Handshake Job Posting Guide

How to Post a Student Job on Handshake & Tips for Effective Job Postings

UARK | Career Connections | Student Employment | StuEmp@uark.edu | Version: 1.2 | Sept ‘24

Prepare your Job Posting


1

Log into your Employer Handshake Account

If you don’t have an Employer Account yet, request access by filling out the form in Section 2

2

Post a Job


3

Fill out Job Details & Post Job

4

Review Candidates


5

  1. Utilize Handshake’s robust catalog of articles and training videos!
  2. Contact Cecilee Essary or Erin Wooldridge


If you get stuck on Handshake...

Click here for Handshake Help Center


Prepare your Job Posting

Utilize our guide & template to recruit qualified candidates.

1

Contact your HR Team

Inform the staff member who assists with Workday onboarding and hiring processes (likely an HR Partner, HR Coordinator, or Employment Coordinator) that you plan to hire a student. This will help:

  • 1. Ensure the student position is available in Workday.
  • 2. Align your hiring practices with your division/college’s practices
  • 3. Clarify best practices for recruiting when using the Evergreen hiring process.

Handshake does not replace Workday in the hiring and onboarding process; it is a recruitment tool.

What to Include

Including the following sections will ensure a comprehensive job posting that provides the student with clear expectations for the role. Clear job descriptions can lead to better job fits and higher job satisfaction. Include as much information as possible in your job posting. This posting is different than fully-appointed UARK positions.

Job Title 

 

  • Clearly state purpose of the role in 2-5 words. 
  • Avoid abbreviations
  • Avoid vague titles like “Student Worker” or “Extra Help.”  

If only open to students awarded Federal Work Study, format should be: “Work Study - [Job Title]” 

Employer + College, Department or Organization

Use the department’s mission and services to help the student grasp your organization’s purpose. 

Position Description

Write a brief paragraph or two that provides an overview of the role. Outline the purpose and functions of the position and how the position fits into the department.

Duties & Responsibilities

Use bullet points to outline the most critical tasks, duties, and responsibilities that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Location 

  • On-Site, Remote, or Hybrid 
  • Clarify the physical location, especially for UARK jobs located off the main Fayetteville campus

Minimum Qualifications 

  • Baseline requirements for being considered for the position (e.g., Federal Work Study eligibility or school year)
  • Place teachable qualifications in Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications 

Include skills, experiences, or attributes that are desired beyond the basic requirements

Compensation & Benefits

Hourly rate, stipend, class credit, departmental benefits, discounts, parking passes & other non-monetary benefits 

Federal Work Study Award Requirement 

Choose the one that fits your situation best: 

  • Federal Work Study award required 
  • Federal Work Study award preferred, but not required.
  • Federal Work Study award not required

Employment Timeline

Include known start/end date and other special dates that they need to work.

Other questions to consider: Is the job automatically renewed? Does the student reapply each year? Can they work summers?

Hours and Schedule

 

  • Approximate number of weekly hours expected 
  • Work schedule time frame: details on the timeframe during which the hours will be worked 
  • Specific hours: include any known/specific hours that must be worked. 
  • If scheduling can be adjusted to accommodate the candidate's academic commitments, please explicitly state that flexibility is available. 
  • Known and required training dates

UA Career-Ready Outcomes

 

List the top 3 UA Career-Ready skills that the student employee will learn in the job to prepare them for their professional career. These transferrable skills are based on the 8 NACE Career Readiness Competencies

Communication | Career & Self Development | Critical Thinking | Perspective Awareness | Leadership | Professionalism | Teamwork  Technology 

Application Instructions 

  • Name, title, and contact info of the person who can answer questions about the position and application process
  • List Required Documents  [Resume, Cover Letter, Class Schedule]
  • Where to Submit Documents 
  • Application Deadline 
  • If you plan to hire on an ongoing basis (for example, a position for which you are hiring many students throughout the year), please include the following: "Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis." (We anticipate needing to fill multiple positions throughout the time that this job posting is open. Applications will be accepted continuously up until the closing date and positions will be filled as needed as opportunities arise.)” 

Equal Opportunity and Compliance Statement

The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The university welcomes applications without regard to age, race/color, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, religion, marital or parental status, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sexual orientation or gender identity. Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment. All applicant information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.”

Job Posting Sample

Job Title: Career Peer Mentor  

Employer/Department: Offices for Career Connections, University of Arkansas 

Department Overview: The Offices for Career Connections has the mission to weave lifelong career confidence into the full college experience and beyond. The office offers resources and support for becoming career-ready.

Job Summary & Responsibilities:

In this role, you will provide personalized feedback on resumes and cover letters, helping students refine their job application materials. You will also conduct workshops to share best practices for resumes, cover letters, and other important aspects of job applications. Additionally, you will offer basic career advice to students, guiding them through the process of finding on-campus employment opportunities. As a representative of the Offices of Career Connections, you will work at career fairs to connect with students and employers. Furthermore, you will serve on a task force committee to support the operations of the Career Studio. 

Work Study Award Requirement: Federal Work Study award preferred 

Location: On-Site – CORD Building 

Compensation: $13.00/HR 

Minimum Qualifications: 

  • Current University of Arkansas undergraduate or graduate student
  • Enrolled as a Sophomore, Junior, Senior or Graduate Student for the 2024-25 academic year. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • 3.25 or above GPA 
  • Work Study eligibility preferred 

Dates of Employment: August 15, 2024 - May 3, 2025 

UA Career-Ready Outcomes: 

Communication, Critical Thinking, Professionalism  

Hours and Schedule: We are looking for a student who can commit approximately 10-13 hours per week to this position. We offer flexible hours tailored to your schedule, typically within the university’s normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Additional Information: 

  • For any inquiries about the position, please contact Emily Johnson at ejohn124@uark.edu.  
  • To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter, and a copy of your Fall 2024 schedule on Handshake by Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 11:59PM. 
  • Job training will be provided August 15-16, 2024
  • For application and interview best practices, we encourage you to visit the Career Studio in the CORD on Monday-Thursday from 10am-5pm (Fall and Spring semesters only).  

The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The university welcomes applications without regard to age, race/color, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, religion, marital or parental status, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sexual orientation or gender identity. Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment. All applicant information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

Log into your Employer Handshake Account


2

Request an Employer Account

Click here to fill out On-Campus Employer Handshake Access Request Form

Timeline to get access to your account 1-3 business days. Cecilee Essary will email you instructions to setup your account.

Contact: Cecilee Essary (Cecileer@uark.edu) with additional questions.

Handshake Trainings

Upcoming Handshake trainings can be found on Staff/Faculty Student Employment website.

Post a Job

3

Who will post the job to Handshake?

Use this flow chart to determine who is responsible for posting the job to Handshake

Is the job posted as a requisition in Workday for students to apply?

NO

(E.g., App previously on HogSync or

WS Sharepoint Site)

Hiring Manager posts job to Handshake for
students to apply in Handshake. Student(s) who
are selected for job are
required to apply in
Workday after selected (e.g., Evergreen
Application).

YES

HR Recruiter posts job to Handshake on behalf of hiring manager and students are routed to apply in Workday. Applications are reviewed by hiring manager in Workday.

Click Post a Job on Home Screen -

Job Title -

Required Naming Convention: “Job Title - Department Name”

  • Example: Front Desk Worker - Career Connections

Position Type -

On Campus Student Employment

if the student position is paid
through UARK payroll or employer is
located on Fayetteville Campus (i.e.
Chartwells)


For Graduate Positions (TA,GA,RA):
Select Other > Graduate School




Selecting [Work-Study Program]

  • Select if you want to recruit students who have been awarded Federal Work Study
  • Non-Work Study students will still be able to apply
  • For more info about Federal Work Study, contact workstud@uark.edu or visit UA Work Study Site

Location Requirements

Select up to 3 options and specify the city/state.

Time Requirements

Choose “Temporary / Seasonal” as the “Duration” since student employees are not considered permanent employees.

Compensation and Benefits

Note there there are different ways to indicate payment (Range, Custom Range, Exact Amount and Unpaid).

Job Category

Categorizing jobs is required to improve visibility. Categories are meant to be general. You are only required to select one. Select the best option since many student jobs do not have an exact fit.

E.g. Office and Administrative Support Workers, Tutors, University Student Researchers

Candidate Qualifications

Candidate Qualifications are optional, but they can match qualified candidates with jobs. Only put REQUIRED qualifications since students will be deterred from applying if they do not meet all of your qualifications.

Work Authorization

All UARK student positions require work authorization, meaning the student must have the legal right to work in the United States. The process involves documents like a Social Security number and an I-9 form. However, international students who are eligible for on-campus student jobs may be discouraged from applying if they’re unfamiliar with how to navigate this process. We recommend that campus employers avoid mentioning this requirement in the job application to encourage broader student participation.



Choose Schools

Select University of Arkansas - Fayetteville

Application Process

Timeline:

Recommended
application timeline:
7-14 days. If
applicant pool is not
sufficient, extend the
timeline.


Ensure all applicants
are reviewed equally.


Do not select a
candidate before
close date or
reviewing all
applications.

Collecting Applications - Option 1 [in Handshake]

This option is great if you previously collected applications via email, HogSync form, Airtable, etc. Using Handshake to collect applications is highly preferred to give students a streamlined experience.

Candidate application documents will be visible in Handshake’s easy-to-use applicant tracking system.

Select [Other] to request additional documents like class schedule or references.

Collecting Applications - Option 2 [On a Separate Website]

This option is great for advertising positions that are already posted in Workday or if the application must be linked to an external site.

*Remember that if you already posted a requisition through Workday, you do not need to post on Handshake since the HR Recruiter team will post for you.

Applicants will be redirected to apply on the site that you indicate in the External URL

Clarify in instructions that applicants must submit their documents externally.

Your Hiring Team - Selecting your Company Division

Select your department name. If your department is not listed, skip this section and post your job. Send an email to stuemp@uark.edu to let Student Employment know and we will add your department/division.

Your Hiring Team - Job Owner

The Job Owner should be the primary recruiter or supervisor of the posting being created. Mark the types of email notifications that they would like to receive.

Your info will autofill as the Job Owner unless you remove yourself and select another Handshake Account user.

Job Owner must have a Handshake Account

Your Hiring Team - Keeping your Team Informed

  • Anyone helping with the hiring process can stay informed by adding them as a “Hiring Team Member.”
  • If they have a Handshake Employer account, you can search/select their name. If they do not have an account, you will need to click “Invite New Teammate” and add them manually.
  • Each individual can have customized notification settings.
  • They will receive an email with a .ZIP file and PDF with candidate info. They will not be able to view a student’s work study status.

Review & Post Job


4

Approval Process

The Federal Work Study Coordinator will approve jobs within 24 business hours. Please contact Erin Wooldridge (workstud@uark.edu) if you have questions about your job approval.

Share Job Posting

Click into your job overview page and copy the URL and share with your network! You MUST be on the job overview page for the link to work.

Viewing Handshake Postings without an Account

Click here to view the feed of student job postings on our Student Employment website. No Handshake account needed to see a list of postings.

Review Candidates

Use features of the applicant tracking system to manage the selection
process and communicate with applicants. Note: Handshake does not

replace Workday in the official onboarding process.

5

Finding your Job Posting

Click “Jobs” on left side bar to view list of jobs.

Tip: Set filters to find your jobs quicker

Job Posting Overview Page

Click into job posting to view applicant information and make edits.

View applications

View or edit job posting

Applicant Tracking Page

Click “Applicants” on job posting overview page to view your Applicant Tracking System.

*Note, if you’re using the “apply externally” function and sending applicants to apply on Workday or another place, the list of applicants will be the list of students who clicked “apply externally.” It does not mean they have successfully completed an application.

Changing a candidate’s Status will help you organize applicants.


Note: If you click on an applicant profile, it will automatically change status to “reviewed.”

Download Documents to review

Indicates if student has been awarded Federal
Work Study by Financial Aid.
CAUTION: In Fall
2024 during the pilot period: Before offering a
position, send candidate’s name(s) to
workstud@uark.edu to confirm eligibility.

Handshake does not replace Workday onboarding, I-9, etc. Once you select your candidate, you will need to work with your HR team to properly onboard them in Workday.

Contact & Support

Cecilee Essary

  • Associate Director for On-Campus Student Employment, Offices of Career Connections
  • cecileer@uark.edu

How I can help:

  • Student Employee Recruitment Best Practices & Processes
  • Handshake Support and Account Setup
  • General Workday Support (i.e. creating positions, reviewing applicants)
  • General Federal Work Study Support
  • Student, Faculty, and Staff Resources for Student Employment
  • Part-Time Jobs Fair
  • Student Worker Manager Community

Erin Wooldridge

  • Federal Work Study Coordinator, Office of Financial Aid
  • workstud@uark.edu

How I can help:

  • Federal Work Study Best Practices & Processes
  • Check a student’s Federal Work Study Status
  • Check progress of work study student hire
  • Job Assignment Forms
  • Workday support for hiring a Federal Work Study student
  • Helping Hands & Work Study Training Sessions

Appendix

6

Appendix A - Job Type

9/20/24

On-Campus Student Employment

Job

Graduate School

Location

Any UA or Work Study Employer Location

Any UA Location

Any UA Location

Position Type

Part Time/Extra Help positions

Regular and Work Study Student Positions

Typically recruiting Enrolled Students

Full or Part Time

Typically recruiting graduating students and alumni from UA or other Handshake schools

Full or Part Time

Typically recruiting graduating students and alumni from UA or other Handshake schools

Employer

UA, Work Study Employers or Campus Affiliates (e.g., Chartwells, Inn at Carnell Hall)

UA

UA

Duration

Temporary

Permanent

Temporary