Do
- Maintain eye contact.
- Smile.
- Lean forward about 20 degrees.
- A good handshake comes from the elbow. The forearm remains firm.
- Five shakes maximum.
What’s happening with your hands?
- Hands should be anchored at the point between the thumb and forefinger.
- Keep the wrist firm.
- Fingers close together with a light but firm pressure exchanged between the two participants.
- Fingers do not go past the palm region of the hand.
Don’t
The Limp Fish
This is the classic bad handshake where fingers are barely touching between the two participants. Instead of connecting in the thumb grooves, the hands are limply connected. There is little to no pressure exchanged.
The Action Figure
The hand is totally rigid and doesn’t clasp so much as fit into the other’s person’s grip with straight fingers pointing down. Imagine you’re shaking hands with a plastic action figure. Awkward and uncomfortable.
The Standoff
It’s known as the handshake that doesn’t end when it should. Nobody wants to make the wrong move so no move is made. It just keeps going forever. Truly terrifying.
The Something to Prove
This is opposite of the limp fish. There is so much pressure it may be at the point of being painful. Participants are trying too hard. Ouch.
NTC’s Student Development Team including Student Life and Career Services can help you: prepare for job fairs and interviews, practice common interview questions, acquire networking skills, and more. Check out our online resources: studentlife.ntc.edu/soft-skills.