Interview Tip: A Good Handshake Helps ... A Lot - Part 1
Going on job interviews can be a nerve-wracking experience. There's so much to do in advance and so much more to consider that it makes you wonder where Jim Phelps and his MI team are hiding. Okay, so it's not that bad, but it can seem overwhelming at times. So far, we've discussed what questions job seekers should have in mind when going on interviews. To sum it up succinctly, Kenneth McGhee, author of Teamwork - Moving Beyond Teambuilding Exercises, says, "Candidates should ask questions that communicate two messages to the potential employer. The two messages are 'I want the Job' and 'I prepared for the Interview and researched the Company.'"
The impression you make on an interviewer can make or break your chances of getting a new job. In a previous blog, I cited an article that referred to a study in which college students were judged by their handshakes and their interviewing skills. The students who received high marks from hiring managers on their interviewing skills also received high marks from "handshake raters" for the quality of their handshakes.
When I asked our experts what they thought, they all agreed - for the most part - that a good, firm handshake, coupled with direct eye contact, is important. Yet not one felt it was important enough to eliminate an otherwise stellar candidate from consideration.
If you're a recent college graduate looking for an entry-level job or a college student seeking an internship, take into consideration what our experts had to say:
"A firm handshake is very important because it conveys the interviewee's level of confidence," said Susan Peppercorn, founder of Career Outside the Cube (formerly Inspiring Career). "A handshake provides the chance to establish rapport, and sets the tone for conversation. In addition, it is very important that the candidate look the interviewer in the eye when shaking hands, and acknowledge the person's name by saying, 'It's very nice to meet you, Ms. Brown' or 'Good to see you again.' Candidates who may be nervous and have sweaty palms as a result should bring tissues or a small container of baby powder to dry their hands before the interview."
Lin Grensing-Pophal, HR expert and business journalist, wouldn't "reject a stellar candidate based on a handshake. From a big picture perspective, though, in my opinion - just as when considering any other "personal" characteristics of a candidate (e.g. sex, age, race, religion, sexual preference, etc.) I would discount any perceptions based on a handshake in favor of other, objective indications that a candidate had the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the critical job functions," she concluded.
Jobfox career expert, Barry Lawrence, agrees with Peppercorn that "a good handshake sets the tone for the rest of the interview." He went - quoting from an article that appears on his site BetterMondays.com - that a good handshake also "demonstrates your level of engagement and gratitude for being considered for the position. It's old fashioned courtesy, but it works."
Author and speaker, Sue Thompson of SetFreeLifeSeminars.com, believes it would be "ridiculously shallow" to reject a candidate because of a poor handshake. "Just like dining etiquette, many, many people are simply untaught in the essentials. They'd be so much more confident in presentation if they'd take time to find out what the rules are. All we have with which to judge others when we first meet them is our senses, and it's in the area of our senses where we decide if we want to go further and find out more. When people ignore the necessity of creating a positive, strong impression, they just make it a little bit harder for someone to decide they're worth a second look," she added.
"A strong handshake is extremely important. It's an essential part of making a good first impression. A weak handshake is definitely a liability in a work context. I've been told on plenty of occasions that I have a 'terrific handshake'-- and while on the surface that's a pretty silly thing to get a compliment on...it's a lot better than finding out someone didn't want to do business with you because you gave them a 'dead fish' handshake. It's just part of proper business etiquette," said Adam Kluger, president of Adam Kluger Public Relations.
Like Kluger, Tom Ruff, president of the Tom Ruff Company, advocates having a good handshake. ""A firm handshake is extremely important to me. To make a strong first impression, whether in business or your personal life, a firm handshake is indispensable," Ruff said. "Research has shown that the first 30 seconds make or break a connection between two people when they meet for the first time. I would not reject a candidate based solely on a weak or limp handshake but it would raise a red flag. A firm handshake exudes confidence and self-assurance and I look for these traits when evaluating candidates."
"One of the most important parts of the handshake is where you look. It is a sign of confidence when you look in someone's eyes while shaking their hand. No need to look at your hand. You know where it is," offered Lee Salz president of SalesDodo.com.
It's interesting how something as simple as the way you shake hands can influence someone's opinion of who you are as a person. In my next blog, I will continue with what our experts had to say about it. Maybe it is much ado about nothing, but as you can see, it still makes a difference.
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