Applying to Handshake AI ยท researched 15 Oct 2026
How to apply to Handshake AI
Sign up at joinhandshake.com/ai with a Handshake account, verify your phone, confirm US work authorization, add your expertise and a PDF resume and accept the agreements, then wait to be invited to a project; once selected, verify your ID, set up tax details and Stripe payouts, finish the project's onboarding and any assessment, and log paid hours that are paid out weekly.
, AITraining.jobs lists 170 open Handshake AI roles; their typical pay runs $55 to $150 an hour, with a median of $90.
Applying to Handshake AI, step by step
Researched October 2026Sign up at joinhandshake.com/ai with a Handshake account, verify your phone, confirm US work authorization, add your expertise and a PDF resume and accept the agreements, then wait to be invited to a project; once selected, verify your ID, set up tax details and Stripe payouts, finish the project's onboarding and any assessment, and log paid hours that are paid out weekly.
Who can join
- Be based in the US and at least 18 (or the age of majority where you live). There is no parental-consent option.
- A US Social Security Number or ITIN, plus a work authorization Handshake supports: US citizens, green-card holders, F-1 students on CPT or OPT approved by their DSO, and H-4 (with EAD), L-2, DACA, refugee, asylum and TPS holders. STEM OPT, J-1, H-1B, TN and H-4 without EAD are not supported, because fellows are contractors, not employees.
- Outside the US, participation is currently invite-only.
- Be a current student or graduate (bachelor's, master's or doctoral) or a professional. No AI experience is needed, but some projects require subject-matter experts.
- A government photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport or green card) and a phone or tablet with a camera for the Persona ID and selfie check.
- Work only from inside the US and its territories: working abroad needs written approval in advance, and VPNs, proxies and remote-desktop tools are not allowed.
- Some projects also require a background check (legal name, date of birth, SSN, address), run by Yardstik in the US or Checkr elsewhere; results usually take about 7 days.
Step by step
- 1
Sign up
Go to joinhandshake.com/ai and click Sign up now. Log in with an existing Handshake account or create one; you can connect your school or skip that step.
- 2
Verify your phone and work authorization
Enter the one-time code sent to your phone, then answer whether you are legally authorized to work in the US and whether you need CPT, OPT or H-1B sponsorship.
- 3
Add your expertise and resume
Describe your experience and background, upload your resume as a PDF (up to 50 MB), and accept the Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Contractor Agreement. After that there is nothing else to do while you wait for a match.
- 4
Wait to be matched
Handshake reviews applications on a rolling basis and matches fellows to projects by background and partner demand. An application does not guarantee a project, and not hearing back does not necessarily mean you were declined.
- 5
Answer a project invitation
A matching project arrives as an email asking if you want to express interest. It lists the work, estimated length, time commitment and pay; some projects ask for a slide deck, portfolio or work samples. Selected fellows get a confirmation email.
- 6
Verify your identity
Upload a government photo ID and take a selfie through Persona, using a phone or tablet camera. It is a one-time step required before your first project; in some cases you can do it right after applying.
- 7
Set up taxes and payouts
Enter tax details through Handshake's tax partner (a W-9 for US persons, a W-8BEN otherwise), then finish your payout method in Stripe. You can start this before you are invited to a project.
- 8
Onboard, train and pass any assessment
Complete the project's onboarding steps and training in your project workspace. Many projects include an assessment, and in most cases a failed one cannot be retaken.
- 9
Work and get paid weekly
Log time only while actively working on a task, within its time cap. Pay for each Monday-to-Sunday week is sent by Wednesday afternoon.
Project assessment (per project, after an invitation)
Handshake has no single entry test. After you are invited to a project, its onboarding often includes an assessment set for that project and partner lab. Failing it ends onboarding for that project only: your profile stays active for other projects. Projects can also add new assessments later to re-check quality.
Format
Varies by project: a knowledge quiz on the onboarding training, a practice task or sample submission reviewed by Handshake's team, or a written or skills-based test in your field. Format, length and passing criteria are set per project, and results can take time to process.
How to prepare
- Finish every training module and onboarding document before you start: Handshake says the onboarding materials are the best preparation, because assessments reflect the real project work.
- Set aside uninterrupted time and do not rush.
- Follow every instruction exactly; each project has its own standards.
- If the assessment will not load, errors on submission or locks you out, contact Support instead of restarting or resubmitting, which can affect your result.
- Write everything yourself: Handshake bans ChatGPT and other AI tools, including AI grammar tools, unless it authorizes them in writing, and you must keep drafts and notes for 90 days.
Why people get rejected
- Missing the project's minimum score or quality bar; retakes are usually considered only for a documented error or technical issue.
- A work authorization Handshake does not support (for example STEM OPT, J-1 or H-1B), or no SSN or ITIN yet.
- Suspected use of AI tools: the work is rejected unpaid and you can be removed from the project or the program.
- Credential discrepancies, task times far above benchmarks or working from outside the US: the reasons Handshake gave contractors whose accounts it closed, per Business Insider (March 2026).
- A background check that does not meet a project's requirements (Yardstik first sends a notice giving at least 7 days to dispute it).
- Not a rejection: no invitation often just means no current project matches your background.
Handshake publishes no timeline. It reviews applications on a rolling basis, and timelines for project invitations vary because each project is different; some projects add evaluations, training exercises or portfolio reviews before selection. Handshake says not hearing back right away does not necessarily mean you were declined.
Handshake sends pay for each Monday-to-Sunday week (Pacific time) to its payout partners by Wednesday afternoon, and it can take about 48 hours more to be ready to withdraw. If expected pay is missing by Friday noon Pacific, you can contact support or file a pay dispute form. Some projects use a different schedule, stated in their Project Terms. You are responsible for taxes on your own income.
Tips to get accepted
- Complete your profile fully and finish any required assessments: Handshake calls this the most important step to become eligible for project invitations.
- Keep submitting interest forms for matching opportunities in the Opportunities section of your dashboard to stay active in matching.
- Check a project's pay model before you take it: hourly projects pay only up to each task's time cap, and per-task projects pay only when a task reaches Ready to Deliver after review.
- Read the Project Terms before onboarding: onboarding is paid only if they say so, and optional meetings, Slack time and time lost to technical problems are not paid.
- Engage quickly once tasks open: availability changes fast, and fellows who stay inactive for long stretches while tasks are available may have project access reassigned.
- On F-1 CPT or OPT, do not accept an invitation or sign a project contract until your DSO or USCIS has approved it; Handshake provides a DSO offer letter only once you are invited to an eligible project.
- Only trust email from addresses ending in joinhandshake.com, and never share passwords or codes through a Google Form, WhatsApp or a text.
What isn't public
- Handshake publishes no acceptance rate and no typical wait from application to first project; it says only that projects launch on a rolling basis according to partner demand.
- Assessment formats, lengths and pass marks are set per project and are not published.
- Handshake's help center contradicts itself on visas: its program overview names J-1 and H-1B as examples of valid authorization, while its work-authorization article lists both as unsupported. This guide follows the work-authorization article.
- Whether onboarding, training and assessments are paid varies by project and is stated only in each project's terms, which you see after an invitation.
- Handshake does not publish how it detects AI use or time-log problems, or how often fellows are removed; the removal reasons reported in the press come from affected contractors.
- Handshake does not publish which countries outside the US are open by invitation, although some of its opportunity pages name roles in countries such as Canada, Mexico and Brazil.
Sources (19)
- Handshake AI Fellowship page (eligibility, payouts, fellows; read 2026-10-15)
- Handshake AI Help Center: Introduction to the Handshake AI program
- Handshake AI Help Center: Age requirement
- Handshake AI Help Center: Fellowship work authorization eligibility
- Handshake AI Help Center: Apply to the Handshake AI Fellowship
- Handshake AI Help Center: Next steps after applying
- Handshake AI Help Center: From application to first project
- Handshake AI Help Center: Identity verification
- Handshake AI Help Center: Background check process
- Handshake AI Help Center: Stripe setup
- Handshake AI Help Center: Assessments
- Handshake AI Help Center: Projects
- Handshake AI Help Center: Working from outside the United States
- Handshake AI Help Center: Pay models
- Handshake AI Help Center: Earning on Handshake AI
- Handshake AI Help Center: Payments processing
- Handshake AI Help Center: Original work and prohibition on usage of LLMs
- Handshake AI Help Center: Recognizing legitimate vs. fraudulent communications
- Business Insider (via AOL): Some contractors who worked on OpenAI projects say Handshake AI is withholding thousands of dollars in pay (March 4, 2026)
What Handshake AI's application form asks
An application form at Handshake AI has a median of 18 fields (10 on other platforms' forms); all of its 5 forms require a resume, all ask for a LinkedIn profile and all add questions of their own.
What an application to Handshake AI asks for
What does an application to Handshake AI ask for, and what must be filled in?
| Item | Its forms asking | Its forms requiring it |
|---|---|---|
| LinkedIn profileSmall sample | 80.0% | |
| Location or countrySmall sample | 100.0% | |
| Phone numberSmall sample | 100.0% | |
| Resume or CVSmall sample | 100.0% | |
| Cover letterSmall sample | 0.0% | |
| Portfolio or websiteSmall sample | 0.0% | |
| Current employerSmall sample | 0.0% | |
| Other file uploadsSmall sample | 0.0% | |
| GitHub profileSmall sample | 0.0% |
The questions Handshake AI adds to its form
What does Handshake AI ask applicants beyond a resume?
| Question theme | Its forms asking | Other platforms' forms asking |
|---|---|---|
| Work authorization or visa sponsorshipSmall sample | 4.5% | |
| Availability, hours or start dateSmall sample | 3.0% | |
| Age or being over 18Small sample | 0.3% | |
| Prior AI training or annotation workSmall sample | 2.3% | |
| Degree or field of studySmall sample | 11.4% | |
| Experience or years in a fieldSmall sample | 10.3% | |
| Languages spoken or fluencySmall sample | 25.1% | |
| Expected pay or rateSmall sample | 10.3% | |
| How you heard about the roleSmall sample | 0.1% |
What Handshake AI's roles ask for
Of the 170 roles Handshake AI lists with a full description, 29.4% mention a PhD or master's degree, 7.1% a professional credential and 5.3% an assessment or test (other platforms with descriptions: 25.3%, 10.7% and 15.2%).
Do the roles Handshake AI lists ask for degrees, credentials, experience, set hours or tests?
| The description | Its roles | Share of its roles read | Other platforms with descriptions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mentions a PhD or doctorate | 46 | 16.9% | |
| Mentions a PhD or master's degree | 50 | 25.3% | |
| Mentions a degree | 69 | 37.6% | |
| Mentions a professional credential | 12 | 10.7% | |
| States years of experience | 97 | 24.1% | |
| States weekly hours | 57 | 22.8% | |
| Mentions an assessment, test or trial task | 9 | 15.2% | |
| Mentions an interview of any kind | 4 | 9.9% | |
| Mentions an AI-led or recorded interview | 0 | 4.8% | |
| Mentions a background or identity check | 0 | 1.0% | |
| Mentions contractor or freelance terms | 7 | 57.2% |
Where you can apply to Handshake AI from
None of its 170 open roles are open to applicants in any country (29.8% on other platforms); all are limited to listed countries, most often the United States (named by 83.5%).
Are the roles Handshake AI lists open to applicants anywhere, or limited to some countries?
| Location rule | Its open roles | Share of its roles | Share on other platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open worldwide | 0 | 29.8% | |
| Worldwide except listed countries | 0 | 9.7% | |
| Only listed countries | 170 | 60.0% | |
| No rule stated | 0 | 0.4% |
How long Handshake AI's roles stay open
From 20 Sep 2026 to 17 Oct 2026, Handshake AI posted 167 new listings and removed 1; its open roles went from 4 to 170 (+4150.0%).
How long had the roles Handshake AI removed been listed?
| Days listed | Removed roles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 7 daysSmall sample | 1 | |
| 7 to 13 daysSmall sample | 0 | |
| 14 to 29 daysSmall sample | 0 | |
| 30 to 59 daysSmall sample | 0 | |
| 60 days or moreSmall sample | 0 |
Handshake AI roles to apply to now
All 170 open rolesBangla AI Evaluation Specialist (opens the job details)
Multilingual ยท Remoteยท 2d agoDetails
up to $30/hrHindi AI Evaluation Specialist (Singaporean Dialect) (opens the job details)
Multilingual ยท Remoteยท 2d agoDetails
up to $30/hrChemistry Expert (UK) (opens the job details)
Domain Experts ยท Remoteยท 3d agoDetails
up to $65/hrFrench AI Evaluation Specialist (Canada) (opens the job details)
Multilingual ยท Remoteยท 3d agoDetails
up to $40/hrPortuguese AI Evaluation Specialist (Brazil) (opens the job details)
Multilingual ยท Remoteยท 3d agoDetails
up to $25/hrTamil AI Evaluation Specialist (Singaporean Dialect) (opens the job details)
Multilingual ยท Remoteยท 4d agoDetails
up to $30/hr
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Applying to Handshake AI: questions
How do I get accepted on Handshake AI?
Sign up at joinhandshake.com/ai, verify your phone, confirm your US work authorization, add your expertise and a PDF resume, and accept the agreements. Handshake then matches applicants to projects by background and demand; an invitation leads to ID verification, payout setup, project onboarding and often an assessment.
Can I join Handshake AI from outside the US?
Only by invitation. Handshake requires a US SSN or ITIN and a supported US work authorization, and says participation for international fellows is currently invite-only.
Does Handshake AI have a test?
Not one entry test. Many projects include an assessment during onboarding: a quiz on the training, a practice task, or a written or skills test. Retakes are usually not offered, but failing one project's assessment does not remove you from the fellowship.
How long does Handshake AI take to respond?
Handshake publishes no timeline. It reviews applications on a rolling basis and reaches out only if your background matches an active or upcoming project, and it says not hearing back right away does not necessarily mean you were declined.
How and when does Handshake AI pay?
Weekly, through Stripe: pay for each Monday-to-Sunday week is sent by Wednesday afternoon (Pacific time) and can take about 48 hours more to be ready to withdraw. You complete a W-8 or W-9 tax form and handle your own taxes.
Can I use ChatGPT on Handshake AI tasks?
No. Handshake prohibits LLMs and other AI tools, including AI grammar tools, for work product unless it authorizes them in writing. Suspected use suspends pay for that work; if Handshake concludes an LLM was used, the work is not paid and you can be removed from the program.
How long does it take to hear back from Handshake AI?
Handshake publishes no timeline. It reviews applications on a rolling basis, and timelines for project invitations vary because each project is different; some projects add evaluations, training exercises or portfolio reviews before selection. Handshake says not hearing back right away does not necessarily mean you were declined.
Does Handshake AI have an assessment?
Yes: Project assessment (per project, after an invitation). Handshake has no single entry test. After you are invited to a project, its onboarding often includes an assessment set for that project and partner lab. Failing it ends onboarding for that project only: your profile stays active for other projects. Projects can also add new assessments later to re-check quality.
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