Handshake has launched a free AI Skills Studio that lets job seekers build hands-on AI experience through short projects, then showcase verified skills directly to employers searching its platform. The learning hub, which opened following Handshake's acquisition of AI-native platform Uplimit in June, partners with companies including Replit, OpenAI, Figma, Google, Salesforce, and Vercel to create practical missions that take 10 to 45 minutes to complete.

Why Should Job Seekers Care About This New Platform?

The timing matters. Research from Handshake found that 58 percent of graduating seniors say they need a stronger understanding of AI to succeed at work, yet fewer than 28 percent report that AI has been "meaningfully integrated" into their college programs. For students struggling to land tech internships or recent graduates entering a competitive job market, the AI Skills Studio offers a tangible way to build credibility without waiting for formal coursework.

Unlike traditional online learning platforms that rely on lectures and quizzes, Handshake's approach centers on doing rather than watching. Users complete real projects using the same tools that AI practitioners use daily. Once finished, each project gets added to the user's Handshake profile and featured in the company's AI Showcase, making it visible to the network of employers who use Handshake to recruit talent.

What Types of Projects Will Users Actually Build?

Handshake offers more than 40 missions to start, organized by career path or topic. The projects span practical AI applications across multiple domains. Users can select missions based on their interests or career goals, whether they're exploring AI in marketing, sales, data analysis, or design.

• AI Assistants: Building a daily briefing agent or an automated Chief of Staff agent that handles routine tasks
• Apps and Integration: Developing a working prototype with OpenAI's technology or building and deploying a custom Slack app
• Research and Analysis: Setting up a job search command center or working on data analysis projects powered by AI
• Design and Multimedia: Creating projects involving images, video, and design tools integrated with AI workflows

Each mission is co-designed with Handshake's partners using their actual tools and platforms. The goal isn't to drive adoption of any single technology, but rather to help users develop transferable AI skills regardless of industry or career path.

How to Get Started With AI Skills Studio

• Access the Platform: Visit Handshake's website or download the mobile app to browse available missions at no cost
• Choose a Mission: Filter by career interest (marketing, sales, data analysis) or by AI topic (assistants, research, apps, design) to find projects aligned with your goals
• Complete the Project: Work through the 10 to 45 minute mission with guidance from an AI-powered instructor that provides feedback as you build
• Earn and Display Your Badge: Receive a verified skill badge and have your completed project added to your Handshake profile, visible to employers searching the platform

The platform also appeals to employers. Recruiters know they need people who can work effectively with AI, but traditional resumes don't reveal what candidates can actually do. The AI Skills Studio creates a direct way for job seekers to build evidence of their capabilities.

"AI is changing work so quickly that we can't afford to wait until we have it all figured out. The best thing people can do is start learning and start building," said Julia Stiglitz, chief education and workforce officer at Handshake and former leader of Uplimit.

Julia Stiglitz, Chief Education and Workforce Officer at Handshake

Handshake enters a crowded learning marketplace where platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn, Salesforce, ServiceNow, and HubSpot already offer AI training. However, Handshake's differentiation lies in its project-first approach and its direct connection to employer hiring. Rather than studying theory through lectures, users get hands-on experience with real tools and immediately add that evidence to a profile visible to over one million employers.

"Employers know they need people who can work effectively with AI, but a resume can't tell you what someone is truly capable of. AI Skills Studio gives job seekers a way to build that evidence, and gives employers more to go on when deciding who to hire," noted Jon Stull, chief operating officer at Handshake.

Jon Stull, Chief Operating Officer at Handshake

The platform is available today on Handshake's website and mobile apps, with no subscription fee required. For job seekers navigating an AI-transformed job market, the studio represents a low-friction way to develop and prove practical AI skills before entering the workforce.