What do you do with your hands during interviews?

[mrh125]

Working on addressing my flaws little by little, but what do you with your hands. I love fidgeting and it helps me think better, I'm a bit hyperactive, and it's natural for me to fidget and wring my hands. What could I do to negate this during interviews?

Also, what can I do instead of chewing gum during an interview? Chewing gum is something I always do.

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[goft20]

Pick my nose and Fondle the interviewer.



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[mrh125]

Pick my nose and Fondle the interviewer.



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lol no wonder they call you champagne papi, but what if it's a guy 😛.

 

[Cambover]

Fold them in your lap most of the time probably. I talk with my hands so I had to be conscious not to overdo it.

 

[goft20]

lol no wonder they call you champagne papi, but what if it's a guy 😛.

Take one for the team. How badly do you want to be a doc? If gay sex is the limit then I suggest changing your career prospects. 😛


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[mrh125]

Take one for the team. How badly do you want to be a doc? If gay sex is the limit then I suggest changing your career prospects. 😛


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good point. no wonder they say medicine is "give and take". You gotta know both sides. ok i'm done.

 

[goft20]

good point. no wonder they say medicine is "give and take". You gotta know both sides. ok i'm done.

You have seen the light.


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[goft20]

You have seen the light.


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But seriously, just do what feels natural..folding them, put them on your lap, etc.


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[Mad Jack]

Whenever you're unsure of what to do with your hands, just bust out some jazz hands. Works errytime.

 

[aspirantmed]

Working on addressing my flaws little by little, but what do you with your hands. I love fidgeting and it helps me think better, I'm a bit hyperactive, and it's natural for me to fidget and wring my hands. What could I do to negate this during interviews?

Also, what can I do instead of chewing gum during an interview? Chewing gum is something I always do.

Be wary of your fidgeting; it may be distracting or make you look uncomfortable. Instead, try using hand gestures as in normal conversation or presentation style, keep a pad or folder comfortably in your arms, or keep them folded in your lap without looking too rigid.

And just .. Don't chew gum. If it's something you always do, unless you have a psychiatric disorder that requires it .. Just acknowledge that it's an important day where that needs to just not happen.

Have someone do a mock interview with you, and record the entire thing. Then watch it and, along with your friend, go over how you can improve your interviewing technique.

 

[I Love Cats]

Okay, Ricky Bobby.

Use them to add to the excitement you convey in your overall communication. The more you think about how to communicate, the more awkward and paralyzed you'll be. Just speak from a deep source of passion, sincerity and maturity and the interaction should unfold appropriately.

 

[mrh125]

Okay, Ricky Bobby.

Use them to add to the excitement you convey in your overall communication. The more you think about how to communicate, the more awkward and paralyzed you'll be. Just speak from a deep source of passion, sincerity and maturity and the interaction should unfold appropriately.

Thank you very much. Makes sense that's what I'l work on do.

Be wary of your fidgeting; it may be distracting or make you look uncomfortable. Instead, try using hand gestures as in normal conversation or presentation style, keep a pad or folder comfortably in your arms, or keep them folded in your lap without looking too rigid.

And just .. Don't chew gum. If it's something you always do, unless you have a psychiatric disorder that requires it .. Just acknowledge that it's an important day where that needs to just not happen.

Have someone do a mock interview with you, and record the entire thing. Then watch it and, along with your friend, go over how you can improve your interviewing technique.

Thank you, will do. I chew gum as a habit, but I also have dry mouth. Could I bring a bottle of water to interviews instead?

 

[Dr Turkelton]

Thank you very much. Makes sense that's what I'l work on do.


Thank you, will do. I chew gum as a habit, but I also have dry mouth. Could I bring a bottle of water to interviews instead?

Yeah is this allowed? I hate having a dry mouth during interviews.

 

[mrh125]

Yeah is this allowed? I hate having a dry mouth during interviews.

That's what I'm wondering. Dry mouth makes interviews way more uncomfortable.

 

[BamaNicole]

I literally sat on my hands for some of them......realized what I was doing and then just kept them in my lap.

 

[NervousNerd]

Grip the chair so hard to leave noticeable impression in the wood/plastic/material.

Every time they see the marking, they will remember you.

Quite the "first impression"

 

[NickNaylor]

Chewing gum in an interview is a no-go. Don't do it.

As far as your hands: either keep them still in your lap or clasped together on the table/desk/whatever. Just don't be fidgety and you'll probably be fine.


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[orthogenes]

I hold something-- a pen and notebook is very helpful! For MMI, I held the prompt.

 

[sakabato93]

I was watching a video of a mock interview and one of the criticisms that the interviewer gave was that the interviewee was not using her hands at all. He said that he would have preferred that the girl maybe made some gestures when she answered her questions.

I guess for some people (especially me) its natural to sort of talk with your hands. In interviews in the past, I've made gestures and used my hands while talking, but I've been conscious as to make sure that my gestures weren't spastic or inappropriate or anything like that.

Edit: I'm sort of critical of the whole "sit quietly with you hands in your lap" approach to interviewing. I guess that's just not me. I have energy when I talk, and I prefer to convey that energy through what I say and how I move my body in addition to speaking. Of course, by energy I don't mean I yell, kick and scream - I'm just, I guess, animated, in a sense.

 

[Reckoner]

Could I bring a bottle of water to interviews instead?

Yeah is this allowed? I hate having a dry mouth during interviews.

Many of my interviewers offered me a bottle of water or cup of coffee. No one is going to care if you bring one. Which do you think is worse: taking a five second sip of water every 10 minutes, or 30 minutes of continuously awful smacking noises every time you open your mouth?

 

[sunflower18]

I literally sat on my hands for some of them......realized what I was doing and then just kept them in my lap.

Is this a bad thing? When I am sitting in chairs, I often put my hands under my legs like, curling around the edge of the chair. It's just where they instinctively go when I am not gesturing with my hands to make a point (which is honestly most of the time). Is it wrong to sit on your hands? If so, I will work on folding them in my lap when they are not in nuse!

 

[Got Heem]

 

[kyamh]

I either rested my hands on my coffee (always available in my experience 🙂) or otherwise to gesture. There is a balance between gesturing with purpose to logically enhance your points and wildly waving your hands, be sure that you know the difference.

 

[PreciousHamburgers]

Hold a mug in each hand.

 

[Shazam243]

Clasp your hands and put them on your lap or the table... Gesture when comfortable.

 

[alpinism]

Stroke your beard.

 

[darkjedi]

As in interviewee I tend to talk with my hands, which has worked this far, and I think less awkward than having your hands in your lap.

As an interviewer I can't remember a single time I noticed or cared what someone was doing with their hands.

 

[GFP]

When I was preparing for my interviews last year, I read that it's better to clasp your hands on the table and not hide your hands under the table. The reason is that when sitting behind the table, having your hands under it makes you look like a "child"-- it gives off an impression of being unconfident, shy, and not engaging. I don't know if this is useful, but if you look at political debates where the candidates are sitting at a roundtable, they usually have their hands on the table and not under it.

I agree that you should only use your hands to convey excitement, but only occasionally. I remember at one of my interviews, I was using my hands talk about a particular topic, and I saw that my interviewer was clearly looking at my hand gestures. It made me feel so self-conscious haha.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

Edward fortyhands

 

[sakabato93]

Edward fortyhands

I think we have a winner. Impress the adcoms with your tolerance and your ability to tolerate bubbles.

 

[amvet70]

I chew gum as a habit

Maybe the following will help remind you about bad habits while interviewing.

My long deceased grandmother had a habit of always wearing sun glasses (non prescription) when she went out. One time she got a speeding ticket and went to court to contest. My grandfather went with her and warned her to take her sunglasses off when in front of judge. The courtroom had windows and it was sunny outside. She was called up, the judge looked at her and then immediately called his bailiff over. The bailiff then went over and pulled all the blinds shut and then the judge asked my grandmother if she’d mind taking off her sunglasses. She lost and paid the fine. Don’t be my grandmother and do something stupid like chewing gum at an interview.

As to your hands, put them in your lap. While videotaping, practice interviewing with a post it on your forehead that says HEY STUPID: No Gum, Put hands on lap. Review your taped interviews, just make sure to leave the post it at home.