Should I Shake Hands At A Job Interview
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Why the Handshake Still Matters
- A Clear Decision Framework: When To Shake Hands
- Handshake Mechanics: How to Do It Well
- What To Do When There’s a Table Between You
- Handling Multiple Interviewers: Sequence and Flow
- Dealing With Awkward Moments
- Two Essential Lists: Technique & International Snapshot
- Cultural Intelligence for Mobile Professionals
- Health, Accessibility, and Inclusive Alternatives
- Virtual Interviews: The Non-Contact Equivalent
- Practical Scripts and Micro-phrases
- Preparing Practically: Clothing, Documents, and Practice
- Coaching and Customized Support
- Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Integrating the Handshake Into a Broader Interview Strategy
- When You’re Relocating or Aiming for International Roles
- Practical Preparation Plan You Can Use Before Any Interview
- Conclusion
- FAQ
Introduction
Walking into an in-person interview after months or years of virtual meetings can feel strangely unfamiliar. Deciding whether to reach out for a handshake is more than etiquette; it’s a micro-decision that signals confidence, cultural awareness, and situational judgment. For ambitious professionals who want their presence to support career advancement and international mobility, mastering this small ritual matters more than you might expect.
Short answer: Yes—offer a handshake as your default, but always read the room and adapt. When circumstances, cultural norms, health concerns, or visible cues indicate otherwise, use a respectful alternative (a smile, a nod, or a brief verbal greeting). Your decision should communicate professionalism while prioritizing the comfort and cues of the person you are meeting.
This post answers the question “should I shake hands at a job interview” with an evidence-backed decision framework, precise mechanics, international considerations for mobile professionals, and practical scripts you can use immediately. You’ll get a step-by-step handshake technique, a simple process for reading nonverbal cues, and the exact language to use when a handshake isn’t appropriate. Everything here ties to the Inspire Ambitions mission: helping professionals achieve clarity, confidence, and a clear direction by converting skills into reliable habits that work across borders. If you want personal guidance on applying these tactics to your next interview, you can book a free discovery call to create a tailored plan.
Why the Handshake Still Matters
First impressions and micro-signals
A handshake is one of the first physical interactions a candidate has with an interviewer. It’s a short exchange—often only a few seconds—but it compresses many signals: confidence, attentiveness, respect, and situational judgment. While a handshake alone won’t win a job, it contributes to the overall impression you leave, especially when initial face-to-face contact is brief.
Interviewers notice how a candidate navigates small social rituals because those moments reveal soft skills that matter for teamwork and client-facing roles. Professionals who move through these interactions calmly project competence; those who fumble or ignore basic cues can inadvertently raise questions about fit.
Social and cultural meanings
A handshake is also a culturally loaded act. In many countries, a firm but friendly handshake is standard; in others, different greetings are preferred or expected entirely. For global professionals and expatriates, a handshake is a variable behavior that signals cultural intelligence when executed appropriately. Demonstrating that you can adapt to local norms is a practical skill employers value when a role involves international collaboration or relocation.
Hygiene, health, and changing norms
Recent public-health events reshaped how people perceive physical contact. Even where handshakes return to common use, many individuals remain cautious. Recognizing and respecting those preferences is essential; choosing a hygienic, flexible approach indicates emotional intelligence and professionalism.
A Clear Decision Framework: When To Shake Hands
The default rule
Treat offering a handshake as the default gesture when arriving and departing an in-person interview. The default works because it is widely recognized, simple, and efficient. It signals your intent to greet and depart respectfully without requiring elaborate judgment calls.
However, the default is only the starting point. Use this decision process to adapt:
- Observe the environment and metadata (signs, posters, or visible hand sanitizer stations).
- Look for explicit or implicit cues from your host (do they extend their hand? Do they step back?).
- Consider context-specific factors (a plexiglass barrier, a table between you, cultural markers, or health precautions).
- If in doubt, offer a non-contact greeting with a brief verbal cue and let the interviewer respond.
This process lets you remain proactive while prioritizing the other person’s comfort.
Reading nonverbal cues
Nonverbal indicators are the fastest way to decide whether to extend your hand. Before you reach, look for these signals:
- Direct extension of the hand from the interviewer (clear invitation).
- A warm, open posture and smiling face (likely comfortable with a handshake).
- Physical distancing, closed body language, or mask/gloves (pause and adjust).
- Presence of a reception desk or large table between you (consider whether you can reasonably approach without intruding).
Use eye contact and a short greeting as your baseline strategy if cues are ambiguous. A brief, confident “Good morning, I’m [Name], nice to meet you” gives the interviewer a chance to extend their hand first.
When a handshake is inappropriate
There are clear situations where a handshake is not recommended:
- The interviewer is visibly ill, wearing gloves, or wearing a mask and keeping distance.
- Cultural context suggests alternative greetings (for example, in some East Asian or Middle Eastern contexts, a bow or hand-over-heart is acceptable).
- The meeting includes vulnerable individuals or strict institutional policies (e.g., some healthcare or high-security settings).
- You notice physical barriers like a glass partition or a very wide desk that makes a handshake awkward or intrusive.
When a handshake is inappropriate, pair a warm smile, direct eye contact, and a brief verbal greeting. If you want to explicitly use a non-contact option, say: “Nice to meet you—thank you for meeting with me today,” optionally with a small nod.
Handshake Mechanics: How to Do It Well
A handshake is a physical action, but it’s also a scripted social exchange. Use the following technical steps to make your handshake feel natural, confident, and appropriate.
- Stand when the interviewer stands or remain standing if already standing; maintain good posture and make eye contact.
- Move your right hand forward at a comfortable angle (thumbs up, palm vertical).
- Make contact at the web of your hand (where the thumb meets the index finger).
- Close your fingers around the interviewer’s hand with moderate firmness—neither limp nor bone-crushing.
- Shake from the elbow for one to two gentle pumps (about one second per pump).
- Release when the other person starts to release; end with a smile and a concise verbal greeting or thank-you.
These mechanics fit most professional settings. Practice them until they feel automatic so you can focus on rapport and content rather than awkwardness.
What To Do When There’s a Table Between You
A table can complicate the handshake dynamic, but there are straightforward, professional options depending on the situation.
If the table is small and unobtrusive, standing and extending your hand across is acceptable if the interviewer stands up first. When a table is wide or creates distance where reaching would be awkward, follow the interviewer’s lead: if they remain seated and do not extend a hand, remain seated and use a verbal greeting. If they stand and move to shake hands, stand as well and move around gently to meet them in the middle without leaning over the desk.
When in doubt, maintain composure: a poised verbal greeting with eye contact is always better than contorting to offer a handshake and creating discomfort.
Handling Multiple Interviewers: Sequence and Flow
Interviews with panels or multiple interviewers are increasingly common. The way you acknowledge each person says a lot about social intelligence and attention to detail.
Before entering, take a breath and scan the room. A courteous approach is to greet the primary interviewer first and then make brief eye contact with other panel members. When panel members stand to greet you, offer your hand to each person individually, beginning with the person who initiated the meeting or who appears to be the chair. Many workplaces expect a handshake with each person on arrival and again on departure if appropriate.
If the group is large (three or more), prioritize efficiency: offer a handshake to those who stand, and use a group verbal greeting—“Good morning, thank you for meeting with me”—to acknowledge everyone without overdoing the physical exchange.
Dealing With Awkward Moments
No matter how prepared you are, awkwardness can occur. Here are practical recovery options that preserve dignity and redirect the interaction.
If someone declines or pulls back from a handshake, smile, say “No problem,” and continue with your introduction. If you offer a handshake and they do not reciprocate, avoid stopping halfway in an obvious way; instead, bring your hand down smoothly and shift immediately to an engaging comment about the meeting agenda. If you misread cultural norms, acknowledge it briefly and smoothly—“Thank you, I’m still getting used to local customs”—and move on.
A confident recovery communicates emotional resilience as much as a perfect handshake does.
Two Essential Lists: Technique & International Snapshot
(Note: These are the only two lists in this post. Everything else is written in paragraphs to respect the prose-first mandate.)
- Step-by-step handshake technique you can practice:
- Stand when appropriate and make eye contact.
- Extend your right hand at a neutral angle.
- Connect at the web of the hand and close fingers around the other person’s hand.
- Apply moderate pressure—firm, but not aggressive.
- Shake with one to two gentle pumps from the elbow.
- Release when the other person releases; end with a concise greeting.
- Quick international snapshot for the global professional:
- United States / Canada: Firm handshake is common; a smile and short greeting are expected.
- United Kingdom: Slightly less firm than the U.S.; polite, professional contact is standard.
- Continental Europe: Varies by country; a firm handshake is often acceptable, but be observant.
- East Asia: Bowing is common in some contexts; handshakes may be lighter and less prolonged.
- Middle East: Respect local customs for gender-specific norms; when in doubt, follow the other person’s lead.
- South Asia / Africa: Practices vary widely—observe local cues and default to polite, respectful behavior.
These two compact references give you a practiced technique and a snapshot of how norms may differ when working internationally. As you prepare for interviews abroad, use them to calibrate your approach and reduce uncertainty.
Cultural Intelligence for Mobile Professionals
Why adapting matters for expatriates and global roles
Employers hiring candidates for international roles are looking for more than technical skills. They want people who can navigate local behaviors and build rapport with diverse colleagues and clients. A handshake is a visible sign of cultural adaptability. Getting it right demonstrates that you can pay attention to nuance, a skill that translates directly to better stakeholder relationships and smoother relocations.
Practical preparation for an international interview
Before an interview abroad or with a cross-cultural team, research local greeting norms as part of your standard preparation. Read country-specific workplace etiquette briefs, consult peers or mentors who have experience in the region, and consider cultural cues such as space preferences and eye contact norms. When you arrive, watch how locals greet each other in the office lobby or reception area—those live signals are invaluable.
If you are uncertain, state your intent politely: “I’m happy to greet you in whichever way you prefer.” This line signals respect and awareness while giving the other person permission to guide the interaction.
Health, Accessibility, and Inclusive Alternatives
Health-conscious options
People may decline handshakes due to illness, allergies, or lingering pandemic-related caution. To respect health boundaries, have a simple, friendly alternative ready. Phrases like “It’s great to meet you” or “Thank you for meeting with me” work well accompanied by eye contact and a small nod. You can also offer a gentle hand-on-heart gesture when culturally appropriate.
Respecting disabilities and adaptive needs
Not everyone can offer a handshake due to physical limitations. If someone uses a mobility aid or clearly cannot extend a hand, treat them without fanfare: greet them directly, make comfortable eye contact, and address them by name. Avoid drawing attention to the accommodation; the goal is a respectful, direct interaction.
Gender and religious considerations
Some interviewers may elect not to shake hands for religious or personal reasons. Always respect that boundary. If you are unsure how to respond in mixed-gender contexts where norms vary, follow the other person’s lead. When the interviewer offers a handshake, reciprocate. If they do not, a warm verbal greeting combined with eye contact and a small bow or nod is respectful.
Virtual Interviews: The Non-Contact Equivalent
While the physical handshake is irrelevant for purely virtual interviews, the principle behind it—making a confident, polite first impression—still applies. Use these tactics in virtual settings:
- Ensure your camera is at eye level to replicate face-to-face contact.
- Begin with a clear greeting: “Good morning, I’m [Name], delighted to meet you.”
- Offer a brief ice-breaker if appropriate (“I’m excited to learn more about the role and the team”).
- Use a confident, warm tone and maintain natural eye contact by looking at the camera.
- For video-to-office transitions (e.g., hybrid interviews), acknowledge the format: “Great to meet you in person finally” and proceed with a handshake per in-person protocol.
Treat remote greetings as a transferable skill: the same behaviors that make a handshake effective—confidence, clarity, and warmth—translate well to the virtual context.
Practical Scripts and Micro-phrases
Having short scripts ready reduces cognitive load so you can focus on content. Use these lines verbatim or adapt them.
When offering a handshake:
- “Good morning, I’m [Name]. It’s great to meet you.”
When someone doesn’t offer a handshake: - Smile and say, “Thank you for meeting with me.”
When a table separates you and the interviewer: - “Thanks for having me—looking forward to our conversation.” If they stand, offer a handshake then: “Nice to meet you, [Name].”
If you need to decline a handshake for health reasons: - “I’m taking care to avoid handshakes at the moment—thank you for understanding.”
If you want to acknowledge cultural differences: - “I appreciate your guidance on local greetings—thank you.”
Practicing these lines aloud will make your interactions feel natural and confident.
Preparing Practically: Clothing, Documents, and Practice
A confident handshake is supported by clear preparation. Dress appropriately for the company culture; avoid gloves or overly bulky accessories that interfere with physical contact unless necessary. Bring printed documents in a tidy folder to present without fumbling; carrying multiple loose items increases the chance of awkward moments during handshakes.
If you want professional templates for resumes or cover letters to bring to interviews, you can download free resume and cover letter templates to print clean copies. Practicing with a friend, coach, or mentor is invaluable. Role-play arrival and departure rituals until the handshake becomes a seamless extension of your professional demeanor.
For structured practice and frameworks that build not just handshake skills but wider interview confidence, consider enrolling in a course designed to translate mindset into reliable behavior—this helps you show up consistently in both local and international contexts. If you prefer guided learning modules, learn methods to build lasting career confidence in a structured course.
Coaching and Customized Support
You can train handshake skills alone, but for professionals who want rapid improvement and behavior change, coaching accelerates progress. One-on-one coaching helps you identify personal tendencies—whether you default to a limp handshake or overcompensate—and replace them with balanced, repeatable actions.
If you want tailored coaching that connects interview behaviors with your broader career roadmap and international mobility goals, book a free discovery call and we can design a practical plan. Coaching takes a holistic view: we’ll refine your handshake and greeting scripts, align your nonverbal presence with your career goals, and integrate these cues into a clear, habit-based routine that supports long-term confidence.
For learners who prefer self-paced study, there are course options that pair practical exercises with accountability. The structured learning path helps you practice micro-behaviors in controlled settings, then generalize them to real interviews. If you need predictable results and a method that ties behavior to measurable outcomes, build lasting career confidence through structured learning.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Many missteps around handshakes are avoidable with simple attention to detail. Here are recurring problems and practical corrections.
Mistake: Overly aggressive handshake.
Correction: Reduce pressure and focus on two short pumps. Ask a friend to rate the firmness.
Mistake: Offering a handshake and then awkwardly retracting when the other person doesn’t reciprocate.
Correction: Lower your hand gracefully and transition to a verbal greeting so the moment doesn’t linger.
Mistake: Reaching across a large desk without standing.
Correction: Stand and move to a neutral space or use a verbal greeting if moving would intrude.
Mistake: Ignoring cultural cues when interviewing abroad.
Correction: Research local norms and watch others in the lobby. When uncertain, ask politely or mirror the interviewer’s approach.
Avoiding these missteps keeps your focus on the substantive conversation you came to have.
Integrating the Handshake Into a Broader Interview Strategy
A handshake is one element in a sequence of behaviors that create a cohesive interview presence. Combine a confident greeting with strong opening answers, clear evidence of impact from your resume, and thoughtful questions about the role. When you create a structured routine—arrival, greeting, short small talk, transition to the interview content—you create a reliable mental rhythm that reduces anxiety and improves performance.
This is where the Inspire Ambitions hybrid approach adds value: we treat interview rituals (like handshakes) as habits embedded in a larger roadmap that aligns career growth with global living. Practicing these routines consistently turns small actions into sustained change.
When You’re Relocating or Aiming for International Roles
If you are preparing to move abroad or work across cultures, make cultural adaptation part of your relocation checklist. Alongside visa logistics and housing, include a short cultural briefing that covers workplace rituals, communication style, and greeting etiquette. Practice alternative greetings that might be more appropriate in your destination country, and prepare short clarifying phrases you can use if you misstep.
Being proactive about cultural adaptation is persuasive to employers. It signals you’ve thought through the transition and reduces perceived risk. That practical fluency is a competitive advantage for candidates pursuing roles that require mobility.
Practical Preparation Plan You Can Use Before Any Interview
Spend one week before your interview running a compact preparation plan that integrates the handshake into your overall readiness.
Start by clarifying the logistics: confirm the interview time, name(s) of people you will meet, and office location. Research the company culture and the country-specific norms if relevant. Practice your handshake technique and opening lines with a friend or mentor three times. Print two tidy copies of your resume (use templates if you need clean, polished formatting) and keep them in a slim folder. On the interview day, arrive ten to fifteen minutes early, check your posture in a restroom mirror, and take two slow breaths before entering the meeting space. This routine establishes a calm baseline and reduces the chance of fumbling.
If you’d like a guided version of this plan tailored to your timeline and career goals, book a free discovery call to map it into a personalized roadmap.
Conclusion
The handshake is a small action with outsized signaling power. By treating a handshake as your default, reading cues carefully, and adapting for cultural and health contexts, you communicate confidence, respect, and situational intelligence. For global professionals and expatriates, the ability to adjust greetings across contexts is an essential component of cultural competence and career mobility. Practice the precise mechanics, rehearse your short scripts, and integrate these behaviors into a repeatable routine that supports consistent performance across interviews.
If you want a focused, personal plan to turn these behaviors into lasting habits and align them with your broader career and international goals, book a free discovery call.
FAQ
Do I offer a handshake at the start and end of the interview?
Yes—offer a handshake at both arrival and departure as a default. If you notice cues that a handshake is unwelcome, substitute a warm verbal greeting and eye contact. The consistent practice of offering, then adapting, signals professionalism.
What do I do if the interviewer doesn’t offer a handshake first?
Offer your hand politely and briefly. If the interviewer does not reciprocate, withdraw gracefully and continue with a verbal greeting. Don’t make the moment a focal point; move into the content of the interview.
How should I approach handshakes in international interviews?
Research the local customs and observe in-person cues when you arrive. If you’re unsure, mirror the interviewer’s greeting or ask a short clarifying question. Demonstrating cultural awareness is as important as the greeting you choose.
Should I bring printed resumes or templates to hand to interviewers?
Yes—bringing one or two clean, well-printed copies of your resume is professional and helpful. If you need high-quality resume and cover letter formats to print, download free resume and cover letter templates to ensure a polished presentation.
Additional note: If you want structured practice that builds confidence across interviews, consider combining self-paced learning and one-on-one coaching. There are course-based options to help you practice micro-behaviors and a coaching pathway to create an integrated roadmap that supports both career progression and international mobility. If you’d like to discuss the best path for your goals, book a free discovery call.
