How to shake hands with a female interviewer?

[MasterOfTheSelfie]

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I know this sounds like a strange question, but what is the etiquette for shaking a female interviewer’s hand? Should it be firm like any other handshake, or is it supposed to be modified to be more delicate? I’m having an MMI soon and I’m expecting ~50% of the stations to have female raters so any advice is appreciated.

 

[Catalystik]

I know this sounds like a strange question, but what is the etiquette for shaking a female interviewer’s hand? Should it be firm like any other handshake, or is it supposed to be modified to be more delicate? I’m having an MMI soon and I’m expecting ~50% of the stations to have female raters so any advice is appreciated.

Firm is fine. Don't do the bone-crusher that some men seem to feel is obligatory to establish dominance through pain.

 

[Lozzo]

Believe it or not, women are not so frail and delicate that they can’t handle a handshake

 

[kb1900]

Match their grip always.

Also in an MMI if you have an acting scenario with a patient, match their expression level (how loud their talking, how fast etc.) and be at eye level with them. This is essentially a form of showing empathy

 

[878956]

A firm grip will give you an acceptance quick!

 

[LizzyM]

Wait for the woman to extend her hand. Agree with @Catalystik that firm is fine and bone-crushing is not.

 

[CJhooper123]

Go for the fist bump

 

[tiramisucheese]

FWIW, I didn't really shake too many hands in both of my MMIs. You have stickers that you're busy trying to peel off and give to the interviewer.

 

[bioboy23]

Is this really a question lol

 

[Lost in Translation]

Believe it or not, women are not so frail and delicate that they can’t handle a handshake

Just the majority I’ve encountered that limp wrist it.

 

[SpoiledMilk]

Wait for the woman to extend her hand.

I've received different advice regarding the interview introduction.

Regardless of the sex of the interviewer, in the scenario where the applicant is seated in the waiting area sees the interviewer coming towards them, the applicant gets up (does not wait for interviewer to approach), takes steps toward the approaching interviewer, extends the hand first, warmly smiles, introduces themselves first, ends the process with a firm handshake, and seamlessly makes small talk with interviewer as both walk side-by-side to the location of the interview (office or conference room).

It's a big production, but the reasoning for is that interviewers want to see how the applicant will approach patients, be professional, and make them feel comfortable and at ease.

 

[Jdp00921]

Firm is fine. Don't do the bone-crusher that some men seem to feel is obligatory to establish dominance through pain.

This genuinely gave me a good laugh!!

 

[ADSigMel]

I've received different advice regarding the interview introduction.

Regardless of the sex of the interviewer, in the scenario where the applicant is seated in the waiting area sees the interviewer coming towards them, the applicant gets up (does not wait for interviewer to approach), takes steps toward the approaching interviewer, extends the hand first, warmly smiles, introduces themselves first, ends the process with a firm handshake, and seamlessly makes small talk with interviewer as both walk side-by-side to the location of the interview (office or conference room).

It's a big production, but the reasoning for is that interviewers want to see how the applicant will approach patients, be professional, and make them feel comfortable and at ease.

A male should always wait for a lady to extend her hand first. A younger lady should wait for an older lady to extend her hand first. To the best of my knowledge, the interview trail does not alter these standard rules of etiquette.

 

[SpoiledMilk]

A male should always wait for a lady to extend her hand first. A younger lady should wait for an older lady to extend her hand first. To the best of my knowledge, the interview trail does not alter these standard rules of etiquette.

Start at 9:51.

 

[bioboy23]

Yeah, it is. Professional manners is essentially every patient interaction you will have as a physician starting with your interview at medical school. learn them

I didn't know shaking a woman's hand was a difficult situation. It's a very basic "skill" if you can even call it that--more like common sense. Simple: you shake everyones hand when you enter a room with people you haven't met before. Who cares if they are male or female.

 

[pstrick]

Shake hands the same way you would with a male interviewer, but make unwavering eye contact and lick your lips before letting go.

 

[Piglet2020]

When you go for the handshake, make sure to wink at them repeatedly while making clicky noises with your mouth to establish dominance. A+ intro, kangaroo bro in your profile pic approves.

 

[LizzyM]

Kevin Ahern may assume that both interviewer and applicant are men. I don't buy what he's selling. Can't recall ever admitting anyone from his school into mine. 😛

 

[Stumpyman]

I've had a few MMIs now; on one of the MMI schools, they instructed us not to shake hands or do introductions, just go straight into answering the question. Well, at one station the interviewer greeted me, then stuck her hand out in a handshake-like gesture. I shook her hand, feeling a bit weird. Turns out, she only wanted to grab my name/sticker

 

[SpoiledMilk]

Kevin Ahern may assume that both interviewer and applicant are men. I don't buy what he's selling. Can't recall ever admitting anyone from his school into mine. 😛

Fair enough. But in my interview trail, I have experienced two PH.D. female interviewers of different ethnicity and culture.

Both introduced themselves by saying, "Hello," to me, but without extending their hands. So instead of standing there awkwardly, I initiated the contact by extending my hand to shake theirs first.

 

[•Syzygy•]

Fair enough. But in my interview trail, I have experienced two PH.D. female interviewers of different ethnicity and culture.

Both introduced themselves by saying, "Hello," to me, but without extending their hands. So instead of standing there awkwardly, I initiated the contact by extending my hand to shake theirs first.

waiting for them to extend first is ridiculous to me. there is nothing wrong with what you did. we shouldnt be treating men and women differently. i would be the first to extend for a handshake no matter who it was and if someone is offended by that, then thats an absolute joke to me lol

 

[FantasticDoctorFox]

What is one supposed to do in this situation?

I can’t imagine a situation in which someone would think poorly of you for extending your hand for a handshake. This is a standard way of greeting someone in a professional setting. I’d say that during med school interviews and now residency interviews about 90% of the time both the interviewer and myself have extended our hands at essentially the same time, and in the rare instance that my interviewer didn’t initially go in for a handshake, when they saw that I had my hand out they shook it and it wasn’t a big deal.

Don’t overthink it. If you’re being polite no one is going to fault you.

 

[ReapPremed]

Match the grip of whomever you're shaking hands with, and remember you're not trying to establish dominance over a rival male. I can't say I've ever thought about it. But for all my failings I can't say I've ever had an awkward handshake...

I don't know why everyone cites Kevin Ahern so much. Maybe because its the only detailed youtube video on the topic? I know I'm not the best interviewer in the world, but I lost it when he advised applicants to say "I have no family." I don't know much but I know that doesn't sound human, and no well-adjusted, working adult who is single would give that reply. Ultimately he's just a premed adviser and biochem professor, no?

 

[Gilakend]

Wait for the woman to extend her hand. Agree with @Catalystik that firm is fine and bone-crushing is not.

Disregarding gender is it ever okay for an applicant to initiate a handshake?

 

[CloverBale]

have you ever even touched a girl op

 

[SpoiledMilk]

Ultimately he's just a premed adviser and biochem professor, no?

I don't know Professor Ahern. But with the amount of free/helpful material that he puts on his site and makes available to not only his students but to all students, I am impressed by his generosity and appreciate that he genuinely cares about students. I would have loved it if all my professors cared enough to do the things that Professor Ahern does to help all students instead of trying to profit off of the anxiety of traditional pre-meds by hawking courses for a boatload of money.

 

[Catalystik]

Disregarding gender is it ever okay for an applicant to initiate a handshake?

Personally, I don't consciously note who initiates the "greeting ceremony". I've never paid attention to so-called "rules" on the matter. I think applicants have enough stressors on their plate without worrying about the matter.

That said, it would be nice if everyone would move to a contact-free bow, as an alternative. Fist bump would be a second choice.

 

[LizzyM]

Personally, I don't consciously note who initiates the "greeting ceremony". I've never paid attention to so-called "rules" on the matter. I think applicants have enough stressors on their plate without worrying about the matter.

That said, it would be nice if everyone would move to a contact-free bow, as an alternative. Fist bump would be a second choice.

Haha... first time my husband met the OB who delivered one of our babies, the doctor was wrist deep in my lady parts... My husband said "hello, I hope you won't mind if I don't shake hands with you."

 

[Catalystik]

Haha... first time my husband met the OB who delivered one of our babies, the doctor was wrist deep in my lady parts... My husband said "hello, I hope you won't mind if I don't shake hands with you."

LOL. Great story!

 

[Goro]

Haha... first time my husband met the OB who delivered one of our babies, the doctor was wrist deep in my lady parts... My husband said "hello, I hope you won't mind if I don't shake hands with you."

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

 

[Toutie]

Haha... first time my husband met the OB who delivered one of our babies, the doctor was wrist deep in my lady parts... My husband said "hello, I hope you won't mind if I don't shake hands with you."

OMG! Hilarious! I just spit my tea all over my lap top at that one! 😀😀😀

 

[Wjldenver]

If she looks European, give her a kiss on both cheeks. But if you guessed wrong, it's over!