For VT former students, alumni, and faculty/staff who want a Handshake student account for job search

FORMER STUDENTS / ALUMNI / RECENT GRADUATES:

  • YOU MUST USE YOUR VT PID EMAIL ADDRESS and password to access, request, or reactivate a Handshake student account with Virginia Tech. (See Q&A if you forgot any of these.)
  • If you attempt to access a Virginia Tech student Handshake account with a gmail address (or something else other than your VT PID email and password), your request will be rejected, and you will waste your time and delay your account access.
  • AFTER YOU GRADUATE OR CEASE TO BE ENROLLED AT VIRGINIA TECH, your Handshake student account will stay active for six months (or longer if you are active in your account).
  • AFTER SIX MONTHS PAST YOUR LAST ENROLLMENT OR GRADUATION (and with no activity by you in your account), Handshake accounts are archived (a.k.a. deactivated). You can request reactivation if you want; READ instructions below.

Questions and answers

If you have forgotten your VT username (PID) or password, or you have not set up 2-Factor Authentication, see:

See information provided by Virginia Tech for students regarding name change in your university records.

After opening your account, if you need assistance using Handshake:

How to get OR reactivate a Handshake student account.
Select who you are:

A Handshake account exists for you; you may ask that it be REACTIVATED for JOB SEARCH.
Here’s how:

  • Go to VT Handshake login and enter your VT PID and password.
  • Follow instructions to ask that your account be reactivated.
  • If you do not use your correct PID email address, your request for a VT student Handshake account will be rejected.
  • Your request will be reviewed within one week.
  • Please note that CPD advising is open to alumni within two years of graduation.
  • Alumni two years past graduation are welcome to use Handshake for job search, but not to schedule advising.

You may REQUEST a student account for JOB SEARCH.
Here’s how:

  • Go to VT join Handshake.com/register.
    • When prompted for your email address, you must use your VT PID email address, as in PID@vt.edu.
    • If you do not use your correct PID email address, your request for a VT student Handshake account will be rejected.
  • Your request will be reviewed within one week.
  • Please note that CPD advising is not open to alumni who are two years past graduation; you are welcome to use Handshake for job search, but not to schedule advising.
  • If you have followed instructions, but are not able to access your Handshake account FOR JOB SEARCH, call us during office hours, usually M-F 8am-5pm.