Your handshake was
Have you ever heard that a picture speaks a thousand words? Well, a handshake does the same thing. It’s very important to ensure YOURS sends the right message during an interview!
Tips
• Don’t offer a handshake if the other person is engrossed in conversation with someone else. Just wait for them to finish and then approach them.
• Do audibly greet the person first to get their attention and then offer your hand.
• Don’t approach someone from their side with your extended hand. It’s hard to see you!
• Do smile and maintain good eye contact while telling them it is nice to meet them.
• Handshakes involve timing. If you’re not sure if someone will notice your offer for a handshake, extend it anyway. Most of the time people will respond by quickly grasping your hand.
Avoid these
Limp and lifeless You want to shake the employer's hand in a firm manner. Having a limp handshake could imply to employers that you are not a strong person and lack confidence.
Clingy Count to two or three max when you shake the employer’s hand. If it’s longer than that you might appear desperate or just odd if you hold on too long.
Crushing You might be incredibly strong which is great, but now is NOT the time to prove it. Remember firm is perfect, but you also don’t hurt the other person’s hand. This could come across as dominating and overly aggressive.
Sweaty If you become overly nervous or maybe your hands just happen to sweat, that’s ok. Don’t let the employer notice your nerves and simply wipe them nonchalantly on your jacket or pants before extending your hand.
Do YOU have any tips for the best way to shake an employer's hand?
Yo why don't you let me take you to a movie and then we can act out a scene?? Fair?
Yeah I wouldn't have thought abut this but that is a good point.
Had a guy try to crush my hand earlier today, but Im strong as hell. Office Vs. Field
Thanks Ashley - Great Advice....your character speaks through your handshake.....
I 100% judge people from their handshakes, so I can see how employees would too! A trick I learned for a good handshake 99% of the time is to look at the elbow of the person shaking your hand, and you won't end up in that weird half grip where one of you has each other's fingers in a grip. You want the space between your pointer and thumb to meet!
Hope this helps, and thanks for sharing this with the community, Ashley!!
Great advice Ashley. A proper handshake is a very important part of the invaluable first impression. I was also taught, as a man, not to be first to offer a handshake to a woman.
Hello Ashley The best tip I ever got abt my handshake was from a former boss who described the perfect handshake should be between a limp fish and an anvil .not to soft that it shows no confidence and not to hard ,as you mention to crush someone. I get a lot of notice on my handshake when I remember to find a place in between the two extremes .
This is some great advice and will definitely take it into consideration. Thanks for sharing
Yup your handshake does tell whoever shakes it a lot about you. It sounds nuts, but it's legit.
The little things that make a huge difference! Many people need to develop a proper handshake!