Design at Handshake

At Handshake we create opportunities for all students and recent graduates to have equal access to meaningful jobs and internships, and we believe design plays a crucial role in the pursuit of this mission. Under the umbrella of our Chief Design Officer, we are a unified team of product designers, content designers, user experience researchers, brand designers, and design ops folks, all working collaboratively to help students, employers, and career centers.

We take a student-first approach to how we design and build products, and we strive to deeply understand our users and their true goals. We believe that great products and experiences are made great by the combination of how they work and how they look. One without the other is not enough, and while we're not perfect, we strive to excel in both and are committed to going the extra mile.

Great products are built by teams — and teams are built by people who communicate and collaborate well. A culture of openness, honesty, and the ability to provide and receive constructive feedback is important to us.

We also believe that great teams are inclusive. Being surrounded by a diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives brings out the best in everyone, and leads to higher quality products and experiences.

Your impact

Handshake is hiring a Staff Product Designer. You will be a leader in the R&D organization. This role will require you to span from strategy to surface, bringing a talent for systems thinking, simple data-driven design, and seamless user experiences to support Handshake’s product. You will help our team shift to a strategic focus on building out a the best experience for our employers, so that they recruit and land the perfect candidates. You will also help execute on the vision of our new self-service product, and think through our pricing, packaging and tiering strategies. You will be able to lead on some of the biggest initiatives for the Handshake, to continue to push the needle on hiring talent.

Your role

• Work from concept to delivery to inform product strategy and shape how Employers can create authentic connections with students

• Lead with user empathy for employers, universities, and students

• Partner with product, research, content, data science, and engineering to ensure projects are well-defined, high impact, and successfully executed

• Develop and improve a shared product design language across all surfaces reflective of our brand

• Up level the entire team through commitment to growth and mentorship

• Drive up-leveling the product to be the top way college students get jobs

• Establish design processes so we can scale efficiently and effectively

Your experience

• Minimum of 7+ years of experience in product design

• Experience designing web and native mobile products

• Demonstrated experience leading design

• Comprehension of human centered / user centered design methodology and techniques

• Experience working with engineers and product managers to drive strategy, vision, and execution

• A collaborative, no ego, approach to working with others

• A portfolio of impeccably executed product design

Compensation range

• $185,000-$205,000

What we offer

At Handshake, we'll give you the tools to feel healthy, happy and secure.

Benefits below apply to employees in full-time positions.

• 💰 Equity and ownership in a fast-growing company.

• 🍼 16 Weeks of paid parental leave for birth giving parents & 10 weeks of paid parental leave for non-birth giving parents.

• 💝 Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision policies including LGTBQ+ Coverage. We also provide resources for Mental Health Assistance, Employee Assistance Programs and counseling support.

• 💻 Handshake offers $500/£360 home office stipend for you to spend during your first 3 months to create a productive and comfortable workspace at home.

• 📚 Generous learning & development opportunities and an annual $2,000/£1,500/€1,850 stipend for you to grow your skills and career.

• 💰 Financial coaching through Origin to help you through your financial journey.

• 🛜 Monthly internet stipend and a brand new MacBook to allow you to do your best work.

• 🚃 Monthly commuter stipend for you to expense your travel to the office (for office-based employees).

• 🥗 Free lunch provided twice a week across all offices.

• 🤝 Referral bonus to reward you when you bring great talent to Handshake.

(US-specific benefits, in addition to the first section)

• 🏦 401k Match: Handshake offers a dollar-for-dollar match on 1% of deferred salary, up to a maximum of $1,200 per year.

• 🏝 All full-time US-based Handshakers are eligible for our flexible time off policy to get out and see the world. In addition, we offer 8 standardized holidays, and 2 additional days of flexible holiday time off. Lastly, we have a Winter #ShakeBreak, a one-week period of Collective Time Off.

• 🍼 Lactation support: Handshake partners with Milk Stork to provide a comprehensive 100% employer-sponsored lactation support to traveling parents and guardians.