Development during office hours, usually M-F 8am-5pm.
• The people who built Handshake created it to be student-user friendly. We strongly encourage you to use the Handshake Help Center for students and alumni.
• If you have accessed your VT student Handshake account, make the most of it! Watch this How to use Handshake video.
• If you would like more individualized assistance with the type of information to enter in your VT student Handshake account, and using Handshake for your goals, you are welcome to schedule an advising appointment.

GPA information in your profile:

• If you are an enrolled student, your GPA may be imported from university data (as is your college and major, etc.)
• Handshake, by default, has your GPA in your profile "hidden from employers." You'll see a lock icon next to GPA. 
• You can edit your information and settings, if you wish. See the Handshake Help Center for students: How to edit your education information in your profile.