How To Give A Great Handshake (Video)

This video points out some really great tips on how to execute a great handshake. It is important to realize that handshakes are a sign of trust and help build strong relationships. They are very important in the management of the first impression you give to a prospective employer. Read through the different types of handshakes below and make sure you are mastering the three-second ritual of shaking hands. A good handshake will express a feeling of relaxed self-confidence.The RIGHT handshake – 7 Basic Steps
Step 1: Extend your right hand to meet the other person’s right hand.
Step 2: Point your thumb upward toward the other person’s arm and extend your arm at a slight downward angle.
Step 3: Wrap your hand around the other person’s hand when your thumb joints come together.
Step 4: Grasp the hand firmly and squeeze gently once. Remember to maintain eye contact and smile!
Step 5: Hold the handshake for 2 to 3 seconds.
Step 6: Pump your hand up and down a few times to convey sincerity. (This gesture is optional.)
Step 7: Observe your handshake and the one you are receiving. Use the examples below to see which message your handshake is sending.The WRONG handshake

• The Lobster
  Like the claw of a lobster, the other person’s thumb and fingers touch the palm of your hand. The person doing this fears connecting at a deep level and may have challenges building relationships. This is an especially poor first impression while on an interview. Make sure to fully engage in a handshake when meeting your interviewer for the first time.
• The Controller
  You feel your hand being pulled toward the person or strongly guided in a different direction, perhaps towards a chair. People who do this are controllers. This means they want to dominate any inanimate or animate object in the room (and that would include you). Do more listening than talking and see if you can find common ground so these individuals can control the situation toward your desired objective.
• The Dead Fish
  Indifferent handshakes that feel like the person has no bones in their hand often indicate a passive or reserved personality. This handshake ranks as the number two least favored by hiring managers. Individuals with this type of clasp are generally not people-focused. Exceptions to this rule might be musicians and surgeons whose livelihood depends on sensitive hands and who are therefore reluctant to open up to a bone crusher.
• The Politician
  Your hand is firmly grasped as in a normal handshake. However, their other hand may cover yours or be placed on your forearm or shoulder. The person is attempting to communicate that the two of you have a deeper relationship than you actually have. Similarly, be cautious about relying on this person’s word for anything and be attentive in your dealings with them.
• The Bone Crusher
  The message of squeezing your hand until you cringe is clearly designed to intimidate you. Even when the person may not know how strong they are, there is still a message of intimidation and power behind the grip. Don’t get into a hand-squeezing contest when you shake because then it becomes a competition and even if you win, you’ll lose.

Handshakes, like eye contact, say many things about who we are without ever saying a word.

For a convenient handout with all of this important information included stop by the CSPD office!

Careertv.net has a lot of wonderful interviews with corporate recruiters on what they look for in potential candidates. Since E&Y will be on campus this week I thought this video was especially pertinent! I will be posting other interviews with employers here when I know they will be on campus, so keep an eye out.

For more vidoes and additional advice from the Ernst & Young recruiters…Click here!!

Check out the FoxNet profile and information on Ernst & Young below…

Company Profile

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. We aim to have a positive impact on businesses and markets, as well as on society as a whole.

Working with our clients
Our 130,000 people are the foundation of our success. We assemble the right multi-disciplinary team for your business, drawing on our global network of professionals. Working with you in a collaborative style, we gain a clear understanding of your organization and strive to identify issues before they become problems. You get the people you need, wherever in the world you need them, backed up by leading practices, methodologies and tools.
Developing people
We attract talented people from diverse backgrounds. Our emphasis on inclusiveness matters more than ever today. As business challenges become more complex, we need to call upon the widest spectrum of views and opinions to address them. Our open culture offers continuous personal and professional development. Because when our people grow and succeed, your company benefits.

Strengthening communities
We help to improve regulatory standards and company reporting models. We promote transparency in financial reporting and use our influence to strengthen global corporate governance. We encourage entrepreneurship, which leads to growth, jobs and prosperous communities. And our people share their business skills and knowledge with others in their communities.

Great place to work
We can’t be a great organization without great people. We work in a culture that puts our people first. We strive to help everyone achieve both their professional and personal goals in an environment that fosters growth and provides continuous opportunities to develop new skills and knowledge. And our efforts have been recognized through a number of prestigious awards.

Corporate responsibility
Consistent with our values, we strive to embed socially responsible thinking and action into all our firm activities. Our people share a sense of purpose that starts with the work we do for clients and extends to the communities where we live and our impact on the environment. Our firm also has a long-standing tradition of philanthropy through our support of higher education institutions, civic and cultural agencies, and non-profit community organizations.

How To Negotiate Your Salary

Salary is one of the key elements to factor into a job offer. Remember, it is not the only thing to consider and should be taken into consideration with the whole offer, including benefits, responsibilities, etc. Please watch the movie above which offers some great, simple tips on how to negotiate that starting salary with a prospective employer.

STEP 1= DO YOUR HOMEWORK
This basically means to research what the average starting salary is for the position you are interviewing for in the location that you are interviewing. There are a lot of great sites that assist you with this and many of them are listed here!When an employer gives you a salary range for which the position falls you want to know whether this is acceptable or not. If you dont do your research before hand you wont have any point of reference.

STEP 2= STALL TACTICS
You dont want to have to start talking salary until well into the interview process. If you havent had the chance to prove your worth to an employer, they are most definitely going to start out at the low end of their salary range. If and when you prove that you would be a wonderful asset to the organization they will more likely to work with you and your salary goals. Stall them…dont put salary in your cover letters, never ask in a first interview, and if they bring it up put the ball in their court.

STEP 3=SHIFT THE BURDEN
When an employer asks you what your salary range is, put it back in their court. Let them know that the experience that this positon will offer is much more important than the salary, what range did you have in mind? This will hopefully allow you to have a better understanding of what the low and high ends of their range look like.

STEP 4=CUT TO THE CHASE
If they are persistent and have asked you multiple times what your salary range is, than give it to them. Quote the salary averages that you have researched and let them know that you would expect to be compensated comparable to others in your field, with your experience. This is where the prior research will come into play, and this is extremely important.

STEP 5=JUST SAY NO
Dont feel compelled to accept the first offer they give you. Employers will ALWAYS quote you in the low end of their range because they expect some negotiation. It cant hurt to ask! If you feel that you are being offered a low salary, you do have the option to say no.

STEP 6=MULL IT OVER
Even if they offer you more than you were expecting, dont throw your hands up in triumph. Keep a professional demeanor and let them know that you want to review the offer and you will let them know in 24 hours.

Salary negotiations can be daunting, especially for entry level candidates, but remember, most employers expect it. They are waiting for a counter offer and expect that you will take some time to review the package they have offered you. Take the time to make sure that it is definitely the position you want, at the salary you want, but be realistic!!!

Interview Dining Etiquette <—click to listen!
4:14 minutes / 3.9 MB / MP3
Are you absolutely sure which fork to use and where to put your napkin when you get up from the table? Listen as we go over some of the tips and tricks to surviving and impressing on that all too important lunch or dinner interview.

Show Notes: 

There may be a time during your job search where you will be invited to attend an interview lunch or dinner.  These types of interviews can be especially daunting because now you not only have to worry about impressing the employers with your witty personality and sell your skills and experience, but you also have to make sure you follow proper interview dining etiquette.

Everyone here in the CSPD wanted to make the last part as easy as possible for you.  This podcast will gie you all the little tips and tricks to make sure you can focus on the main reason you are there…to get the job!!!  This is also the most important lesson of this podcast, remember the main reason you are dining out during the interview is to engage in conversation with the employer and interviewers, not to eat.  You may not have a lot of time to actually eat, so it is a good idea to grab a small bite to eat beforehand so you are not in a rush to scarf down your food.

So you are asked to lunch by your #1 employer!  You are really excited to know this job would be perfect for you.  Arive 10 minutes or so early to the restaurant.  Make sure you have accurate information on where you will be meeting.  Wiat for the host, the employer, to sit down before you take your seat.  Wiat for everyone to be seated and immediately put your napkin in your lap.  Do not make a scene of this.  Your napkin should remain in your lap for the extent of the lunch, if you must leave the table or be excused, say “Please excuse me,” and place your napkin carefully on your seat.

Okay so you get the menu…WHAT TO ORDER!!!  Find something that is easy to eat…a chicken dish, fish, etc.  Stay away from finger foods, spaghetti, peas, or anything that you will have to chase around your plate.  When ordering please be courteous to the wait staff and always use your please and thankyous.  Do not order the most expensive or most cheap thing on the menu and never drink any alcohol even if the host has ordered it.

During your meal remember to focus on conversation and the real reason you are there.  NO matter where your interview takes place, it is still an interview.  Many employers want to see you in a more social setting to see how you conduct yourself, especially if you are interviewing for a job that requires a certain standard of conduct with clients and superiors.

Understand the basics of the setup of the table.  You will sit down at a place setting wtih drinks and plates all over.  It is important to remember that food is on your left and drinks on your right.  Start on the outside with your silverware and work your way in.  If you pick up the bread basket, offer to the person on your left, serve yourself, and pass to the person on the right.  When eating bread, break off a small bite sized piece and butter each.  Once everyone’s meal is served, wait for the host to begin eating or to let you know to begin and begin eating slowly and with care.  Hold your silverware with consideration.  Placing a used utensil on a table is considered rude so make sure to place them on your plate.  If a utensil drops, do not pick it up and put it on the table.  Leave it there.  If you drop your napkin, pick it up if it is within an arms reach, if not, leave it.

Also remember:

• Whoever invited you to the meal will pay.  You do not have to offer.  Just remember to thank them and obtain their business cards.  Also, followup with a thank you note like any other interview.
• Take very small bites of all of your food, so you can quickly finish and swallow and be able to speak.  Never speak with food in your mouth.
• If someone asks for the salt, pick up both the salt and pepper and place them on the table in front of the person who requested it, never hand it to them.  Also, wait until you taste your food to decide if you need extra seasoning.  Employers see someone who seasons immediately as presumptuous.

Dining etiquette can be critical to career and job search success, and on a side note will definitely help on the dating front as well! :)  Although you may be nervous, do your best to relax.  Maintain an assured posture through the meal, and yes, elbows off the table!

Opportunity Knocks Podcast- How to Research a Company for an Interview  4:19 minutes / 3.95 MB / MP3
Do you know what information to research before an interview?  Learn valuable skills on how to research a company before an interview to make sure you are prepared for anything an employer may ask you!  Click the link above to listen!

Show Notes:
They say that luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.  This interview is YOUR opportunity!

You are expected to fully research every company prior to an interview.  It sounds basic but in a survey conducted by Accountemps, 44% of executives said that the most common interview pitfall for today’s candidates is insufficient company research.  This weakness is hard to understand, especially given all of the information available at our fingertips.

There are 3 areas you should research before an interview.

1- The Company
Start at the company’s website.  Many corporate sites have an “employment” or “careers” section.  In addition to posting openings and benefits information, you will find extensive information on corporate culture and the structure of the organization including corporatei bios and maybe even your interviewer’s bio.  Flatter your interviewer by knowing a bit about his or her role and responsibilities.  Having a general overview about the company will give you confidence during the interview, especially if you pay attention to the firm’s mission adn vision statements.  These statements offer you great insight into the ecompany’s values and will you give you something to refer to during your interview. 
Also, utilize the reseources of the CSPD blackboard organization, which provides students access to HOovers.com and other research resources.  These sties can be insturmental in your research, helping you to obtain information about company financials, company repurtation, company size, history, etc.

You should be able to answer questions such as:
Why do you want to work for us?
What are our productors or services including any new products?
Who are the key people in the organization: owners, executives, board members?
What is our company history and when did we start?
Know if the company is public or private!

2- The Role
It is also importatnt to understand the job description of the position for which you are interviewing.  Hwen you obtain an interview you should always ask to have a full job description emailed to you.  Know your role in the company and how your specific skills match the job requirements.  You should be able to back this up with examples of past projects, job responsibilities, and personality traitst ath will show the employer you have done your homework!  This includes knowing yourself.  Understand your strenghts, weaknesses, and why you want to work for the company you are interviewing with.

3- The Industry
Knowledge of the industry you may be entering is imperative.  Google the company.  Read any press releases and learn about the major competitors of your prospective company.  Understnad the competitive advantages the company offers in the marketplace.  Side note:  Use these competitors to expand your job search and see if they have any similar positions that may be of interest to you.

You should be able to answer questions pertaining to:
The average salary of someone in your field.  This will help you negotiate salary.
Company’s rank in the industry
Industry trends
Industry advancements

In conclusion, company research should not wait until the night before an interview.  Leave yourself enough time to research and review and research and review some more.  You want to be prepared to answer any question an interviewer could throw your way.

For additional information, you may want to talk to current or former employees fo the company or approach the company and request information such as product catalogs, brochures, reports, or any other literature that explains the purpose, products or services of the organization.  Information can also be found in the CSPD office.

So remember:  Know the company, know the roles and responsibilites of the position, and know the industry!