Weak handshakes

What's up with those? I met a new intern with a handshake like a dead fish and she YANKED her hand away from me. It's not like I have a bonecrushing handshake, either.

Re: Weak handshakes

It's a peeve.

Re: Weak handshakes

I HATEEEEEEEEEEE that!!! My parents always taught me to have a firm handshake and I'm surprised at people that don't....it just sends the wrong message!

Re: Weak handshakes

Maybe she thinks you have the cooties

I'd rather take her dead fish handshake than my coworker's compactor hand.

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Weak handshakes mean the person doesn't know how. I was actually taught by a recruiter the proper way and it works.

People take handshakes for granted.

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Re: Weak handshakes

Posted by Diva

Maybe she thinks you have the cooties

I'd rather take her dead fish handshake than my coworker's compactor hand.

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i hate weak handshakes

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yeah I hate that too- when its like the shake your hand with your finger tips, whats that all about?

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weak handshakes feel sooooo gross! they skeeve me out about a person

ets: if i must say so myself, i give awesome handshakes!

Message edited 8/28/2006 3:46:38 PM.

Re: Weak handshakes

Posted by johnsae

Posted by Diva

Maybe she thinks you have the cooties

I'd rather take her dead fish handshake than my coworker's compactor hand.

compactor hand - PIMP!!

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They make me feel better about myself that I am confident and intelligent enough to know how to give a good handshake.....

And don't you love when you meet someone and put your hand out, they look at you like you're crazy, usually women...

Re: Weak handshakes

Posted by johnsae

Posted by Diva

Maybe she thinks you have the cooties

I'd rather take her dead fish handshake than my coworker's compactor hand.

compactor hand - PIMP!!

Re: Weak handshakes

Its a peeve and I get turned off quickly!!

I feel that its a sign of the person and how they feel about you and I dont care if you are a woman, give a good handshake and stop with this dainty BS handshake!


On the other hand, dont rip my hand off either

Message edited 8/28/2006 4:06:10 PM.

Re: Weak handshakes

Here's some info on handshakes

Eye contact. Once your hands have met, you should make eye contact and maintain it throughout the handshake. If you're particularly coordinated, or gifted with great peripheral vision, make eye contact prior to the handshake, and maintain it for the duration.

Grip. Grip with your whole hand, not just the fingertips or just the thumb. Make it firm, but not crushing. A good help for learning this would be asking a friend to help you practise your handshake grip. In most situations, you should only use one hand. Using both could convey hostility, or intent to overpower, or romantic intentions.

Position. Your body should be approximately two cubits (distance from fingertips to elbow) away from the other party. Your shaking arm should be bent so that the elbow forms a 135º angle, and the forearm is level with the floor. Your hand should neither be on top, nor underneath the other person's hand. Both parties' hands should be straight up-and-down, even with each other. The web of your hand (skin running between the forefinger and the thumb) should meet the web of theirs.

Shake. Should be smooth, not limp or over-enthusiastic. Shake from the elbow, not the wrist or the shoulder.

Flow. Before the handshake, establish eye contact. Break eye contact, if needed, to extend your hand to meet theirs. When the web of your hand meets the web of theirs, re-establish eye contact and engage your grip. Shake two or three times, for a duration of 1-3 seconds, breaking off cleanly and smoothly before the introduction is over.
Some other tips for when you're anticipating a handshake:


If carrying a drink and food, carry the drink in your weak hand to avoid a clammy hand when shaking. If caught with the food in your shaking hand, set the food down if it is convenient. If unable to do so, "smile and nod", and apologize for having full hands.

If your hands tend to be naturally cold, keep your shaking hand in your pocket to warm it up for awhile before entering the handshake situation.

If your hands are damp, try casually wiping them off in your pocket or on the back or side of your jacket or pants, shortly before the handshake.

If your hands tend to be particularly sweaty, and you're expected to be doing a lot of shaking at an event, try putting some unscented antiperspirant on your hands prior to the event.

If someone else has a poor handshake, do not correct them. Some exceptions may be if you are mentoring the other person, or the other person is a close friend who will take the advice as being for their own good, rather than as a rude chastisement.

Re: Weak handshakes

its even worse when GUYS have weak handshakes!

Re: Weak handshakes

Oh, I know. Thats gotta be one of the worst things to experience.

Men and/or women.........sometimes you just wanna say: grow a ball or two will ya!

Re: Weak handshakes

Posted by baghag

Compactor hand? Do I even want to know what that is?

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I had someone almost refuse to shake my hand on an interview I went to put my hand out and she looked at me like "what the hell are you doing"...but I shook her hand anyway..I have heard this person doesn't like shaking hands.

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I HAAAAAATE this..I just had a realtor over last week, got this limp handshake, and right then and there decided not to hire her.....

Message edited 8/28/2006 4:02:22 PM.

Re: Weak handshakes

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I was once in sales...

Firm handshakes and look them directly in the eyes!

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I HATE weak handshakes. Its like they cant be bothered to shake your hand.

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would it be worse to have someone that squeezes your hand really hard so that it hurts when they shake your hand?

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Hate them! My old boss had the weakest handshake. It was so pathetic.