Sending the Right Message
The Art of the Handshake
It’s finally the new year! Goodbye 2009, hello 2010! With the economy showing improvements and hiring beginning to pick back up, it’s time to freshen up on your interviewing basics. Included in those basics is an important nonverbal action – the handshake. Your handshake sets the tone for how the interview will go. It can signify that you either have social skills, or that you don’t. It’s part of that first impression that people form about you within a few minutes of meeting you. And remember, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. So, what would someone think about your handshake?
Do you have a limp, dead fish handshake or is it more like a bone-crushing grip? Both of these handshakes can be just as damaging for your interview as showing up late or looking sloppy. A handshake is unique to you and nobody else is going to have the same one. As simple as it is, there is a science to shaking hands. So, to ensure you have a top-notch, winning handshake, follow these rules.
- Make sure your hands are warm and dry. No one wants to shake a cold, clammy hand. Make sure your hands are warm and dry before you go into your interview. Keep a tissue in each pocket may be a helpful solution.
- Exude friendliness. Shaking hands communicates to a potential employer that you’re friendly and personable. Extending your hand first shows that you take the initiative, and are a go-getter who has confidence. Also, make sure that your smile exudes this same friendliness.
- Have a firm, but not too firm handshake. A firm handshake, opposed to a loose handshake, communicates energy and excitement. But, don’t shake hands so hard that you leave the other person in pain – which would definitely make you memorable in their mind, but not for the right reason.
- Know the right way. It’s most common to shake with your right hand – not your left hand. Since this is what is considered the social norm, if you’re left handed, it’s best to lead with your right hand in an interview situation.
- Be palm to palm and thumb to thumb. When you extend your hand, keep your fingers together and your thumb facing upward. Slide your hand into the other person’s until you’re palm to palm and your thumbs meet. Then close your fingers around the other person’s hand.
- Shake on it. When you’re shaking hands, a “shake” is considered one up-and- down movement. Do not exceed more than three “shakes.”
- Know when to let go. After three “shakes,” let go of the other person’s hand. Don’t keep holding on, because that can create feelings of awkwardness.
- Don’t over think it. Above all, be yourself and act natural when shaking hands. Remember to relax.
Shaking hands might seem trivial, but it’s an important part of any interview process. Always shake hands in any business setting – don’t avoid shaking hands because you’re afraid to touch the other person. A good, solid handshake is a sign of respect and acknowledgement. Also, when it comes to shaking hands, keep in mind that these rules apply for western cultures. So, what are some examples of how different cultures greet each other?
- In some European cultures, people greet each other with a kiss on both cheeks.
- In several Asian cultures, individuals bow slightly instead of shaking hands.
- Some South American cultures meet with a hug.
- Some Middle Eastern cultures greet each other with a hand wave.
Depending on where you are applying for a job and who you are interviewing with, always make sure to do your homework on the most appropriate greeting for the situation. Start trying these tips out today to ensure your next job interview scores a high five!
Looking for more advice about your job search or your career? Check out Movin' On Up, the Express job blog, to find the tips and information you need to succeed.
Job Genius is a publication of Express Services, Inc. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.