The Art of the Handshake

Did you know that your ability to deliver a successful handshake can make or break the first impression you have on potential employers and potential clients? It's true; the art of the handshake is just that, an art form. Unfortunately, far too many people are ill-equipped to deliver a proper handshake. Read on to learn more about the art of the handshake and what it means to your career as a pharmaceutical sales representative.

First of all, the ability to deliver a proper handshake is imperative when meeting potential clients and employers because you only get one chance to make a first impression. If you fail to offer a proper handshake, you can potentially end up losing out on a desired pharmaceuticals position or losing client sales. You see, your handshake says a lot about you; too firm indicates a desire to intimidate and overpower and too loose indicates passiveness or wimpiness. The list goes on and on. For this reason, it is a good idea to brush up on your handshake skills prior to your first pharmaceutical sales interview.

Take some time to assess your current handshake. Ask someone you trust, someone who will be honest with you, to provide you with an unbiased assessment of your current handshake technique. Ask them if it's too firm or too weak. Ask them their opinion on what you can do to improve your handshaking ability.

A few tips for handshake success are always to remember to extend your right hand with your palm perpendicular to the floor. Palm up says "gimme five" and palm down indicates pompousness. Remember, the person receiving your handshake is planning to shake your hand, not kiss it.

When you've determined the status of your current handshake, you need to practice, practice, practice. Your new handshake should become second nature in no time. Once you spend some time practicing your handshake you should also make it a point to prepare for your first meeting or your interview. Research the type of questions you should expect and spend some time in review of the company for which your recruiter or potential client works. If you follow a few simple steps, you’ll be ready to make the best first impression possible in record time.