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      Handshake

      Engaged Employer

      Handshake reviews

      3.1

      43% would recommend to a friend

      (290 total reviews)

      Garrett Lord

      44% approve of CEO

      37% positive business outlook

      Ratings by category

      3.2

      Diversity & inclusion

      3.2

      Compensation and benefits

      3.1

      Work/Life balance

      2.8

      Career opportunities

      2.6

      Culture & values

      2.3

      Senior management

      Handshake has an employee rating of 3.1 out of 5 stars, based on 290 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Handshake employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Education industry (3.7 stars).

      Ratings by demographic groups

      Reviews by job title

      290 reviews
      5.0
      Jan 25, 2024

      Optimistic for the future

      Staff software engineer
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      I've really enjoyed my time at Handshake and am proud of the business we've been able to build. I've been on several different teams throughout my time here. What these teams all have in common is that they are full of smart, kind, and hard working people. The team is top notch and I look forward to working with and learning from my teammates every day. I have been very pleased with the work life balance at Handshake. I've definitely had some long days/weeks and a couple weekends, but everyone I've worked with understands that my family comes first for me. As far as the business outlook, I'm optimistic. The business is continuing to grow, especially some new segments that we've started to invest more heavily in. I'm hopeful that we made it through a somewhat hard 2023 but are setup for success in the future. I've also really enjoyed the technical challenges at Handshake. I've grown tremendously in my time here and have been able to work on some projects with really large impact.

      Cons

      We went through a time where, especially on engineering, there was a lack of trust in leadership. Steps have been made, and are continuing to be made, to improve that. For some, I don't think that trust will be restored. It is very fast paced and can be high stress. I personally enjoy this environment, but it is not for everyone.

      avatar
      Handshake Response
      2y
      Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback. Like you, we think that our people are our best asset, and we know how important it is for employees to be able to prioritize their lives outside of work. We recognize that the company – and engineering in particular – underwent a lot of change in 2023. We’re looking forward to more stability in 2024 as we commit to the work directly related to our strategic priorities. Again, we appreciate you sharing your experience.
      5.0
      Nov 28, 2023

      Lots of opportunity, lots of (complex) work

      Anonymous employee
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      Completely dominating position in the market we're in, but still a ton of opportunity left. Really strong university partnerships and the beginnings of success in Europe as well. Really smart coworkers and they're starting to be better at identifying lower performers and making sure they move on.

      Cons

      It's a very complex business with 3 sides with very different expectations and very murky motivations. Partnering with F100 type companies is great, but also they're very corporate.

      5.0
      Nov 27, 2023

      Mission driven company with lot of talent

      Senior software engineering manager
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      Handshake operates with a strong sense of mission, and the entire team is genuinely dedicated to its pursuit. Within the engineering organization, the talent pool is notably high, featuring numerous subject matter experts who contribute to a dynamic learning environment for junior and mid-level engineers. The company culture fosters creativity, empowering individuals to propose and work on impactful product ideas, with high performance duly recognized. Our leadership team, largely comprising professionals from FAANG companies, adds a valuable dimension to the organization. Moreover, the company highly invests in and values Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), further enriching our collaborative and inclusive workplace. My experience at Handshake has been fulfilling, and each day presents an opportunity for meaningful contributions and professional growth.

      Cons

      The work environment is dynamic and fast-paced, often necessitating the ability to assume various roles such as engineer, product manager, designer, and user researcher. While this may be perceived as challenging by some, for others, it represents a valuable learning opportunity and a chance to accelerate career growth.

      avatar
      Handshake Response
      2y
      Thank you very much for this thoughtful review! We’re so proud of our mission to democratize access for early talent, and believe that we have the best team in place to be able to succeed in that effort. We also recognize that this is incredibly hard work, and that we ask our employees to be flexible and to occasionally wear multiple hats. We strive to keep these expectations reasonable (and we also think of them as being growth opportunities!), but we acknowledge that we may not always do so perfectly. We’re so glad you’re on the team, and hope that you’ll keep the feedback coming!
      Viewing 106 - 108 of 290 Reviews
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      Glassdoor has 462 Handshake reviews submitted anonymously by Handshake employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Handshake is right for you.