FFighterRob
12-08-2005, 02:04 PM
First impressions are very important. When the first impression starts and how long it lasts is up to debate, but one thing is clear, a poor first impression is almost impossible to come back from.
I have heard candidates talk about the color of their suits, the color of their resumes, If you should remember everyone’s name, should you say it while you shake hands, and the king of them all, where does the chair go.
One thing that I don’t hear mentioned all that much is the handshake. It is very subtle, but can have a huge impact on a first impression. The tradition of shaking hands goes back to medieval times and was done with the right hand to show that both people were unarmed. While we do it in greeting now it is a very important and traditional part of our society. The captains of a football team shake before the game and the coaches afterward. Some groups have a special hand shake that is part of their group identity. In business there is lots of handshaking, the fire service is no exception. You shake hands when the person comes out to get you for your interview, then you shake hands with the panelists. After your hired you will shake the hand of every person who works for the department. We went to a class at our training center the other day and there were five companies there, each member of my crew shook fifteen hands and the instructors.
There is an art to shaking hands that is similar to singing. Some just do it right, always have and they don’t know why. Some have the ability to learn to give a good handshake. And some are like the William Hung of handshakers, they not only can’t, but they don’t know they can’t.
Always use your right hand, the only reason to use your left is if you don’t have a right or it’s in a sling. Square your body to the other persons, think of it as meeting head on. This body position conveys confidence, openness, and trustworthiness.
There are several components in a correct grip. First, make sure you connect with the proper part of the hand. The fleshy part of your hand between your thumb and forefinger should interlock with the same part of the interviewer’s hand. Your thumb and fingers should grip naturally around the hand of your interviewer (not my fingers).
Secondly, firmness of grip must be just right. Crushing grips are overbearing and obnoxious, while limp fish grips are not impressive and rather disappointing. Your grip should be just firm enough to apply comfortable pressure, communicating confidence and ability. Practice this with several people to dial in correct pressure.
If your hand is unusually small, you may have to apply more pressure or choose your grip more carefully. If large, take care not to accidentally hurt your interviewer.
Some candidates get so excited they get carried away during the handshake, pumping 5 or more times. Some are so distracted they forget to let go of the interviewers hand, forcing the interviewer to disengage uncomfortably. Others grab the hand and let go so quickly there is no time for gut-to-gut communication. Ideally, you want to grip and pump one to three times and then tactfully release. Tune into your interviewer and release as I release. An impression of good communication between us begins at this point.
The exception to the above is if your interviewer doesn’t release and continues to pump. Hang in there with your interviewer until you sense it’s time to let go. The bottom line here is to be sensitive to the desires of your interviewer.
Many people suffer from nervousness and sweaty palms when faced with an important interview. If you’re one of these folks, discretely dry your hand on your pants or skirt just prior to shaking hands. It would honestly be better to dry your hands on a bath towel before shaking than to force your interviewer to embrace your soggy mop.
I can’t emphasize this enough: Practice these techniques with several willing partners who can give you objective feedback on your handshake. A perfect handshake will serve you well throughout your career, whether you are a man or woman, no matter what your line of work. It is worth working for. Practice these tips until your perfect handshake is natural and automatic.
My experience in the fire service has been that most women will now shake hands in the same style. You may come across a lady from a different agency or the public that wants to do the “just fingers” style, as I say above, go with what the interviewer is doing and you’ll be fine.
Sometimes I will go to shake someone’s hand and for one reason or another our hands don’t meet up properly, making for a poor handshake. I will simply say, “that wasn’t a good one, lets do that again”. It adds a little humor to the situation and you then get to show the person a properly executed greeting.
Good Luck, Captain Rob
nrtc@sonic.net
www.myfireinterview.com
707-869-1330
I have heard candidates talk about the color of their suits, the color of their resumes, If you should remember everyone’s name, should you say it while you shake hands, and the king of them all, where does the chair go.
One thing that I don’t hear mentioned all that much is the handshake. It is very subtle, but can have a huge impact on a first impression. The tradition of shaking hands goes back to medieval times and was done with the right hand to show that both people were unarmed. While we do it in greeting now it is a very important and traditional part of our society. The captains of a football team shake before the game and the coaches afterward. Some groups have a special hand shake that is part of their group identity. In business there is lots of handshaking, the fire service is no exception. You shake hands when the person comes out to get you for your interview, then you shake hands with the panelists. After your hired you will shake the hand of every person who works for the department. We went to a class at our training center the other day and there were five companies there, each member of my crew shook fifteen hands and the instructors.
There is an art to shaking hands that is similar to singing. Some just do it right, always have and they don’t know why. Some have the ability to learn to give a good handshake. And some are like the William Hung of handshakers, they not only can’t, but they don’t know they can’t.
Always use your right hand, the only reason to use your left is if you don’t have a right or it’s in a sling. Square your body to the other persons, think of it as meeting head on. This body position conveys confidence, openness, and trustworthiness.
There are several components in a correct grip. First, make sure you connect with the proper part of the hand. The fleshy part of your hand between your thumb and forefinger should interlock with the same part of the interviewer’s hand. Your thumb and fingers should grip naturally around the hand of your interviewer (not my fingers).
Secondly, firmness of grip must be just right. Crushing grips are overbearing and obnoxious, while limp fish grips are not impressive and rather disappointing. Your grip should be just firm enough to apply comfortable pressure, communicating confidence and ability. Practice this with several people to dial in correct pressure.
If your hand is unusually small, you may have to apply more pressure or choose your grip more carefully. If large, take care not to accidentally hurt your interviewer.
Some candidates get so excited they get carried away during the handshake, pumping 5 or more times. Some are so distracted they forget to let go of the interviewers hand, forcing the interviewer to disengage uncomfortably. Others grab the hand and let go so quickly there is no time for gut-to-gut communication. Ideally, you want to grip and pump one to three times and then tactfully release. Tune into your interviewer and release as I release. An impression of good communication between us begins at this point.
The exception to the above is if your interviewer doesn’t release and continues to pump. Hang in there with your interviewer until you sense it’s time to let go. The bottom line here is to be sensitive to the desires of your interviewer.
Many people suffer from nervousness and sweaty palms when faced with an important interview. If you’re one of these folks, discretely dry your hand on your pants or skirt just prior to shaking hands. It would honestly be better to dry your hands on a bath towel before shaking than to force your interviewer to embrace your soggy mop.
I can’t emphasize this enough: Practice these techniques with several willing partners who can give you objective feedback on your handshake. A perfect handshake will serve you well throughout your career, whether you are a man or woman, no matter what your line of work. It is worth working for. Practice these tips until your perfect handshake is natural and automatic.
My experience in the fire service has been that most women will now shake hands in the same style. You may come across a lady from a different agency or the public that wants to do the “just fingers” style, as I say above, go with what the interviewer is doing and you’ll be fine.
Sometimes I will go to shake someone’s hand and for one reason or another our hands don’t meet up properly, making for a poor handshake. I will simply say, “that wasn’t a good one, lets do that again”. It adds a little humor to the situation and you then get to show the person a properly executed greeting.
Good Luck, Captain Rob
nrtc@sonic.net
www.myfireinterview.com
707-869-1330