Handshake is an easy-to-use job and internship search platform with many opportunities for students from respected companies. The University Career Center verifies employer accounts and posted positions on Handshake, to ensure the legitimacy of the company, compliance with our recruiting policies , EEOC guidelines and the validity of their employment postings. 

Despite our research of companies and postings on Handshake, we can make no guarantees about the position descriptions listed or the individuals that post job vacancies.

Unfortunately, scammers hope to use the system to gain personal information from students. The good news is that this can be easily prevented by carefully reviewing each job posting and employer. You should investigate the legitimacy of a position and companybefore submitting your resume, applying, or providing your personal information. Listen to your instincts if something doesn't seem quite right. Ask the employer clarifying questions and be wary if the employer withholds important information or continues to be unclear.

Review all available information—such as an employer’s website, address, and contact information—and be aware of the following alerts to a possible scam:

• A company asks for your credit card or bank account numbers or copies of personal documents—but you receive nothing in writing.
• A company asks you to send payment by wire service or courier.
• A company offers you a large payment or reward in exchange for allowing the use of your bank account, often for depositing checks or transferring money.
• A company sends you an unexpectedly large check.

• A company has incomplete, inconsistent or unprofessional information such as a lack of information on the company’s website or vague and unclear position responsibilities.

By approving posted positions on our Handshake online recruiting platform, no endorsement of employing organizations is expressed or implied. Providing space for prospective employers on campus via career fairs, information tables, etc. does not imply an endorsement of the activities of any organization or company. 

The University Career Center web site also contains links to other job/internship sites not under the control of our center and we are not responsible for the contents of any linked site. We provide these additional job search links only as a convenience to our students.

Please seek assistance from our Employer Services staff in the University Career Center at handshake@jmu.edu if you have any questions about a job posting that seems concerning to you. 

In some ways, identifying open jobs and internships is fairly easy. The majority of people seeking jobs and internships rely on the obvious resources: websites posting opportunities, newspaper classifieds, and job boards on company websites.  However, you should ask yourself the question, “Why do so many people use these resources?” It’s because they’re convenient. For this reason, it’s important to understand that every time you use these same resources, so are thousands of others. That means you are competing against that many other applicants! This convenience leads to frustration when progress in the job or internship search is limited.  

Finding jobs and internships will take effort on your part – go online, check out any reputable article, blog, or instruction on searching for jobs/internships and it will confirm that an effective search is not convenient or easy; opportunities will not fall in your lap unless you create them.

The best search strategies are those that reduce your competition. The University Career Center offers programs and resources that help JMU students effectively conduct their job/ internship search.

• Handshake is James Madison University’s online career services management system that provides JMU students access to over 200,000 positions, and on-campus interviews for jobs and internships.
• GoinGlobal offers a wealth of information about working abroad, including job search databases, job fairs, cost of living, job prospects and industry trends, and even cultural advice.

• Find Positions by Major: Job/internship boards specific to your major or field.
• Find Positions by City: Find jobs and internships in a particular city. This page also includes suggestions for job hunting in the Harrisonburg area.
• General Search Engines: These comprehensive job and internship posting sites can be helpful with any search.
• Work or Study Abroad: Resources for those interested in jobs or internships overseas including GoinGlobal, which provides country-specific career and employment information, including worldwide internship and job postings, H1B VISA employer listings, corporate profiles, and more!
• Internships and Summer Jobs: Browse internships, summer jobs, and other short-term opportunities.
• Federal Jobs & Internships: With over 2.5 million civilian employees, the federal government is the largest employer in the United States! In order to succeed in this specialized job market, make sure that you know how to effectively conduct a federal search and get hired!
• Campus Opportunities: Part-time jobs and volunteering on campus and in the Harrisonburg area

• Graduate Students
• Students with Disabilities
• Veterans