So what do these people do instead?

I smile and say "awrite, I'm Kayleigh. Nice tae meet you." no questions asked.

And what do you do with your hands? Wave?

I have drinks in them.

At a job interview?

I was talking about informally meeting someone in social situation. At my job interview the manager put his hand forth so I of course shook it. Can't leave the guy hanging.

Now I'm confused. I thought this entire conversation stemmed from you saying that you've never shaken hands with anyone.

I hadn't, until my interview 5 days ago. I said this.

Edit: of course I've jokingly shook hands with people, but had never done it meeting someone or at an interview because I'd never been to one. Which was the purpose of this thread.

Dear God!

I'm still amazed that someone could go that long without ever running into a situation where they had to shake someone's hand.

Well I was at school until 2yrs ago. I walked straight into my first job without an interview and have worked there ever since. As I've said the only time I've shaken a hand is in a jokey way, like bets, or because someone said something incredibly witty.

So no one has ever in the duration of your life stretched out his/her hand to greet you, except for this recent interview fella? Either Scotland is on another planet, or I'm missing something here.

no, because in social situations we aren't queer.

I never got the job. I fucking hate my life. Hopefully I'll get taken on part-time as a guy started in my work tonight on his first ever lifeguard shift and he went for the same job and they took him as casual so I'm going to phone up.

I'd run.

that's just as bad as a T-shirt saying "can I be your friend?"

I really don't see how this is still such a topic of confusion. For someone Kayleighs age, theres a good chance she has never been in a formal, professional situation where one would be required or expected to shake hands.

I'm used to shaking hands, even in social situations, cause I'm a man. But I gotta say, 95% of the time I do is to shake hands with another guy. I don't tend to shake womens hands, cause it isn't such a done thing.

I also don't think there needs to be physical contact when you meet someone. Theres nothing wrong with saying hello. In my opinion anyway. Alot of people seem to be suggesting that where they are, physical contact is a must and the thought of not doing it is bewildering. Thats fine, but it often isn't like that over here.

Anyway, moving on.

So do you know for a fact that you didn't get it Kayleigh? Or have you just not hjeard anything yet?

i've been shaking hands since i was 7

the first person i shook hands with is a famous politician

malays here even kiss the other's hands if they're relatives or very close

It must really be a cultural thing then because over here, male or female, it would be pretty unlikely for someone to reach their late teens/early twenties without ever having shaken someone's hand. At one time it may not have been something women really did but I think you'd have to go back to at least the 50s for that to be any kind of norm.

^ Try that at your next interview, Aurora, plus a curtsey, of course. That should land you the job !

Thank you. Somebody who actually understands. You sir, are a saint.

Naw, I got the email yesterday saying I was unsuccessful :( I haven't lost anything so I'm trying not to dwell on it. I'd just hoped for it more than I should've.

Honestly, and I'm sure a lot of American men can agree, it's sort of odd to meet another professional who doesn't shake your hand and look you in the eye. I guess I'm still suffering from somewhat antiquated notions, but anytime I say hello or goodbye to anyone it's coming with a hand shake. Otherwise it's awkward to me, waiting to see if they'll extend their hand or offer some other random greeting. Shaking hands is such a minute part of my life that I've never really thought about it's usefulness, because it's a formality. I do it for the same reason I hold doors open or say bless you to strangers, without thinking or actively forcing myself to do it.

I always hold doors open, I'm that person stuck there for ages because of the rude bastards taking advantage of me.

Could one of the mods please change the thread title to 'The Official Interview and CV Thread' that way it covers all bases leading up to a potential job. Plus I can't write cv's for ****.

I thought you had a job in leisure or something? What happened there?

I have to complete 2 hours of monthly lifeguard training which starts at 2pm on a Monday and my college timetable goes over that so I can't attend and haven't been able to for a while. :(

I hope it goes well! :)

There's probably a webpage where you can write up your CV. It asks you what sort of education you've had, courses, jobs, etc. You write all that in and then it generates some sort of lovely pdf for you that you can print out or email to your would-be employers.