Handshake: Careers, Salary, Culture & Funding

Sure. Handshake is a San Francisco-based company that focuses on Career network for students. They were founded in 2014 and have been building their team in the Education / Training space ever since. The company is led by Garrett Lord. Right now the company has around 500 people on staff.

At its core, Handshake is working on Career network for students. Think of it this way — the Education / Training industry has real challenges that traditional approaches haven’t fully solved, and Handshake is trying to tackle those gaps. They’ve been able to attract serious funding, which suggests investors believe the approach has potential. Founded in 2014, the company has over 12 years of experience in the industry and a well-established track record.

Garrett Lord serves as CEO. Based on the company’s progress and funding track record, the leadership appears to have relevant industry experience. The team is based primarily in San Francisco, CA, and at around 500 employees, it’s large enough to have solid structure but still small enough that you can make your voice heard.

Handshake has raised $200 million to date, with the most recent round being a Series F. Their investor list includes Lightspeed, GV. That’s a solid group of backers, and the funding level tells you that outside parties have done their due diligence and believe in what the company is building.

It matters more than people think. A company with $200M in the bank isn’t scrambling to make payroll — it has runway to invest in its team, tools, and growth. For you as a potential employee, that usually means competitive compensation, better resources, and less risk of sudden layoffs. It also means they’re probably hiring, which gives you more leverage in negotiations. That said, funding alone doesn’t guarantee a great workplace, so always do your own research.

With a team of about 500 people, Handshake is at the stage where they need a mix of both. You’d expect to see roles in engineering, product, and R&D given their focus on Career network for students, but companies this size also hire for operations, marketing, sales, and general business functions. Check their careers page for current openings — the mix changes as priorities shift.

At 500 employees, you’re going to feel the startup energy — things move fast, roles can overlap, and you’ll likely wear multiple hats. The upside is that you’ll have real visibility and impact. Being in San Francisco puts them in a strong talent market, which usually means the team around you will be sharp. One thing to keep in mind: early-stage companies can be exciting, but the pace isn’t for everyone. I’d recommend reaching out to current employees on LinkedIn to get a candid take before applying.