Handshake, the new job application portal that Syracuse University started using earlier this summer, is a search tool for internships, full-time jobs and registered Syracuse events. It’s similar to the legacy system OrangeLink.

But Handshake brings much needed change to the university, and has great potential for success.

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The intuitive user interface and its mobile app optimization function are both helpful — and on-campus events are one click away. Scrolling through job applications and seeing comments from professors, recruiters and friends who reviewed a particular internship is extremely valuable.

Handshake also provides benefits to international students. Before, international students with Optional Practical Training and Curricular Practical Training sponsorships were blocked from submitting applications that require United States citizenship through OrangeLink. Recruiters may assume that international students are not eligible to work part time while studying in the U.S.

But in reality, the CPT allows international students with an F-1 visa to gain experience related to their college major through employment such as paid or unpaid internships. OPT allows students to stay in the U.S. to work for up to 12 months.

Cynthia Gonzalez, a student academic events and course scheduler for SU’s Office of the Registrar, said the platform is better than OrangeLink in terms of user-friendliness.

“I like that the job posts have reviews from students that have worked those jobs because it gives you a better idea of what to expect,” Gonzalez said.

This is a notable advantage over OrangeLink.

But Handshake should better optimize its ability for double major students to register events simultaneously in both schools. Currently, student with more than one major have to manually change their “home school” in Handshake to register for a given home school’s exclusive events, which is inconvenient.

Regardless, Handshake is a useful tool that has the ability to help many students find their dream internship. The process of applying jobs is much easier than before but incremental improvements should follow their successful launch.

Eldon Tsoi is a sophomore information management technology and accounting major. His column appears biweekly. He can be reached at eltsoi@syr.edu.

Published on October 14, 2018 at 7:40 pm