As any serious job-hunter knows, it helps to dress smartly and smile at that all-important interview.

But research has revealed that a firm handshake is what really matters when it comes to impressing potential employers.

Although previous studies have shown a limp, 'wet fish' handshake indicates shyness, and a firm 'pump' confidence, there has been little evidence about the effect this has on an interviewer.

The US research looked at 98 undergraduates taking part in mock interviews with businesses.

As each was graded on their overall performance, five 'handshake raters' also marked them on their grip, strength, duration, vigour and eye contact.

Professor Greg Stewart, from the University of Iowa, who led the study, said those who scored highly with the handshake raters were also considered to be the most hireable by the interviewers. Students with 'wimpy' shakes were judged to be more timid and less impressive.

The study, published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, also found women with a firm handshake were likely to be evaluated more favourably than their male counterparts.

Professor Stewart said: 'We've always heard that interviewers make up their mind about a person in the first two or three minutes of an interview.

'But we found that the first impression begins with a handshake that sets the tone for the rest of the interview.

'We don't consciously remember a person's handshake but it is one of the first non-verbal clues we get about the person's overall personality, and that impression is what we remember.'

Women were less likely to have a highly rated handshake, partly because traditionally they shake hands less than men. But when women did possess a firm handshake, they were likely to be evaluated more favorably than their male counterparts.

Body language experts warn, however, that the firmness needs to be just right, as an over zealous 'bone crusher' handshake can indicate egotism, a controlling personality and a lack of trustworthiness.

The handshake is thought to have originated in medieval Europe as a way for kings and knights to show that they did not intend to harm each other and possessed no concealed weapons.
任何认真找工作的人都知道，在很重要的面试中，穿着整齐和微笑有助于面试成功。

然而研究揭示，要给潜在的雇主一个好印象，有力的握手才是关键。

尽管先前的研究显示，一个软弱无力的“湿鱼”握手暗示着胆怯，而一个有力的“劲握”则象征着满满的自信心，不过还没有多少证据显示出握手对面试考官的影响。

美国开展的这项研究调查了98位参加模拟企业面试的大学生。

研究人员不仅对每个大学生的整体表现打分，还有五个“握手评分者”对他们的握法、力量、持续时间、活力和眼神交流进行打分。

该研究的领头人、爱荷华大学的格雷格•斯图瓦特教授说，握手评分较高的人被面试考官认为是最可录用的。考官认为那些握手软弱无力的学生更胆小，留下的印象更淡薄。

这一发表在《应用心理学杂志》上的研究还发现，握手有力的女性会得到比她们的男性对手更高的评价。

斯图瓦特教授说：“我们一直听说，考官会在面试的头两三分钟做出决定。”

“但是我们发现印象以握手开始，并为面试的余下部分定下基调。”

“我们不会有意识地记住一个人握手的样子，但是握手是我们了解一个人总体性格最早的非言语线索之一，而这一印象是我们所记住的。”

女性握手得分高的可能性较低，部分原因是习惯上她们握手比男性少。不过当女性握手有力时，她们一般会得到比男性对手更高的评价。

但是，身体语言导师警告说，握手的力度需要恰如其分，过分热情的“碎骨式”握手可能意味着自负、控制欲和缺乏可信赖性。

握手据称源自中世纪的欧洲，国王和骑士用握手来表明他们没有伤害对方的意图，也没有私藏武器。

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