Last updated: July 2026
These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of OpenHand ("OpenHand," "we," "us," or "our"), including our website, and any related services (collectively, the "Service"). By creating an account or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use OpenHand.
You must be at least 18 years old to create an account or use OpenHand. By using the Service, you represent that you meet this requirement.
OpenHand is a professional networking platform that connects job seekers with professionals who voluntarily make themselves available for advice, referrals, informational chats, resume reviews, and similar career support ("Handshakes"). OpenHand facilitates these introductions, but we are not a party to any conversation, meeting, referral, or outcome between users, and we do not guarantee that any user will respond to or accept a Handshake request.
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. You agree to provide accurate information when creating your profile and to keep it up to date. You may not create an account on behalf of someone else or impersonate any person or entity.
You agree not to use OpenHand to:
We provide tools to report and block other users who violate these Terms. We may investigate reported behavior and take action at our discretion, including warning, suspending, or terminating accounts.
Professionals on OpenHand choose voluntarily whether to make themselves available and whether to respond to any given request — a response is never guaranteed. Sharing of contact information (such as email or phone number) within a conversation is entirely at the discretion of the user sharing it and is separate from the Handshake connection itself. You are solely responsible for your interactions with other users, both on and off the platform, and we encourage using good judgment before sharing personal information or meeting anyone in person.
You retain ownership of the profile information, messages, and other content you submit to OpenHand ("User Content"). By submitting User Content, you grant us a limited license to store, display, and transmit it as necessary to operate the Service — for example, displaying your profile to other users or delivering your messages to their intended recipient. You are solely responsible for your User Content and represent that you have the right to share it.
You may stop using OpenHand and request deletion of your account at any time by contacting us. We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service, at our discretion, if we believe you have violated these Terms, engaged in abusive behavior, or created risk or legal exposure for OpenHand or other users.
OpenHand is provided "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied. We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free, or that any Handshake request will receive a response. We are not responsible for the conduct, statements, advice, or actions of any user, on or off the platform.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, OpenHand and its founders shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or data, arising from your use of, or inability to use, the Service, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.
We may update these Terms from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify users via email. Continued use of OpenHand after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to its conflict of law principles, and any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of OpenHand will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Illinois.
If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at info@joinopenhand.com.