August 22, 2006 5:06 PM

Firm grip and look 'em in the eye
Posted by Douglas Eisenhartat 5:06 PM

First impressions always count for a lot in an interview. And a very important part of that impression, along with your timeliness, wardrobe, grooming, and overall demeanor, is your handshake.

"Really?" you say. "How important can it be?"

Well, in a recent poll of employers conducted by NACE, the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the handshake beat out body piercing and tattoos as a key factor in the hiring decision:

Thirty-three percent of employers said a candidate's handshake would have a strong influence on their opinion of a job candidate compared with 31 percent who say the same about a body piercing. Twenty-nine percent of respondents said obvious tattoos would have a strong influence on their opinion of a job candidate.

Presumably that's a positive impression for the flesh-pumping, a negative for the metal and ink, though I suppose it depends on the corporate context (eg, Wall Street vs. Silicon Valley).

Call it Anthropology 101, but I've always been a firm believer in the handshake as a crucial part of an introduction, personal or professional.

Career coaches will tell you the same: you've got to get right back to the "web" (between the thumb and forefinger) of the interviewer's hand, not squeeze out on the fingers; hold firmly but not too tight; hold just long enough (let the interviewer release first); and look them straight in the eye with a friendly expression. Without a strong handshake - the limp-wristed dead fish, the early release, the avoidance of eye contact - doubts are raised about the candidate's trustworthiness, reliability, all kinds of things.

Remember, the handshake is also your last official act of the face-to-face interview as well, so not only is it part of your first impression, it's a big part of your lasting impression, too.

Still skeptical? See what some other experts have to say:
>> Avoid these 10 interview bloopers (QuintCareers)
>> Interview do's and don'ts (Career Services at Virginia Tech)

. . .and it's international:
>> During the interview (University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia)