If you want to improve your candidate’s chances of securing their dream position, then make sure they’ve got a firm hand.

That’s the advice from marketing recruitment firm Marketing Professionals UK, which recently carried out research into that worst of first impressions: the limp handshake.

Women are the worst offenders, with 46% of female handshakes deemed to be ‘wet fish’. Out of the 200 handshakes monitored, 48% were ‘just right’ and just 6% were ‘vice-like’ grips.

Nearly a quarter of male handshakes were vice-like, with 21% wet fish and 56% just right, according to the study.

The agency concluded from the research that employers preferred a firm, but not vice-like, grip. And female reluctance to show dominance at interview stage, which can result in a limp handshake, was not the way to impress.

Director Jenny Cainer added: “Dynamic, thrusting personalities don’t have weak, floppy handshakes. If you want a top job you need a top handshake.”