Handshake reviews

3.1

41% would recommend to a friend

(289 total reviews)

Garrett Lord

41% approve of CEO

35% positive business outlook

Handshake has an employee rating of 3.1 out of 5 stars, based on 289 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Handshake employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Education industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

289 reviews
1.0
Nov 20, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

A handful of good folks still work here, but the number has been dwindling quickly over the last two years.

Cons

-Impulsive, emotional, verbally abusive CEO with no experience leading a company through downturns. Out of his depth. -The rest of the c-suite is weak and capitulate to every whim by the CEO. No accountability. -We have been dropping quality talent like flies over the last two years. The wrong folks have been laid off, and the good ones who remained have been leaving a steady clip. -Churn is awful; a revolving door of exceptionally poor Success VPs -No company needs Handshake. It's an ok-to-have. -Demands by Universities prevent any real, impactful changes that would make the product better. A huge hurdle to innovation -We introduced a feed, and it landed like a lead balloon. So much time, energy and hope wasted -I'd categorize the vibe as despair -Handshake will never IPO

1.0
May 23, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Incredible Talent: Handshake undoubtedly attracts some of the best professionals in the industry. Working alongside such talented individuals provided ample opportunities for growth and learning. Good Perks: The company does offer a range of enticing perks and benefits, which contribute to a positive work-life balance and overall employee satisfaction.

Cons

Egotistical Bottle-Necked Leadership: One of the major drawbacks at Handshake is the presence of egotistical, micro-managing leaders. These individuals tend to impose themselves unnecessarily in various projects, hindering progress and undermining the authority of project leaders. C-level Out of Touch: It's disheartening to witness a disconnect between the C-level executives and the rest of the company. The lack of understanding and involvement from higher-ups often leads to misguided decisions and inefficiencies. Toxic Micromanagement: The pervasive culture of micromanagement makes it difficult for employees to thrive. There is a constant feeling of walking on eggshells, as if any misstep could lead to repercussions. This stifles creativity and inhibits the ability to do one's best work.

1.0
Feb 17, 2023

The many recent reviews here paint an accurate picture

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-remote (some roles now being pushed back to offices) -decent benefits (weak 1% 401K) -started out as a worthwhile mission (now way offtrack) -many kind passionate coworkers who really care and work hard (many laid off)

Cons

Handshake could be great but unfortunately is flailing due to immature, inexperienced, ego-driven, fear-based leadership from the top down. - When the CEO speaks, execs leap and scramble to appease. How can reactive leadership and a lack of trust, appreciation or respect for employees create a positive healthy culture or grow revenue? Oh yeah, it can't. -There is no clear direction or strategy communicated by execs. -Employees are not valued or developed, good people managers are scarce. -Leadership shows favoritism to employees who have been around a few years while newer employees don’t have the same (or any) opportunity for growth or promotion. - Hiring people from certain logos is a CEO directive. People from big tech names are seen as prestigious and shown preference. This is misaligned with 1. the company’s mission to democratize opportunity and 2. their empty claims to value DEI. - Handshake leadership insists “transparency,” is a core value, but recently employees were gaslit when laid off but told it was a “performance exit”. Interesting that prior to someone’s performance being so bad they lose their job, goals were never communicated, manager feedback never provided, and reviews never had. Firing employees over a performance problem that everyone knows didn't exist is a discpicable way to operate. -The CEO’s widespread distrust negatively impacts the culture, most notably in severe micro-management that I’ve never seen before and never want to see again.

Viewing 16 - 18 of 289 Reviews

Glassdoor has 459 Handshake reviews submitted anonymously by Handshake employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Handshake is right for you.