Skip the hand shake?

[ToriAletheia]

I have my oral board for the Des Moines Police scheduled on June 5th. The e-mail I received states "For timing reasons, formal greetings, i.e. shaking hands with each Commissioner, is not necessary."
Of course, everything I've read has stated the importance of shaking hands with the interviewers! So it's going to seem wrong to skip that part!
Should I actually skip the handshake, and show that I actually read the e-mail...or shake hands anyway because even though the e-mail says it's "not necessary", it could still be the difference between making a good first impression and not? Maybe I should shake their hands on my way out of the interview only, and not at the beginning?
Every little thing is going to count, so I just want to get the best advice I can!
Thanks!

[Iowa #1603]

I have my oral board for the Des Moines Police scheduled on June 5th. The e-mail I received states "For timing reasons, formal greetings, i.e. shaking hands with each Commissioner, is not necessary."
Of course, everything I've read has stated the importance of shaking hands with the interviewers! So it's going to seem wrong to skip that part!
Should I actually skip the handshake, and show that I actually read the e-mail...or shake hands anyway because even though the e-mail says it's "not necessary", it could still be the difference between making a good first impression and not? Maybe I should shake their hands on my way out of the interview only, and not at the beginning?
Every little thing is going to count, so I just want to get the best advice I can!
Thanks!

You have been given WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS


I would follow them.

Every little thing is going to count, so I just want to get the best advice I can!
Thanks!

I agree

it could still be the difference between making a good first impression and not?

I guarantee that if you disregard the instructions given you in the email --------------------you will make an impression

[Chopshopcop]

Thus endeth the lesson

[PhilipCal]

One of the required abilities of an aspiring Officer is the ability to follow instructions. Those instructions have been transmitted to you. I appreciate and understand your basic instinct and desire to demonstrate courtesy, and to sell your yourself.

A very good way NOT to do that would be for you not to follow the instructions you've been given.

[Kimble]

Common sense goes a long way in the law enforcement career field, then again not everyone who applies for LE jobs is the right fit, so...

[just joe]

How about you do like they asked? Hand shakes don't mean anything when no one is shaking hands.

[Raider97]

To piggy back on this thread...I have taken one Oral Board before (I did pass) but as I was escorted into the room I was instructed to have a seat in a lone chair located in the middle of the room I was in...The Panel Members were situated about 6 feet in front of me...Due to the fact that I was following directions I did not shake hands to begin the interview but I did when the interview was over. Although I did pass the interview only to get the "non select" later should I have still gone to the table and shaken the panel members hands? When I entered the room the members of the panel were sitting and not standing which kind of made me feel like a hand shake might have over done it...I am only asking this question because I have two interviews coming up in the near future and I would like to give the best impression possible...Thank you for your time.

[Chopshopcop]

Generally speaking, cops don't like to shake hands with strangers, particularly those we may not see again. Save the handshakes for when you get the job or graduate the academy. However, if someone on the board initiates the handshake, you're GTG

[Iowa #1603]

To piggy back on this thread...I have taken one Oral Board before (I did pass) but as I was escorted into the room I was instructed to have a seat in a lone chair located in the middle of the room I was in...The Panel Members were situated about 6 feet in front of me...Due to the fact that I was following directions I did not shake hands to begin the interview but I did when the interview was over. Although I did pass the interview only to get the "non select" later should I have still gone to the table and shaken the panel members hands? When I entered the room the members of the panel were sitting and not standing which kind of made me feel like a hand shake might have over done it...I am only asking this question because I have two interviews coming up in the near future and I would like to give the best impression possible...Thank you for your time.

A simple "Thank you for your time." is sufficient as an ending for most interviews.


If the panel members want to shake your hand let them make the first move.

[PhilipCal]

To piggy back on this thread...I have taken one Oral Board before (I did pass) but as I was escorted into the room I was instructed to have a seat in a lone chair located in the middle of the room I was in...The Panel Members were situated about 6 feet in front of me...Due to the fact that I was following directions I did not shake hands to begin the interview but I did when the interview was over. Although I did pass the interview only to get the "non select" later should I have still gone to the table and shaken the panel members hands? When I entered the room the members of the panel were sitting and not standing which kind of made me feel like a hand shake might have over done it...I am only asking this question because I have two interviews coming up in the near future and I would like to give the best impression possible...Thank you for your time.

It's real easy to over think these deals, and thus outsmart one's self. In the case of the OP, he was sent written instructions concerning handshakes. No " Rocket Science" was required there, as the policy was pretty clearly spelled out. Yet. he questioned it. No doubt, he did so in good faith, but once more, the E-Mail plainly stated what the "policy" was.

Past that, take another look at what my colleagues have offered in this thread. OK, now that you've done that, consider the following. What will spell the difference between success and failure in a given Oral Board is your overall demeanor, and how well you respond to the questions the Board asks you.

You can demonstrate all the courtesy in the world, but if you haven't properly handled the questions, it's not going to do you a dime's worth of good.

[Raider97]

That makes sense....The oral board I went to was situational and to me somewhat tough but I answered the best I could using common sense for the best logical answer. But upon leaving I was unclear if not hand shaking as opposed to shaking hands was a big deal or not.

[BTDT2]

Forget the handshake, remember to keep eye contact.
Good luck.

[OfficerBarbrady]

Is this really a question? If they tell you to skip the handshake, you skip the damn handshake.

[Iowa #1603]

.......................double tap

[Iowa #1603]

Is this really a question?.

you haven't been on this forum very long........................we get many questions like this all the time.


Many of the people who come on this forum seem to think they are smarter than us & have a system to get over on the hiring panels by doing things THEIR way.