A new study shows that women with a firm grip tend to get ahead in the workplace.

To answer your questions: yes, I was extremely careful in checking the parsing in that first sentence and, no, the study was not done by the Adult Video Network.

It turns out that the study in question was actually done by people with graduate degrees and appeared in the Journal of Applied Psychology in 2008.

I won’t bore you with the details of the study because they don’t involve anyone getting naked, but the research showed that women who greeted a job interviewer with a firm handshake were more likely to get hired.

A firm handshake from a woman was more likely to generate a positive response than a similarly firm handshake from a man unless the woman was Miss California and the man happened to be Perez Hilton.

Researchers found that women were generally expected to have a weaker handshake but a weaker handshake did not necessarily adversely affect the hiring decision.

On the other hand (you knew that was coming), a firm handshake by women contributed to a demonstrable edge in whether a woman was chosen for the job.

The study rated potential hires on five factors: 1. completeness of grip; 2. vigor; 3. strength; 4. duration, and 5. eye contact.

Are you sure we’re talking about handshakes, here?

Because those criteria are important regardless of what kind of job is being negotiated for.

-

In these tough economic times, job interviews are tougher than ever…

-

Image: Zuma Press

-

Post from: EveryJoe

Women Told To ‘Get A Grip’ For Work Success