Schools using uConnect’s Virtual Career Center see an average 118% increase in engagement with Handshake.
Handshake is a powerful tool for connecting students to jobs, internships, and career events. But too often, students don’t know it exists (or what it is). They’re expected to hunt for the tool, figure out what it’s for, and log in every time they want to access the resources.
This disjointed experience creates friction. Students disengage. And the result? Low visibility and low ROI for tools that are meant to support career readiness and drive outcomes.
uConnect is not a replacement for Handshake—it’s the digital infrastructure that helps students discover and engage with the full range of tools and resources your career center offers, including Handshake and other job board platforms. By giving students one central, accessible destination for career support, uConnect helps you get more value from the tools you already have.
Here’s a snapshot of the impact uConnect customers are having on Handshake engagement:
See it in action: Handshake integrations
How it works
With uConnect’s Virtual Career Center (VCC), jobs, internships, and events that typically live behind Handshake’s login are pulled front and center on the institution’s user-friendly Virtual Career Center interface. This means students, parents, and other key stakeholders can see relevant opportunities before they even have to log in.
Plus, uConnect’s automated email functionality curates important content like jobs and events, delivering personalized updates directly to the right students at the right time. These emails are fully customizable and branded from your institution.
Together, these features help to maximize the value of your existing tools, increase visibility and usage, and make career resources more accessible to everyone.
Why it works
uConnect serves as the digital front door to your career ecosystem. When students can find everything they need in one place—available anytime, on any device—they’re far more likely to engage.
Think of it this way: uConnect is the house. Tools like Handshake are the furniture.
You’ll always evolve your tools and optimize your offerings, but without the right infrastructure in place, it’s hard for students to even find the front door.
That’s why uConnect is designed to integrate with your existing platforms—not replace them—so you can increase visibility, engagement, and ROI across the board.
Want to drive more engagement with Handshake (or any job board platform you use) and other tools your office is investing in? Fill out the form below to explore how uConnect integrates with your existing tools to boost student usage with less lift for your team. In the meantime, check out all the career tools uConnect seamlessly integrates with here.
