Interview Etiquette: Should I Shake Hands with the M.D. After the Interview?

I have a small query. After I finish my interview with the M.D. of the company and he says, "Ok, I will call you," should I shake hands with the M.D. or not?

Regards,
Pulkit

I hope Natisha Haseeb has cleared your doubt. If you shake hands, well and good; otherwise, never mind. No matter, they may have an idea of what your tension and pressure will be during the interview, and obviously, they will understand.

With warm regards,

Regards

There is a lot to learn in corporate culture, Pulkit. As per the royal standards, don't initiate a handshake with a senior until he does so. Also, a verbal and polite thank you note is good enough to sign off.

Be confident, there is nothing wrong or negative about an exit handshake. It should not erode anything. In some cases, there might be some extent of damage.

Regards,
nk900

Proper Handshake Etiquette

I remember reading in some books on manners that the senior should always initiate a handshake. When shaking hands with the opposite sex, only the female should initiate it. If the MD's body language doesn't reveal his intention to shake hands, it is better to leave the scene by saying a warm thank you, as mentioned by 'Propellant'.

Regards,
Jijo K J, Muscat

Yes, you should. Shaking hands shows that you are confident and professional. The way you behave in the interview reflects how you will behave with other people in the company and the company's clients.

Changing Norms in Handshakes

Saying that only the senior person should initiate a handshake, or that a man should not initiate with a woman, might have been true 100 or even 50 years ago. In today's corporate world, things no longer work this way.

Hi, I completely agree with the views expressed by the Propellant Consultant. I also feel that after the interview, one should, with folded hands in "Namaste" form, politely say "Thank you, Sir," and come out of the room. While coming out of the room, one should also ensure that he/she walks back by facing the interviewer.

Shaking Hands with the Interviewer

Shaking hands with the interviewer should be based on the intention of the interviewer. The applicant may judge whether the interviewer is willing to shake hands or not. At the conclusion, if the interviewer stands up, it is better to initiate and shake hands. On the contrary, if the interviewer does not stand, you may thank them for giving you time and the opportunity for the interview and do not shake hands. In case the interviewer is a female, it would be much better to wait to see if she wants to shake hands. Ethically, it is not preferable to initiate shaking hands with a female.

Regards,
Faisal Zahir

Avoiding Handshakes for Health Reasons

One should avoid a handshake with anyone. It is always better as it helps prevent the spread of infection. 

Certainly, yes. At the end of the interview, you could shake hands with the interviewer even if he is the MD of the company.

Regards,
Vasant Nair

I agree we should shake hands once the interview is done. This is also a good sign of showing professionalism.

There's a lot of merit in what members like Propellant and Jijo say. However, it's important to consider the matter in totality. Did he proffer a hand in the initial stage? If so, then it's okay to shake hands at the end of the interview. But be smart enough to assess his/her attitude before offering your hand! Indian MDs, especially the older ones, tend to be conservative. So watch your step before extending your hand!

Regards,
H. Prashad
Sr. Training Consultant

There's a lot of merit in what members like Propellant and Jijo say. But it's important to consider the matter in totality. Did he proffer a hand in the initial stage? If so, then it's okay to shake hands at the end of the interview. But be smart enough to assess his/her attitude before offering your hand! Indian MDs, especially the older ones, tend to be conservative. So watch your step before extending your hand!

Regards,

Yes, I agree with you. Our MDs and CEOs can be egoistic, self-aggrandizing, and narcissistic, to the extent that they may consider it beneath their dignity to shake hands with an interviewer. Please beware, lest you are perceived as foolish, and you may be excluded from consideration.