6 Practical Steps to Building a Professional Handshake - TheJobNetwork

6 Practical Steps to Building a Professional Handshake - TheJobNetworkNever underestimate the importance of a good handshake. Fortune 500 CEOs have even admitted that, given two identically qualified candidates, theyre more likely to give the job to the one with the better handshake. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) How do you make yours work for you?1.Get your hands ready.Make sure your right hand is free in situations where youre likely to need to shake hands. This is a weird detail, but importantespecially if youve been holding a cold drink in your hand, which might make your handshake cold and clammy And yes, you should use your right hand. Thats the tradition, and it avoids lots of awkward fumbling. Also, it should go without saying, make sure your hands are clean.2. Aim for the web.You dont want to only grab the parts fingers, but you also dont want to try and swallow their wrist with your hand either. Aim to touch the web between y our thumb and forefinger to the web between their thumb and forefinger. Dont go too hard, but you should practice enough on yourself to get a sense of how it feels when you hit the right spot.3. Minimize the pressure.Yes, you do needpressure. Firm pressure. But not too firm. And dont pinch. Dont crush any bones. Butdefinitely dont err on the side of not squeezing enoughtheres nothing worse than a limp handshake.4. Make eye contact.Look your handshake partner straight in the eye, which inspires trust. Its a nice touch to repeat the name of the person youre being introduced to while youre shakingNice to meet you, Bob5.Project confidence.Whatever you do, dont panic. You want to be the cool and collected party here. Act confident and no one will know youre secretly aiming for their web. A good trick to show your poise is to offer your hand first.6. Know when to let go.People who linger too long in a handshake can be considered creepy or clingy. Get in there, grip with the ideal amount o f firmness, shake once, then let go and get on with the exchange. Once you get the balance right, youll be forever grateful that you did.