Intro
Gisma University of Applied Sciences is a private university in Germany that combines practice-oriented and international education. Students from over 80 countries learn in a multicultural environment and build a global network. With only three members, the careers services team is driven by ambitious goals to give students the best start in their careers. To improve careers services and strengthen the connection between students, alumni and employers, Gisma decided to implement Handshake in April 2024. This decision led to impressive results in a very short time, both in student engagement and in the expansion of the employer network at regional, national and international levels with leading companies.
Challenges
Before partnering with Handshake, Gisma faced several key challenges. Student engagement with career opportunities was low, largely due to the lack of personalisation and limited communication channels. The institution also had a relatively narrow network of companies, resulting in fewer interactions between employers and students, and fewer job opportunities for students. Furthermore, alumni engagement within the career network wasn’t utilised, limiting valuable opportunities for mentorship and job placements.
Goals
With the introduction of Handshake, Gisma pursued several key objectives:
- Improving the student experience: Gisma wanted to provide students with a platform that could provide personalised job recommendations and engage them directly in the application process.
- Expanding the employer network: The goal was to expand the existing network to provide students with more job opportunities across a wider range of industries and organisations.
- Enhancing communication between employers and students: As the existing employer network could not be utilised effectively, Gisma aimed to leverage Handshake to facilitate more direct interactions between students and employers, including features like direct messaging and 1-1 meetings.
- Optimising alumni engagement: The aim was to better integrate alumni into the career network to serve as mentors for current students and connections to potential employers.
Solution
In April 2024, Gisma initiated the implementation of Handshake, with close collaboration between their team and Handshake.
- Rollout support: The implementation team from Handshake prepared Gisma for a smooth platform launch. They supported the growth of the employer network, seamlessly transitioning existing partner companies while adding new partners to the Gisma network. Comprehensive training sessions were conducted for students, career services staff, and employers, and the Handshake team actively participated in local career events to boost student engagement. During the implementation phase, there was ongoing collaboration with Gisma’s careers team to ensure that all platform features were fully utilised. Weekly follow-up meetings and intensive training sessions in Berlin helped the careers team unlock the platform’s full potential.
- An intuitive mobile app for students: Handshake now enables Gisma to provide students with a user-friendly platform that delivers tailored job recommendations based on their profiles. These recommendations, combined with the ability to exchange messages with employers directly via the platform and through the mobile app, led to a significant increase in engagement.
- Expanding the employer network: Thanks to Handshake's active support, Gisma was able to significantly expand its network. Handshake's team not only helped with the onboarding of existing partner companies, but also identified new potential partner companies for Gisma and facilitated direct communication between students and employers, which was well received from day one.
- Alumni integration: Handshake supports Gisma in integrating alumni more effectively into the career network. The platform enables alumni to act as mentors and connect with current students and other alumni, creating new career opportunities and employer partners.
This close collaboration led to a smooth implementation and laid the foundation for later success.
“Our partnership with Handshake has been highly rewarding. At Gisma University of Applied Sciences, we take pride in the success we've achieved together. Handshake has enabled us to create a dynamic ecosystem where students and employers can connect and grow. As a career leader, I find Handshake to be an invaluable, data-driven tool that fosters both high performance and engagement.”
Eloïse Capet, Head of Career Services, Gisma University of Applied Sciences
Gisma and Handshake team members
KPIs
Within the first three months of implementing Handshake, Gisma achieved impressive results:
Increased job opportunities
- More job offers: Within just three months, the number of job postings increased by 158% compared to the entire previous year.
Improved student engagement
- Boost in student activations: 58% of enrolled students are now actively using the platform on a weekly basis, compared to 16% active monthly users previously.
- Strong mobile app usage: 48% of students downloaded the mobile app and activated their profiles within the first three months.
Higher application volume
- Increase in applications: The number of job applications increased more than fivefold in the first three months, highlighting the relevance of the job listings and user-friendly application processes.
Conclusion
The collaboration between Gisma and Handshake shows just how much a small, three-person career services team can accomplish in a short time with the right career service solution. In just months, Gisma has seen a significant rise in student applications, increased employer-student interactions, and a rapid expansion of its employer network.
These impressive results highlight how a dedicated team, combined with the right technology, can deliver a meaningful impact. Gisma is now well-positioned to continue providing strong support to its students. With plans to further expand its employer network, increase alumni engagement, and offer personalised career paths, Handshake will play a central role in further promoting career opportunities and international exchange.