We are excited about your interest in hiring Gauchos! We have hundreds of students at any given time looking for full-time, part-time, on-campus, and internship opportunities. UCSB has more than 200 majors, degrees, and credentials offered through five schools and a graduate division. Whether you are looking to hire a Ph.D. researcher, a mid-level manager, or an entry-level employee, our talented students possess the right skill set to meet your hiring objectives.
Browse our tips and resources below to learn more about recruiting at UCSB and our premium recruitment platform, Handshake. We look forward to connecting you to our beautiful campus and helping you find the talent you need for your organization’s growth and success!
Recruiting Made Easy
- Explore our cost-effective Marketing ‘Buffet’ where you can select the marketing options that work best for your organization
- Email Employer.Services@sa.ucsb.edu for assistance with your virtual recruiting plan
Start Recruiting Gaucho Talent
Begin Your Search Today

Handshake is UCSB’s online gateway to posting positions. Every student has access to Handshake and this is the first place they go when looking for opportunities.

Companies who are most successful in recruiting and promoting at UCSB are constantly working to build a consistent presence on campus.

An internship program can be a cost-effective method for identifying candidates for full-time hires and interns become goodwill ambassadors for your intern pipeline.
Make sure students’ understand your brand, your values, and why your company is a good match.

It is possible -and easy- to create and maintain a recruiting relationship with UCSB and our students through virtual means.
Recruit On-Campus
Companies that are most successful in recruiting at UCSB are constantly working to build a consistent presence on campus. Follow the strategies below to ensure you have a successful recruiting experience at UCSB.
Contact us with any questions. The Employer Services Team looks forward to connecting you to our beautiful campus and helping you find the talent you need for your company’s growth and success!
Career Fairs are one of the most effective ways to gain visibility and connect with students.
We look forward to connecting with you at our fair this winter!
- Winter 2023 Virtual Job + Internship Fair, Thursday, February 2, 2023, 9am - 12 noon
- Spring 2023 Job + Internship Fair, Thursday, April 20, 10am - 2pm
- End of the Year Job + Internship Fair, May 17, 1pm - 4pm
This upcoming 2022-23 year, Career Services will be offering the On-Campus Interview (OCI) Program as follows:
- Fall 2022 - Virtual Interviews Only
- Winter 2023 - Virtual & Room Only Interviews.
- Spring 2023 - Virtual, Room Only, Pre-selects to Alternates & Open sign-ups Interviews
For interview start/end dates for each quarter, please refer to the recruitment calendar.
Interview Schedule Types are available to employers
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Virtual Interviews - Employers are reserving a “virtual” space and will connect with students from Handshake through an external link to their company website. For more details, read Handshake articles about Hosting Virtual Interviews and Conducting Virtual Interviews.
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Room Only - This option is to reserve a room and build your own interview schedule independent of Handshake. This option will give you the most flexibility as you will not be using Handshake for signing up students for interviews. This is a great option if you are planning to meet students at an on-campus event and want to then invite those you prefer to an interview in the days following the event.
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Pre-selects to Alternates - If you are interested in managing your applicants and interview schedule in Handshake please use this option. Preselect to Alternate gives you the option to select students who meet your screening requirements and gives students the option to sign up for available interview slots via Handshake. Primary and alternate student choices are selected after the application period. Primaries are allowed to sign up before the alternates.
For more details, read Handshake articles about On-Campus Interviews Overview and Interview Schedule Types.
Information sessions are a very effective way to connect with UCSB students and you can easily host a virtual session using your conferencing platform.
- In-person information sessions will take place in UCSB’s University Center (UCen). Once you have requested your session in Handshake, we will forward your request to the UCen with whom you will make arrangements. There is a cost associated with hosting a session on campus depending on the room you select.
- Virtual information session requests have increased tremendously over the last 2 years and have proven to be an efficient method to share information with students using your company conferencing platform. Just request the session on Handshake and add your URL when requested.
Note: UCSB's protocol is to accept most information sessions to provide students with access to as many options as possible. However, that does not mean we endorse those sessions or those employers.
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How to request an information session
- To schedule an information session, login into your Handshake account and, on the home dashboard, select "Create an Event."
- Enter the Event Name
- Select "On-campus" or "Virtual Session" as the Format. If virtual, you will be asked to add a url to your conferencing platform
- Select the "University of California, Santa Barbara" as your host school and Information Session as the Type.
- Enter the Start and End Date.
- You can add an event branding image with a maximum size of 400x400 pixels, or Handshake will insert your company logo there.
- Please include information regarding what the information session will cover, the types of students who should attend (major, grade level, etc.), and positions recruiting for in the Description.
- Proceed to fill out the additional questions. Click “Save” to request the event.
- After requesting the event, add any attachments such as promotional material to the event overview page.
- Once we receive your request, Career Services staff will review it and approve it. If you are hosting an information session on campus, you will be referred to a staff member at the UCen to complete the arrangements
- Once your event is approved, you will receive an email confirmation.
Advertise Your Session
At Career Services, we will promote both in-person and virtual Information Sessions via Handshake. Some information sessions will be included in our weekly newsletter to students depending on space. We also need your help in advertising your session. Below are additional strategies that we highly recommend to make your session a success:
- A very effective way to promote your session is via a Targeted Handshake Email Blast where we help you target a specific student population with an invitation to your event. We also offer social media advertising (Spotlight Slide) and the option to table on campus in a high traffic walkway among other things. Check out our Marketing 'Buffet' below.
- You have the ability to message students who have RSVPd for your event via Handshake.
- If you have a Premium Handshake account, send an event campaign to students to promote your event.
- You can personally invite UCSB student organizations to your information session to increase attendance. Names and contact information for student organizations can be found on the Shoreline website powered by the Office of Student Life. NOTE: Some organizations have entered their contact information and you are able to send them an email. For those without a contact link, you can search for an organization's website using the name given, or other social media pages where you might be able to find contact information.
Career Services offers a ‘buffet’ of useful marketing options to get the word out about your organization and your opportunities on our campus. This process is completely individualized based on the needs/desires of your organization, and you have complete control. Options include:
Marketing 'Buffet'
- Targeted Handshake Email Blast
Career Services will send an organization-specific email to the target student group that best fits your hiring needs. Links to your website, program, or position may be included to streamline information sharing. - Spotlight Slide (social media promotion)
Create yourself or provide content for us to create a social media slide highlighting your recruiting activity. Slides will be posted to our Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts before your event(s). - Networking Mixers
Join a limited number of local employers (max 6) in an in-person, casual networking environment where you can meet and talk with students about your organization and the opportunities it offers. Each organization will set up cocktail tables for easy mingling and networking with students. Networking mixers will be held on-campus in our Multi-Purpose Room from 11:00am–1:00pm. These are invitation-only events.
Each activity costs $100, with increasing discounts applied for multiple activities:
- 2 activities 10% discount
- 3 activities 15% discount
- 4+ activities 20% discount
* NOTE: Career Fairs are not included in the marketing buffet options and are registered for separately.
For more information on this or any other marketing needs, please contact Employer.Services@sa.ucsb.edu.
Recruitment Resources
Tools for Recruiting Success
About UCSB
Helpful Information for About Our Campus
Contact Us
Building Hours
M–F 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Call for hours during university breaks
Closed during official university holidays
See Students page for service-specific hours
Phone and Email
(805) 893-4412
Students: careerhelp@sa.ucsb.edu
Recruiters: employer.services@sa.ucsb.edu
Events: careerevents@sa.ucsb.edu
Mailing Address
Career Services, Bldg. 599
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California 93106-7140
Location
Career Services is located in Building 599, the pink building next to Storke Tower
Directions and Parking
See Visit UCSB and Campus Maps; convenient parking in Lot 22 (permit required)
Meet the Team
Get to know Our Team of staff members at Career Services
Services for: