While the current COVID-19 virus has us all paying much more attention to our germ-spreading protocols, one big question is looming for students actively interviewing for jobs, internships, and graduate schools:
"Can/should I decline a handshake from an interviewer?"
You may have heard before, perhaps from an older generation, that a handshake can make or break your chances at getting a job. While it’s true that it doesn't take a trained professional to pick up on cues like nervousness and confidence from this simple bit of body language, it’s also important to know that a handshake is NOT indicative of your professional skills, knowledge or personality. Shaking hands is a learned activity.
If you choose not to shake hands with an interviewer, will that automatically kill your chances at getting the job?
The answer is a resounding no, as long as you communicate.
Without communication, things can get awkward fast. Think about that anxious feeling when someone leaves you hanging for a high five. That is no way to start a job interview. Instead, when someone extends their hand, try one of these responses:
