← Handshake
Handshake role-play cheat sheet
For the mock cold call at the end of most SDR interviews.
What they sell, in one line
A career network and recruiting platform where employers find and hire students and recent graduates.
Who you'd be calling
University recruiters, talent acquisition managers, HR leaders at companies that hire early-career talent
Your opener
“Hi Taylor, this is Alex from Handshake. I know I'm calling out of the blue, so can I take 30 seconds to say why I called and see if it's relevant?”
Problems you solve for them
- Hard to find enough qualified entry-level candidates
- Recruiting from only a few top schools limits diversity
- Campus recruiting takes lots of time and manual work
Discovery questions to ask
- How many entry-level or intern roles are you hiring for this year?
- Where do you find early-career candidates today, and which sources work best?
- Are you trying to reach students beyond a few target schools?
Objections they'll throw at you
“I'm busy right now.”
→ Of course, I'll be quick. When's a better time this week for 10 minutes?
“Not interested.”
→ Understood. Just so I know, is early-career hiring something you're doing this year, or not on the radar?
“We already use job boards or another recruiting tool.”
→ That's common. Which one works best for you, and where do you feel it falls short for entry-level hiring?
“Just send me an email.”
→ Sure. So I send the right info, are you hiring interns, new grads, or both?
Competitors worth knowing
LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Indeed, Symplicity, Parker Dewey
Interview tips for this company
- Be ready to talk about why early-career hiring is hard, and the Handshake idea of reaching students regardless of school.
- Employers are your buyers, not students. Don't mix them up in your role play.
Written from public information about Handshake to help you practice. Ask an insider what their role play looked like; it's the best prep there is.