These 5 small steps will help you kick off your career hunt painlessly and effectively using Handshake.

Day 1: Upload your resume.

Did you know that you can upload your resume , and your Handshake profile will auto-pull tons of information? Save yourself the effort of writing information multiple times; upload your resume before adding anything else to your profile! Then you’ll only have to fill in any blanks. Want a review of your resume first? Sign in and schedule a virtual resume appointment here!

Day 2: Fill out your job preferences.

That means selecting desired locations where you’d like to work, preferred job roles, and your ideal job type: part-time, full-time, internship, or on-campus. Handshake will send you jobs that match your preferences.

Day 3: Complete your profile.

Your profile is the key to finding a job or internship on Handshake. When you fill out your profile:

• Handshake gives you personalized job recommendations based on the information you provide on your profile—so you can find jobs and internships that are right for you.
• You increase your chances of having a recruiter message you directly with job opportunities and event invitations. In fact, 80% of students who fill out their profile receive a message from a recruiter.

Day 4: Message three peers with professional experience you admire.

Use Handshake to build connections by messaging peers. Reach out to alumni from your school, people who have previously held internships you’re interested in, and more. If you click on the Students tab in the toolbar at the top of your account, you’ll be able to search for students and alumni based on attributes like previous employers they’ve worked with, student organizations they’ve been involved in, or major.

Day 5: Apply to five jobs that interest you.

This is self-explanatory. Now that you’re a Handshake super-user, make sure to apply for jobs and internships! There you have it: you’re a Handshake pro!