This discussion is ridiculous. THE IMPORTANCE OF A FIRM HANDSHAKE IN A JOB INTERVIEW. This is not something that is going to put you ahead of anyone else. The interviewers and Human Resources people of the company you are applying for have most likely been conducting interviews for a long time and all they want to know is whether or not you are the right person for the job. They are not going to pass judgment because of something as retarded as a limp handshake and maybe other overly specific aspects that hints on the applicant being insecure. You are supposed to grow in your role as an employee of their company and being insecure is not going to break the deal.

None of you have any idea what you're talking about and it sounds like you've had just as little experience with this as Psyburn.

Riighhht. Because I disagree with you on this specific subject, means I have no idea what I'm talking about. Besides the countless job interviews I've been to and the internships I've done in human resources, marketing and graphic design...right. I can't quote articles alll day, but I doubt you would read them nor is it that important but I'm not telling you how this should be, I'm telling you how things are. This is just how some employers (again you can argue majority or minority all you want.) do things.

"A huge study at the University of Iowa found that those people who start job interviews with a firm, strong handshake are always perceived in a more favorable light than those who shake hands like a limp fish.

Good handshakers are seen as being more extroverted and, eventually, more hirable. And women with strong handshakes have an advantage over men because their grips are more memorable."


A poor handshake isn't something that takes away from you, it is a missed opportunity for extra points in an interview. It's not that hard to understand. no one said you going to get hired for it, jesus you guys are like republicans pulling out shit people didn't even say.

"A huge study at the University of Iowa found that those people who start job interviews with a firm, strong handshake are always perceived in a more favorable light than those who shake hands like a limp fish.

Good handshakers are seen as being more extroverted and, eventually, more hirable. And women with strong handshakes have an advantage over men because their grips are more memorable."

I dunno xenophobe....  this seems to be a grey area to me

This discussion is ridiculous. THE IMPORTANCE OF A FIRM HANDSHAKE IN A JOB INTERVIEW. This is not something that is going to put you ahead of anyone else. The interviewers and Human Resources people of the company you are applying for have most likely been conducting interviews for a long time and all they want to know is whether or not you are the right person for the job. They are not going to pass judgement because of something as retarded as a limp handshake and maybe other overly specific aspects that hints on the applicant being insecure. You are supposed to grow in your role as an employee of their company and being insecure is not going to break the deal.

None of you have any idea what you're talking about and it sounds like you've had just as little experience with this as Psyburn.

Yes every single thing in existence about interviews tells you that a firm handshake and eye contact is important but somehow you're the one that's figured out it's not.  You must be the expert on it!  Of course they're going with who's qualified, but a lot of people are equally qualified for the same job!  Nobody's getting the job purely on handshakes but fuck IT HELPS OKAY?  If you think that working hard to make a good first impression isn't going to change anything, you've got to be pretty dumb about this!  Why not just go ahead and give the good handshake and give the eye contact and not worry about it?  At worst it doesn't help and at best YOU GET THE JOB FOR IT.  Having confidence going in DOES make a difference, even if it's not a complete requirement.  I don't see how you're arguing that.

edit: xenosoft beat me to some of this but w/e

People usually don't shake like limp fish anyway!

You'd be surprised.

Also man no I'm pretty sure most of the handshake discussion was just that it wasn't COMPLETELY USELESS like you said to begin with.  Nobody's saying it's the be all end all interview advice, stop making it come off like that.  We're just saying it's not a DUMB PIECE OF ADVICE.

You'd be surprised.

Also man no I'm pretty sure most of the handshake discussion was just that it wasn't COMPLETELY USELESS like you said to begin with.  Nobody's saying it's the be all end all interview advice, stop making it come off like that.  We're just saying it's not a DUMB PIECE OF ADVICE.

I was going to say the same thing and once I hit the preview it was like you read my mind.

i broke my bosses arm in the last interview i did.

if he could have, he would have given me a thumbs up. but he couldn't.

It's funny on a lot of levels, he thinks that having a strong first impression doesn't include a firm handshake which falls under communication.  I just find it funny to hear a comment like that after all the things I have heard and gone through in my life because it's not true. Body language is just how humans communicate, and that includes a handshake.

Having a poor hand shake will not end your career, but why would anyone pick someone who shows poor self-confidence for a position when you have a hand full candidates with equal or better resumes and  show they are confident about the job.

having a poor handshake to me...is like asking someone "hello, how are you" and they say "hi." it's not making me reach out for you at all.

Most communication and judgments about a person are not done by conversation, in fact conversation is usually used to confirm or correct the judgments you have already made about a through body language and behavior.

I've met enough people in my life to come to the conclusion that a handshake means next to nothing. Really some people just don't feel the need to grip and flex when they give a handshake, I'll do it if it seems like I should but honestly it's one of those things that only faggots(who read those middle-management books in the SELF HELP section of bookstores meant for dickheads in HR) really care about.

some of the most laid back and intelligent people I've met(PhD's, Lawyers, Musicians, and Authors) have the softest handshake ever.

maybe its cuz my biceps are so big they're afraid that if they tried to get in a grip war with me I'd break all their fingers.

*flexes each pec independently*

hard-grip firm handshakes are for stiff old white people anyway. You slap hands, slide and pound

thats how you do it. every time

sometimes after you pound, you pull your arm away and open your hand and make an explosion noise with your mouth to let them know you're really down

obama did it and he became president. why can't I?

REVERSE RACISM

heh just kidding guys

*shelves 'Who Moved My Cheese?' right next to my copy of 'Rich Dad Poor Dad' and 'Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results'*

*grips your hand way too hard and stares you directly in the eyes without blinking a moment longer than is comfortable*

*gets off of work and drinks a six pack and posts on the internet because everyone in the house is asleep*

how come I get warned for shit but dietcoke didn't get warned for htat

fucking gaming world

because he's actually funny?

because he's actually funny?

well I'm not trying to be funny half the time!