Refusing a Handshake in an Interview

[bluesTank]

I have been pretty sick for the past week or so, and it has been getting really bad recently. I have an interview this saturday 😱

I was wondering if it would be appropriate for me to just not shake hands with them (and tell them why). Or would this be inappropriate and should I just be sure to wash my hands good before??

Don't know if that is some kind of ceremonial thing that has to be done.

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[Quix]

Purell is your friend, and should be everywhere if you interview in a hospital. 😉

 

[mints of b]

You're weird.

Just shake their stupid hand.

 

[MassTransport]

Do it. A handshake's a way to break the contact barrier and get comfortable. It might instinctively stick out negatively in the interviewer's mind if you refuse, even if it's on good reason.

Then if you cough during the interview, cough into your non-handshake hand.

 

[deuce924]

I would always use a kleenex, wash my hands plenty before the interview and go ahead and shake their hands. If you wash your hands before the interview you should be good to go.

 

[ZagDoc]

I had a nasty, nasty cold at one of my interviews.

I went to the bathroom before the one-on-one, and shook his hand like a man 😉

 

[Brigade4Radiant]

Seinfield did an episode on this. And it didn't go well for the guy that was sick.

 

[Bacchus]

Remember, firm grasp and two shakes. No more, no less. Oh yeah, that means do it. (of course practice the protocol for washing hands beforehand 😉)

 

[bluesTank]

I was just thinking cause maybe he would probably hate me after he sees me sniffling and coughing the whole interview, and 2 days later (when he is voting on me) comes down with a bad cold...oops!

 

[mindquick]

I was just thinking cause maybe he would probably hate me after he sees me sniffling and coughing the whole interview, and 2 days later (when he is voting on me) comes down with a bad cold...oops!

just tell your interviewer that you have a cold so you can't shake their hands.

 

[Abilene85]

Drug up to prevent sniffles/coughing as best you can, wash you hands or use purell before, and shake their hand.

If it is a doc - they are used to sick people. If it is a prof - they are used to sick students. I think you would be giving it a lot more thought than they would if you coughed during an interview. And if they are worried about catching your germs, they can keep their hands away from their face and wash them after the interview. I just think (even with good intentions and an explanation) that refusing a handshake would start the interview off on a slightly negative note.

 

[capn jazz]

Do it. A handshake's a way to break the contact barrier and get comfortable. It might instinctively stick out negatively in the interviewer's mind if you refuse, even if it's on good reason.

Then if you cough during the interview, cough into your non-handshake hand.

It's much more hygienic to cough into your arm/elbow than into your hand.

 

[nicko18]

Not shaking = interview suicide.

What doctor is going to avoid physical examinations because he's not washing his hands beforehand? Carry a handkerchief. Unless snot is streaming from your nose there is no coming back from such a decision.