Tag: first impression

Get a Grip

Your handshake is one of the few elements of the job interview that you have complete control over (in addition to dress and grooming)!  If you are involved in a live interview, there is one thing that’s almost certain; you will be shaking hands with someone! Your handshake is a crucial part of your first impression, so take it seriously.

Your handshake says a lot about who you are without you ever speaking a word, and it can be a powerful lead-in to your interview.  Interviewers will often instinctively form an initial impression of you based, in part, on your handshake.  Whether or not this is fair is really irrelevant; you want to make the best first impression possible.

Whether or not you realize it, you have shaken hands hundreds, or thousands of times throughout your life!  You have done this with both old and young; friends and strangers, without giving it much thought.  Now is the time to think about it!

Try to remember handshakes with others that were particularly memorable.  Put them into two categories (good or bad).  Next, using the attributes in the “good” category establish your new and improved handshake!

Some things to consider are

  • forcefulness – your grip should be firm but not “bone-crushing”; about the same force you would use in turning a doorknob
  • pumping or pulling – don’t work someone’s arm as if you were pumping water; and don’t grab and pull them toward you 
  • palm up/down/vertical – don’t ever extend your hand with the palm down.  This is a signal of dominance or control.  Conversely, a “palm up” position signifies openness and compliance but could also signal that you could be taken advantage of.  A vertical palm (as in the photo above) tells the interviewer that you are confident and willing to meet them halfway.
  • duration – short or lingering – a typical handshake in America is about 2-3 seconds in duration.  It is often longer in other countries, so adhere to local customs
  • release – try to be observant of the interviewer’s grip and release your grip based on their lead

What if you have super-sweaty palms?  You may have a condition called palmer hyperhidrosis.  Don’t let this discourage you – there are things you can do to combat this!  Check out information provided by the International Hyperhidrosis Society.

There are many other subtle considerations pertaining to the handshake, but this will get you started and on your way to a winning handshake at your next interview!

photo: pixabay

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You had me at hello

Who could forget that memorable scene in the movie, Jerry Maguire, where Renée Zellweger utters these iconic words; “You had me at hello”?  There is probably not a more critical time during the job interview than your initial greeting.  Often, first impressions will make or break an interview, and you want to have every advantage you can muster going in.  

When preparing for your next interview, your initial contact with the interviewer is of utmost importance.  As the old saying goes, “you don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression”.  We’ve all met people that, for various reasons, we were either put off by, or immediately drawn to.  Think back to the ones that you immediately felt a positive connection to and try to remember what gave you that feeling.  This is the essence of what you want to project going into your next interview. 

Some things to focus on are:

  • your outfit and grooming – Are you well dressed in a conservative outfit?  Are your shoes shined?  Freshly showered?  Nails and hair trimmed (nose too)? Little or no fragrance? 
  • your handshake – Is it firm but not bone-crushing?  
  • your smile – You may be nervous, but don’t let it show; smile like you are meeting a long lost friend.
  • your sense of confidence – This is hard to quantify, but do everything you can to show that you are sure of yourself and your capabilities, without being arrogant or abrasive.

You must be aware of all these attributes as you are entering the room for your interview.  The way in which you come across to the interviewer when you first meet will have a huge impact on how you will be perceived both during, and especially, after the interview.  

So………..start practicing now to make a great first impression at your next interview, and you will be well thought of when the hiring decision is made! 

 

 

photo: Movie Pilot

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