A useful list of questions that will help you determine if a full-time role is right for you.
We know that a job interview is an opportunity for an employer to learn more about you. But it’s also your chance to find out more about the job, the team, the company culture, and other things, so you can choose the job wisely.
So, once you know what kinds of interviews there are and how to answer common questions, make sure you have some good questions ready to bring with you. Your interviewer will ask if you have any questions, and theyll expect a few from enthusiastic candidates.
Plan to prepare 3-5 questions ahead of time, as some may be answered during your interview. You may also think of new ones during your conversation. Below are some examples to get you started.
Interviewing at Handshake? You’ll want to be prepared for the most commonly asked interview questions. Handshake is one of the fastest growing companies in the college recruiting and job search space. With their innovative platform, they’ve transformed how students connect with employers.
As Handshake continues expanding, competition for jobs is fierce. You’ll need to really showcase your skills during the interview to stand out.
I’ve put together the top 25 most common Handshake interview questions, with tips on how to ace each one:
1. Why do you want to work at Handshake?
This is your chance to demonstrate you’ve done your research on the company. Show your enthusiasm for their mission of empowering students and leveling the playing field. Discuss how your skills and experience align with their values and culture. Emphasize your passion for their innovative approach to college recruiting.
Pro Tip: Don’t just say you want the job for the salary or benefits. Show you’re truly excited by the company’s vision and offerings.
2. What can you bring to the table that would make you a great addition to the Handshake team?
The interviewer wants to know what unique skills, experiences and traits you possess that would add value to Handshake Really sell your strongest qualifications here If you have relevant experience, technical expertise or specialized skills, highlight those. Also focus on soft skills like communication, collaboration and problem-solving.
Pro Tip Use specific examples to back up your claims, rather than just listing qualifications. Demonstrate how you’ve used these skills to drive success
3. How do you stay up-to-date on the latest trends and innovations in the college recruiting/career services space?
Handshake prides itself on being at the leading edge of developments in its field. They want team members who are curious, proactive learners who immerse themselves in the industry. Discuss blogs, websites, publications, events or other resources you follow. Share examples of trends or technologies you’ve learned about recently. Demonstrate your hunger for knowledge.
Pro Tip: If you’re not yet familiar with the space, share how you research and learn quickly about new industries and apply that knowledge successfully.
4. How would you approach building and maintaining positive relationships with key stakeholders at Handshake?
Stakeholder relationships are critical for any company’s success. Show you appreciate the importance of understanding stakeholder needs and aligning Handshake’s strategies accordingly. Share your strategies for active listening, effective communication and managing potential conflicts.
Pro Tip: Use an example of a time you built successful stakeholder relationships to showcase your approach.
5. How do you handle ambiguity in a fast-paced startup environment?
Startups involve constant change and uncertainty. The interviewer wants to know you can thrive in this type of fluid situation. Discuss your ability to adapt quickly, make decisions independently and deliver results without extensive direction. Share examples of navigating ambiguity successfully.
Pro Tip: Emphasize that you enjoy the dynamism and find ambiguity exciting rather than stressful.
6. Tell me about a time you successfully led cross-functional teams through a challenging project. What strategies did you use?
Many projects at Handshake require close collaboration between departments like product, engineering, sales and marketing. Share a time you brought diverse teams together to drive success. Discuss tactics like setting clear goals, facilitating communication, and managing timelines that kept the project on track. Demonstrate leadership skills.
Pro Tip: Quantify the results you achieved to showcase the impact of your leadership approach.
7. How would you approach onboarding and training new hires at Handshake?
Employee onboarding is key for engagement, performance and retention. Share ideas for welcoming new hires like peer mentors, social events and onboarding checklists. Discuss training tactics like job shadowing, weekly training sessions and online resources. Show you understand best practices for ramping up new team members quickly.
Pro Tip: Draw on any onboarding experience you have, or demonstrate how you’d learn best practices if you lack direct experience.
8. Imagine you notice a process or system at Handshake that could be improved. How would you go about proposing those changes?
Handshake wants self-starters who take initiative to improve the company. walk through how you’d research the issue, develop solutions, gather buy-in from stakeholders, and plan a successful implementation. Emphasize collaboration and influence skills over just demanding change.
Pro Tip: Use an example of a time you drove process improvements successfully. Quantify the impact on efficiency, cost savings etc. if possible.
9. Tell me about a time you received difficult feedback from your manager. How did you respond?
Hiring managers want to see you can handle constructive criticism without defensiveness or negativity. Share an example of receiving tough feedback professionally. Discuss how you worked to improve based on the manager’s input to benefit your performance and career development.
Pro Tip: Focus on the positive outcome vs just venting about an unfair manager. Demonstrate maturity.
10. Describe a situation where you had to solve a complex technical challenge under a tight deadline.
Technical roles at Handshake often involve resolving issues under pressure. Walk through a situation where you used analytical and problem-solving skills to address a complex technical challenge quickly. Share your systematic approach.
Pro Tip: Don’t just focus on the outcome – discuss your troubleshooting process in detail.
11. Tell me about a time you had to manage numerous priorities and tasks simultaneously. What strategies did you use?
Juggling multiple priorities is key in Handshake’s fast-paced environment. Share how you stay organized, slice large projects into manageable tasks, and avoid getting overwhelmed by using tools like Kanban boards or daily to-do lists. Demonstrate productivity and time management skills.
Pro Tip: Share a specific example that showcases your approach, rather than just listing generic methods.
12. How would you explain a complex technical concept or process to someone unfamiliar with the subject matter?
Many roles at Handshake require simplifying complex topics into clear, simple language. Discuss strategies like using analogies, avoiding jargon, incorporating visuals, and checking for understanding. Share examples of successfully explaining technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
Pro Tip: Speak conversationally and avoid complex language when answering this question.
13. Tell me about a time you had to make an important business decision with incomplete or ambiguous information. What was the outcome?
Important decisions must often be made quickly with limited info at startups like Handshake. Share your thinking process, like gathering enough data to mitigate key risks or consulting experts. Discuss how you ultimately determined the right course of action. Demonstrate decisiveness and strategic thinking.
Pro Tip: Focus on your logical approach rather than defending the decision itself.
14. Imagine you notice a teammate struggling with their workload and missing deadlines. How would you approach this situation?
Handshake wants candidates who can strengthen team performance. Discuss how you’d have an empathetic conversation focused on finding solutions vs just criticism. Share ideas like clarifying priorities, brainstorming process improvements, connecting them with training resources or offering your help collaborating.
Pro Tip: Demonstrate your coaching and motivational skills. Position yourself as a supportive partner rather than telling on them.
15. Tell me about a time you successfully negotiated an agreement between groups with seemingly incompatible interests.
Negotiation and conflict resolution skills are key at Handshake, which often requires balancing different viewpoints like product, sales and customers. Share an example of helping opposing groups find common ground and compromise to further their shared goals. Discuss how you humanized the other perspective and brought alignment.
Pro Tip: Quantify the business results of achieving this agreement if possible.
16. If hired, what specific goals would you set for your first 30/60/90 days on the job?
Show you’re committed to hitting the ground running at Handshake by outlining your 30/60/90 day goals. Goals might include building relationships across teams, ramping up on key processes, achieving specific metrics, or completing important projects. The goals should build on each other over time, demonstrating thoughtfulness.
Pro Tip: Choose aspirational but realistic goals vs just doing the bare minimum expected.
17. What is your approach to developing new product features while maintaining existing systems?
Balancing innovation with sustaining current products is crucial, especially at tech companies like Handshake. Discuss factoring in metrics on adoption, tech debt, and customer feedback to guide strategic prioritization between developing new features versus improving or maintaining existing functionality.
Pro Tip: Use an example if you have direct product management experience driving this balance successfully.
18. How would you go about processesing a large backlog of support tickets in an efficient, timely manner?
Customer support at scale requires optimization. Discuss tools and practices like ticket tagging, automation, AI-assisted sorting and response templates that can expedite resolving a high volume of support tickets. Share any experience you have improving support operations.
Pro Tip: Emphasize the importance of still providing personalized, thoughtful responses to customers despite the volume.
19. If you were assigned a project requiring skills you don’t yet possess, how would you go about getting up to speed quickly?
Learn more about the role
These questions are good to ask the hiring manager.
- Could you describe a typical day for this person?
- What are some of the first tasks that person will do in this position?
- What do you think are the most important skills or traits for this job at this company?
- What do you think some of the hardest things this person will have to deal with are?
Learn about performance evaluation
These questions are good to ask the hiring manager.
- What do you want the person who gets this job to do in the first six months? The first year?
- How do you measure success in this role?
- What is the performance review process like?
- What metrics or goals are used to evaluate this role?
Job Interview Tips (Part 13): How To Do The Perfect Handshake
FAQ
How to do a handshake interview?
What is the best handshake for interview?
What does a firm handshake tell the interviewer?
Is it okay to handshake interviewer?
What is the interview process like at handshake?
After moving forward, there is an interview with the hiring manager as well as a mock call. The final interview is with the CLO. Handshake boasts its mission to democratize the early career job search, but the reality is that if you’re not in a target school, you’re not receiving target employers.
What is a good handshake for an interview?
Handshaking is a social ritual, one that fosters connection. A warm, proper handshake can break down barriers, creating a positive first impression. It’s a signal that you’re open, friendly and ready to engage in a professional exchange. 3. It reflects interview etiquette A correct handshake is a fundamental part of interview etiquette.
What is a final handshake in an interview?
In both one-on-one and panel interviews, this final handshake is your closing statement. It leaves a durable impression of your professional demeanor. This gesture bookends your conversation, encapsulating your earnest interest and respect for the opportunity.
How long did it take to get interviewed at handshake?
On Fishbowl, you can share insights and advice anonymously with Handshake employees and get real answers from people on the inside. I applied online. The process took 1+ week. I interviewed at Handshake in Mar 2023
