Preparing for a Handshake Interview?

Company Overview

Handshake is the largest career platform for college students and early-career professionals, connecting over 10 million students with employers for internships, entry-level jobs, and career development opportunities. The platform serves as a bridge between educational institutions and companies seeking talent, operating at massive scale across North America. Handshake distinguishes itself by deeply understanding the student job market, building strong university partnerships, and fostering a mission-driven culture focused on democratizing career access.

Culture Signals

• Mission-Driven: Employees are passionate about expanding opportunity for students and early-career professionals, particularly underrepresented populations in tech and professional services.
• Collaborative Problem-Solving: Handshake values cross-functional teamwork and encourages input from diverse perspectives to tackle complex marketplace challenges.
• Bias Toward Action: The company favors iterative execution and learning from real user feedback over endless planning; candidates should demonstrate ownership and initiative.
• Customer Obsession: Both student and employer outcomes matter equally. Interviewers assess whether candidates think deeply about the dual-sided marketplace and user pain points.
• Inclusive Leadership: Handshake actively seeks candidates who demonstrate empathy, cultural awareness, and commitment to building inclusive products and teams.

Common Interview Questions

1. Tell us about a time you had to understand two very different user groups or stakeholders with competing needs. How did you balance them?
2. Describe a project where you had to move quickly with incomplete information. What decisions did you make and what would you do differently?
3. Walk us through your approach to understanding why a product feature or initiative didn't meet expectations. What would you do to improve it?
4. Share an example of when you advocated for a student, underrepresented group, or user with less power in a professional setting. What was the outcome?
5. How would you approach your first 30 days in this role, and how would you measure success in your first quarter?

Salary Ranges

Handshake's compensation for early-career roles is competitive with tech industry standards. Software Engineers typically earn $120,000–$160,000 base salary plus equity and benefits. Product Managers and Analysts range from $110,000–$145,000, while Sales Development Representatives start at $60,000–$80,000 base with uncapped commission. Exact offers depend on role level, background, experience, and location, with San Francisco and New York positions at the higher end of ranges. All offers include equity grants, health benefits, and professional development support.

Interview Process

• Application & Screening: Submit resume, cover letter, and application form. Recruiting team screens for role fit and cultural alignment; responses to screening questions are weighted heavily.
• Phone/Video Screen (30-45 minutes): Recruiter or hiring manager conducts initial conversation covering background, role motivation, and baseline competencies. Expect questions about why Handshake and initial technical or functional knowledge for the role.
• Technical or Case Interviews (60 minutes): Engineering roles include coding assessments or system design; Product/PM roles may include case studies or product thinking exercises; Analyst roles may include data problem-solving or SQL assessments.
• Team Interviews (2-3 rounds of 45-60 minutes each): Meet with direct manager, cross-functional partners, and team members. Expect behavioral questions, role-specific deep dives, and culture fit assessment. Interviews focus on past accomplishments and how you'd collaborate.
• Offer & Close: Upon approval from hiring manager and debrief, recruiter extends offer with salary, equity, benefits, and start date. Final reference checks may occur during this stage.