Have you ever been asked a question in an interview that seems to come out of left field? One that makes you skip a beat and make you want to ask, “Come again?” and “Are you serious?” Unfortunately, not all interviewers ask the most kosher questions and it’s easy to become discombobulated.

Today’s guest blogger addresses this very issue.  Frances Cole Jones, author of “The Wow Factor: The 33 Things You Must (and Must Not) Do to Guarantee Your Edge in Today’s Business World” tells how to keep your cool even in the face of the most unnerving interview questions.

Don’t Get Flustered, Get Factual
By Frances Cole Jones

There appears to be an epidemic of inappropriateness pervading the job interview world these days. Several people I know have gotten questions that left them, literally, speechless — and one wasn’t so much disconcerted by a question as by the manner in which it was asked.

Following, a few suggestions I made for how each of them might have responded. If any of you have additional ideas, I’d love to hear them. (Alternatively, if you’ve been asked anything, or experienced anything, that left you confounded, I’d love to hear those stories, too.)

Q: “Do you know the average age of the people who work in this company?”

This was a question an older client of mine got when she applied for a position in a very youthful organization. While I can only speculate about what the interviewer’s intention might have been, I can tell you the result was my client left feeling shamed for even applying.

How did I recommend she handle this kind of leading question?

Leading questions demand fact-based responses. You don’t want to get into what you think your questioner is after, or do the dirty work of negating something that hasn’t been overtly stated.

Consequently, my Monday-morning quarterbacking coaching to her was to have responded, “I do.”

Q: “You realize you’re going to need to ugly-up if you get this job.”

This leading question was asked of one of my, admittedly, extraordinarily beautiful clients. As always, we could only speculate about the questioner’s intention– though I have to say we both found the pigtail-pulling undertone distinctly … underwhelming.

In this instance, again, I didn’t want her to do the troublemaker’s dirty work for him. Consequently, my 20/20 hindsight recommendation was to go with the factual, “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Admittedly, thinking on your feet when you’re asked these types of questions isn’t easy, but if you can keep your answer short, sweet, and fact-based you’re likely to disconcert your questioner as much as he or she has disconcerted you.

Finally, one of my clients went into an interview during which, in her words, “The interviewer turned his back to me throughout the interview and asked his questions while looking out the window.”

How did I recommend she handle it? Well, calling him on his behavior was going to end in a lose-lose situation: His reaction was unlikely to be positive; her outcome was therefore likely to be negative. Consequently, I suggested saying, “I find it hard to answer your questions without being able to see your face. May I ask you to turn around, or may I join you at the window?”

What makes this statement powerful is that she takes the onus on herself — it’s not that he’s being difficult, it’s that she finds it tricky to talk to someone who refuses to look at her. Also, it reminds him that her goal is to be her best self in every situation, no matter how difficult.

And, as I’m sure you’ve discovered, if we can be our best selves– regardless of the circumstances — not only do we wow others, we wow ourselves: the ultimate challenge.

Frances Cole Jones is the author of “The Wow Factor: The 33 Things You Must (and Must Not) Do to Guarantee Your Edge in Today’s Business World.” Her company, Cole Media Management, works with clients to enhance their professional and personal presentation skills. She lives in New York City.

Need more interview advice? Check out these previous posts:

5 Rules for Asking Better Interview Questions

What Makes Them Want to Hire You?

A Resume Helper Disguised as a Interview Guide

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And according to a new CareerBuilder survey, your body language can also hurt your chances of landing a job … especially a lack of eye contact.

In the survey of more than 2,500 hiring managers, 67 percent said that failure to make eye contact would make them less likely to hire a job candidate. Other nonverbals that hiring managers cited as negative included these seven things:

• Lack of smile – 38 percent
• Fidgeting too much – 33 percent
• Bad posture – 33 percent
• Handshake that is too weak – 26 percent
• Crossing arms over their chest – 21 percent
• Playing with their hair or touching their face – 21 percent
• Using too many hand gestures – 9 percent  

“In a highly competitive job market, job seekers need to set themselves apart in the interview stage,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder. “All that pressure, though, may have some job seekers making body language mistakes that don’t convey a confident message. To avoid these faux pas, and ensure you’re remembered for the right reasons, try practicing ahead of time in front of a mirror or family and friends.”

Haefner offers the following tips to avoid body language missteps during an interview:

• Keep calm. To make the best impression and avoid nervous body language, take measures to stay as calm as possible before the interview. Leave the house with plenty of time to get to the interview, avoid caffeine if possible and take deep, calming breaths.
• Practice makes perfect. The old adage proves true in this case, as you’ll feel more comfortable the more you prepare for the interview, and in turn, it will help decrease your anxiety. Rehearse ahead of time with friends or family, do your homework on the company and be prepared for common interview questions.
• See for yourself. Viewing yourself while speaking can help you notice what body language mistakes you might be making without realizing. Look in a mirror while practicing interview responses or videotape yourself to figure out your typical physical movements, and whether or not you need to change them.

Saylor, who is a certified group dynamics and behavioral coach, says it is possible to change your behavior and be conscious of what messages you’re sending with your own body. Her book gives the reader tips on overcoming many communication roadblocks including how to project confidence, how to look intelligent, how to eliminate verbal pauses, and how to use your posture to show confidence.

For additional blog posts on what makes a hiring manager say “yay” or “nay,” check out the following:

• What makes them want to hire you?
• What can a handshake say about you?
• Interview mistakes you wish you could take back

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When you thought that you and that awesome guy were more than just friends — and thought wrong, you spent the next three days in your pajamas.

When you went on an awesome interview, but the job went to another candidate, you vowed to learn the pots and pans and spend the rest of your life as a street performer.

We’ve all been there.

Rejection is just one of those things that, no matter how many times it happens in life, it never gets any easier. However, it doesn’t always have to result in self-loathing and days spent moping around in your pjs. In fact, John Kador, author of “301 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview,” dedicates an entire chapter of his book to  rejection, and how it can actually have a positive effect on your job search — if you take advantage of it by finding out why you didn’t get the job.

True, it may seem like adding salt to your wound to reach out to the refusing employer and ask “What’s so wrong with me?” However, doing so can also be one of the most rewarding ways to handle a rejection, since any constructive feedback you receive can be applied to your future job search.

Also true, is that positively handling rejection is a lot easier said than done, so below are the top tips for following up with a company that has turned you down, adapted from Kador’s “301 Best Questions to Ask On Your Interview.”

1. Figure out where the recruiter was coming from

Sometimes, you will have a hunch as to why you were rejected. Maybe you were under- qualified, or maybe you set your salary expectations too high. But on those occasions where you were completely blindsided by the rejection, understanding it will take some further investigation.

Usually, this involves contacting the recruiter. Start by sending a simple note. Something like:

“Thank you again for interviewing me. I understand your decision to go with another candidate and I accept your decision. I’d appreciate any feedback you can give me.” 

Sometimes, this will be enough to get you a constructive dose of honesty. However, HR departments are often apprehensive to give straightforward feedback these days, due to a fear of lawsuits. But, that doesn’t mean you should just accept their generic response saying “You were great, but the other candidate was better.”

2. Cut to the point

To increase your odds of getting true, useful criticism, take your query one step further, by following up with something along the lines of:

“I need to improve my interviewing skills and I’m asking for your help. I am asking you to be honest about my performance and what I could have done better. If you do, I will make you three promises. First, I promise I will not interrupt you. Second, I promise I will not defend myself. Third, I promise I will not contact you or your company for a year. Will you help me?”

This approach lets the HR rep know that you have no interest in hounding them or pleading your case, and are genuinely interested in honest feedback.  It should also help ease the recruiter’s fear of getting in trouble.

When using this approach, though, be ready to keep your promises or risk putting your reputation with the company — and possibly the industry — on the line.

3. Be gracious

If directly asking the recruiter for interview feedback still seems too intimidating, at least send a thank-you note. Many interviewees discontinue professional niceties when they don’t get the job, but genuinely thanking the interviewer for their time makes a good final impression. If possible, prove your gratitude by:

• Recommending another good candidate for the position
• Offering a sales lead
• Including a link to an article, website or job-board you think the recruiter would find useful
• Asking if there is anything else you can do for the recruiter or the company

Simple gestures like the ones above will make you stand out to the recruiter, who will be more apt to keep you in mind for future jobs at the company.

Hopefully, you won’t face too much (if any) rejection during your job search, but if you do, the above guidelines will help turn a negative response into a learning experience. Be sure to personalize these steps based on your individual interview situation and what you feel comfortable with.  If you don’t think you can handle hearing a less-than-glowing review from a recruiter without interrupting, you may want to skip step No. 2. For more suggestions on what to ask before, during and after an interview, check out “301 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview.”

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With the addition of 573,000 nonfarm payroll jobs since December, American workers are feeling more optimistic about their employment prospects. Those who had all but given up their job searches have started to re-enter the job market, which accounted for the rise in the unemployment rate in April despite the job growth.

Fewer job openings for job seekers also mean fewer interviews, and it’s possible your once-sharp interview skills are now out of shape due to lack of practice. Today we have a guest blog from John Kador, author of the new second edition of “301 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview.” Practice these before your next interview.

Interview the interviewer: 5 rules for  framing better questions

The landscape for job seekers today is more treacherous than at any time in recent memory.  In other words, if you want a job today, you may actually have to work for it.

One way to really shine is by asking questions. Questions are the best way for you to demonstrate that you understand the company’s challenges, emphasize how you can help the company meet them, and show your interest in the most unmistakable manner possible — by actually asking for the position.  These rules, excerpted from “301 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview,” will help arm you with new interview questions and techniques for selling yourself and getting the job you want. 

Here are five rules for framing questions that will put you in the best light.

1.  Ask open-ended questions.
Closed-ended questions can be answered “yes” or “no,” and begin with words such as “did,” “have,” “do,” “would” and “are.”  Open-ended questions — which usually begin with “how,” “when” and “who” — create opportunities for a conversation and a much richer exchange of information.

This is a closed question:

Candidate:  Does the company have a child-care center on-site?

Interviewer:  Yes.

Open-ended question:

Candidate:  How does the company support working parents?

Interviewer:   Let me show you a brochure about our award-winning day care center located right here in the building.  Working Woman magazine recently rated it one of the top 10 corporate day care centers in the U.S.

2.  Keep it short
Nothing is as disconcerting as a candidate spewing out a long, complicated question only to have the interviewer look confused and say, “I’m sorry I don’t understand your question.”  Restrict every question to one point.  Resist mouthfuls like this:

I know that international sales are important, so how much of the company’s revenues are derived from overseas, is that percentage growing, declining or stable, do international tariffs present difficulties, and how will currency fluctuations impact the mix?

No interviewer should be expected to take on such a complicated question.  If you really think a conversation about these points is in your interest, indicate your interest in the issue and then break the question into separate queries.

3.  Don’t interrupt
Wait for the interviewer to finish the question.  One candidate reported the following exchange:

Hiring manager:  I see by your résumé that you’ve had six systems analyst jobs in six years . . .

Candidate [interrupting]:   . . . And you want me to explain the job-hopping, right?

Hiring manager:  Actually, I was going to ask what’s one new skill you took away from each job.  But since you mentioned job-hopping, I am concerned about your ability to stick with one employer for more than year.

Oops.  Better to wait for the full question.  How much better it would have been for the above candidate:

Hiring manager:  I see by your résumé that you’ve had six systems analyst jobs in six years.  Can you mention one specific skill you took away from each experience?

Candidate:  Good question.  Let’s take my jobs in order . . .

4.  Getting to yes
Your goal in the job interview is also to end the interview on an affirmation.  In fact, the more yeses and statements of agreement you can generate, the better off you will be.  Why?  People, including job interviewers, really prefer being agreeable.  Few people enjoy saying no.  Who needs arguments?  The best way to avoid arguments is to say yes.

If the job interview features wave after wave of  yeses, think how much easier it will be for the interviewer to say yes to that last question, whether it’s asked explicitly or implicitly:

I think I’ve demonstrated I’m qualified for this job.  I’d very much like to join the team.  Can we come to an agreement?

In tactical terms, that means framing your interview questions so the answers you want or expect will be positive:

Candidate:  I have long been impressed by Acme Widgets.  It’s been the leader in pneumatic widgets for over 50 years, right?

Interviewer:  (proudly) Yes!

Candidate:  I noticed in the current annual report that the company sets aside $50 million, or 2.5 percent of revenues, for research and development.  That’s more than all of your competitors, isn’t it?

Interviewer:  Yes.  We lead the industry in allocation of R&D by revenue.

Candidate:  As the market for widgets gets more commoditized, we will have to differentiate the product, right?  What specifically is the company doing to preserve the market share it has gained over the years?

5.  Use inclusive language
Look at the last dialogue again.  Did you notice that the candidate subtly shifted from “you” to “we”?  Words such as “we” and “our” subtly give the impression that the candidate is already a member of the team.  The more comfortable the interviewer is with the concept of the candidate already being on the team, the better the candidate’s chances.  It’s so much easier extending a job offer to someone who the interviewer on some level already perceives as part of “us” instead of “them.”

John Kador is the author of the new second edition of “301 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview” (McGraw-Hill, 2010).  He can be reached at jkador@jkador.com.

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Salary talks are always one of the trickiest components of a job offer because the employer generally has the upper hand. By the time you get to salary negotiations, which might not occur until the second, third or fourth interview, you’ve probably divulged quite a bit of information. You have already been asked to give your salary history, your current income and your salary expectations. You don’t know what the company’s budget is, what they are willing to pay and what the previous employee’s salary was.

Conventional wisdom says that you don’t bring up salary, the employer does, and it’s good advice to take. The reason is that you don’t want to suggest you’re so focused on the paycheck that the actual requirements of the job are of no interest to you. Plus, when a company knows that their salary offerings are low, they often bring it up early in the interview process because they don’t want to waste your time or theirs. It’s not a guarantee, but it happens more than you realize.

As Claire asks, what do you do when a number has been put out there and you can live with it, but you’d like to know if there is more room for negotiation? The simplest way to push for more money without forcing them to renege on the offer is to stress the positions responsibilities and make the case for more money. Don’t just say, “Eh, I want more money for my vacation in the spring.” Instead, remind them of the duties they described and the expertise you have. Try this approach, but put it in your own words: “Having worked on agency campaigns for the past five years, I know that this client will require plenty of nights and some weekends, and I’d feel more comfortable if my compensation were in [this range].” That approach opens up a dialog rather than a list of demands. Plus, you can explain that your previous job offered you some perks, benefits and bonuses that actually made your salary significantly higher than the base pay. You won’t come off greedy, but rather as someone who doesn’t want to take a financial hit moving from one job to another.

Also keep in mind what negotiations you’ve already gone through. If you’ve already gone back and forth four times and the current offer is 30 percent higher than you started with, you’re probably maxing them out right now. Forcing more negotiations will look greedy. If you’ve only been given one offer, then they probably expect a counteroffer. Some employers will tell you upfront, “We can offer this, and there’s not much room to negotiate.” That’s a sign that they’re not willing to go much higher (if at all), so any discussion should be realistic. Don’t counter with a salary 50 percent higher. Go back to them and say, “I understand that the compensation is more or less fixed, but I’d be more comfortable with a salary in [this range].” And make that range a moderate increase—one that you think you could actually get and one they would actually consider. Pricing yourself out of the job can happen with outlandish requests.

The bottom line is that you don’t know what their max is, and some finicky employers could snap back without negotiating at all and there’s no way to help that. If you present a case and treat the employer with respect, you’re worst case scenarios are getting an offer too low for you to accept or being told that the salary is final. Either way, at least you know you tried and didn’t accept an offer that you realize is too low two months later. Plus, you show that you’re strong-willed and concerned about your financial security (which is a mature trait) and not some greedy job seeker who wants someone to throw cash your way.

Thanks for the question, Claire!

Come back next week for our next chance for you to submit a question and win a copy of Career Building.

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This week’s topic was interviewing, and we had several readers submit excellent questions. (Thanks!) Alas, we could only pick one, and it came from Janet Jansen. Here’s what she asked:

“Is it appropriate to read from notes in an interview? For example, questions I would like to ask the prospective employer about the job and company.”

This question is excellent for a few reasons, and upon reading it, we realized we should’ve address it before. So here’s our chance.

We and other experts advise job seekers to be prepared. Do your research, ask questions about the company, make eye contact, look interested, don’t fidget. In other words, be as perfect as you can be. Sounds easy, right?

A few problems naturally arise from this expectation. Everyone is a little (or very) nervous on a job interview.  Therefore you’re likely to forget some of the questions you wanted to ask or some of the factoids about the company that you wanted to bring up. Plus, taking notes during an interview is recommended because it shows you’re interested and paying attention, as long as you jot a few things down and don’t attempt to transcribe ever word. There you sit with pen in hand and some paper in front of you, taking some notes and trying to show the interviewer that you’re engaged and excited. It’s your turn to ask questions, if you haven’t been sprinkling some in throughout the interview, that is.

“Uh….uhm…I was wondering…” and then you forget what you wanted to ask. That question you thought of last night before bed has slipped from your mind. If only you’d written it down. Well, you should have written it and other questions down and brought them with you. Here’s why:

1. Writing down questions as they come to you keeps you from forgetting them. You might later decide it’s not a great question or you already know the answer to it, but better to edit your questions down later than to have none to reference.

2. Having questions ready to ask proves you’ve thought about this interview and the job. Interviewers like to know you are interested and that neither of you is wasting time. Questions that reference the company in some way are nice ways of showing that you’re not using stock questions for every job interview. Use your research and the information you learned so far in the interview to form such a question. For example, “Could you talk a little more about some of the people you introduced me to today? Would I be collaborating with the director or the area vice president on a regular basis or only on certain projects?” The question doesn’t have to be brilliant or complex, just inquisitive enough to get you the information you want and to show you’ve been paying attention.

3.  Pausing to check your notes gives both of you a chance to breathe.A quick glance down to look at your questions, which could be full sentences or just random phrases to remind you of a topic, allows you to relax for a moment. A few seconds of silence allows you to gather your thoughts, and the interview is probably relieved for the same reasons. Don’t stare at the page for five minutes and then robotically read off the question, of course. That’s just boring…and creepy.

4. Questions that came to you during the interview are better answered now than later.When the interviewer is talking, you’re likely going to think of something related that you want to ask. If you have an opportunity to ask the question at that moment, do it. However, if the conversation is flowing so that asking the question isn’t appropriate, scribble a note down so you can ask later. During the Q&A portion, you can say, “Following up on something you mentioned earlier, I was wondering…” You show that you’re interested and you get an answer right then as opposed to thinking about it later that night when you can’t get it answered. (Interviewers don’t like you calling them at 9 p.m. to ask follow-up questions, FYI.) Also, you can steer the conversation to issues you care about. The interviewer might have glossed over some of your management duties, for example, and this allows you to dig deeper and signal to the interviewer that you’d like to hear more about this part of the job. You learn more about the job and the interviewer learns more about you. It’s a win/win.

Congratulations, Janet, and thanks for asking such a great question. We’ll be sending you a copy of Career Building!

Check back on Monday for a new topic so you can submit your question and have a chance to win your own copy of Career Building.

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As our last post said, we’re holding a contest where we ask you to submit your questions based on that week’s topic. We’ll choose one person’s question to answer and then send him or her a copy of Career Building, which will bring you hours of joy for the rest of your life. It’s a contest that’s fun and informative — what more could you want?

This week’s topic is interviewing. We want to know what questions you have about interviewing. We’ll pick a unique question that we haven’t tackled before and that we think other job seekers or professionals are wondering about, too.

If you want to see a list of interview questions we’ve already answered over the history of The Work Buzz, look here.

Remember, for this week’s topic, submit your comments to this post by 11.59 p.m. CST. We’ll answer the question on Friday and notify the winner via e-mail to send him or her the book, so make sure you provide a valid e-mail addres to us. (Refer to the previous post to read the rules and regulations.)

So, readers, let’s hear your questions about interviews!

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Looking at a recent CareerBuilder survey, I suppose many other job seekers share the same face-in-the-palm level of embarrassment about some of their missteps. For the survey, employers were asked to name some of the most notable interview mistakes they’ve witnessed, and they gave some whoppers. As outrageous as some of these missteps are, I’m sure we’ve all had interviews we wish we could take back. The professional equivalent of acid-washed jeans, if you will.

Here are some of the most entertaining responses:

• Candidate wore a business suit with flip-flops.
• Candidate asked if the interviewer wanted to meet for a drink after.
• Candidate had applied for an accounting job, yet said he was “bad at managing money.”
• Candidate recited poetry.
• Candidate applying for a customer service job said, “I don’t really like working with people.”
• Candidate used Dungeons and Dragons as an example of teamwork.
• Candidate filed fingernails.

Even if you haven’t exhibited interview behavior on this level, you might have still left an unfavorable impression behind. According to employers, these are the most common mistakes candidates make during interviews:

• Dressing inappropriately
• Appearing disinterested
• Speaking negatively about a current or previous employer
• Appearing arrogant
• Answering a cell phone or texting during the interview
• Not providing specific answers
• Not asking good questions

In the full release, CareerBuilder Vice President of Human Resources Rosemary Haefner offers several tips on how to avoid being the candidate who is singled out for exhibiting strange behavior. Perhaps the most important piece of advice she gives is to practice. The more prepared you are, the less likely you are to ramble or say something you’ll eventually regret. Read the rest of the release for more tips and examples of interview faux pas.

So how about it, readers: Who else can admit to some embarrassing interview behavior? Surely I’m not the only one.

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You might wonder what the big deal is. After all, a handshake’s a handshake. (Unless you’re the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.) But anyone who’s been on the receiving end of a lackluster or awkward shake understands why it matters. Even if you think a handshake is a fleeting gesture, you will make a snap judgment about the person’s presentation in that moment. Well, if it’s good, you might not pay much attention. However, if it’s bad, you will definitely take note.

University of Iowa business professor Greg Stewart conducted a study where students were sent into mock job interviews. In the interviews, the students met handshake raters (whose purpose was not revealed to them) and hiring managers. After the interviews, the handshake raters gave the students a score on their shake. Separately, the hiring managers assessed the students’ interview performance. The students who had the best handshake ratings were also seen as the most hirable candidates. Perhaps not a coincidence. As Stewart points out, job seekers are told time and time again how to dress and answer questions. Handshakes are one of the few moments when personality shines through. Unfortunately, all the wrong parts of a personality can shine through.

A good handshake should consist of a firm grip and a few pumps up and down. Maintain eye contact with the other person while you do this. Remember, everything in moderation. Don’t crush the other person’s hand or pull her arm out of socket while you stare into her eyes like a hypnotist. A normal, controlled handshake is perceived as outgoing and personable, which aren’t bad qualities to display in business.

What don’t you want to convey with your handshake? Here’s a quick guide you might want to keep in your pocket for reference before you head to an interview or meeting.

1. “I get it, you’re stronger than me.”
Your hand is not trying to wring all the juice from a lemon, so please don’t attempt to crush every bone in the other person’s hand—it just makes you look like you’re trying to prove yourself.

2. “Oww!”
An overeager shaker can catch the other person by surprise, so by the time the handshake starts, you’ve got one person grabbing on to four fingers. It’s awkward, yes, and painful for the person whose four fingers are being cracked.

3. “Sure, I guess I’ll pretend to care about meeting you.”
Some people liken this shake to a dead fish. It’s limp and apathetic and very awkward for the other person. Don’t give the impression that you’re disinterested—that’s no way to give a greeting.

4. “We’re now bonded together for eternity.”
An eternal handshake usually comes from people who are a little too happy to greet you or who are extremely nervous and forget to let go. You do a few hand pumps…and then some more…and some more…and finally you start to wonder if you’ve just participated in some sort of wedding ceremony.

5. “Bet you didn’t see that one coming!”
Although in most cases we don’t suggest changing who you are just to fit in with the crowd, the handshake is one instance. Most people use their right hands for a shake, and so if you extend your left hand, you end up with a fumbling, awkward encounter that leads to a strange hybrid of a handshake and an old-fashioned Southern Belle’s greeting (charmed, I’m sure). In this one scenario, follow the crowd and use your right hand.

Ultimately, you want people to remember you, not the handshake. Rarely do I remember a good handshake, and even less often do I hear anyone discuss a great handshake. I do remember the bad ones, and I’ve had people ask me if I remember so-and-so because he gave such a strange, awkward shake. In the grand scheme of things, handshakes aren’t the most important part of life. However, in today’s competitive job market, no one wants to get dismissed for something as frivolous as a handshake, so you might as well put your best hand forward.

Edited to add: I just wanted to say that the comments below raised a point that I failed to make in the entry. Specifically, these guidelines are based on the most commonplace American business standards. As with all professional interaction (whether it’s written communication or body language), you should be aware of your audience. Research the customs and practices of people you’re meeting with, particularly if they are not from the U.S.  As displayed by the below comments, cultural differences can alter how a handshake is perceived, and that does affect your first impression. You certainly want to make a good impression and you don’t want to offend your audience.

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From certain skill sets to that cultural fit, it’s no wonder job seekers are confused about what employers are really looking for in their next hire. If you are wondering that same thing hoping to make some headway in your job search, watch our latest video from CareerBuilder TV about the things that can sway employers.

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