To refuse to shake hands at an interview?

[Mehfruittea]

I'm the one interviewing.

I have EDS and my fingers dislocate easily. When I shake hands with someone, even a light grip hurts. If someone does a 'power pump' on me then my little finger joint dislocates at the top.

I did 2 interviews today and now my hand is killing. I've got 4 on Monday and 6 on Tuesday.

How do I get out of handshakes when I first meet someone? And without coming across like a dick or putting them off their interview?

You do not need to apologise, but mostly we all do, all the time!

in my job frequently had to attend interviews, meetings where everyone shook hands. used to as well but made uncomfortable with pain, men over firm handshakes or strange looks at me after we have shook hands. i have severe eczema so hands not always pretty and neuro problems in hands difficulty with grip etc. i have got round issue by wearing cotton gloves for eczema and or orthopedic gloves for hands. as they reached to shake hands just showed glove etc, said sorry couldnt, introduced myself and invited the person to sit. never had any negative feedback/reaction.

Meanwhile what phrase would people recommend for an interviewee in the same situation? Usually I just shake hands with the nearest couple of the panel anyway, but I could really do with a polite way to say "Hey, large middle-aged man who looks like he might need to prove his virility, don't even think about crushing my hand in a manly handshake as you will dislocate my fingers again and my five year old has already done it twice this week"?

There's always one on a panel who seems to take reasonable adjustments as a personal affront. Oh well, better luck next week I hope.

Are you able to give us some idea of what type of job it is OP - so we can explore whether the mickey mouse, hulk or some other type of hand might be more appropriate?

notcitrus my five year old also crushes my hand now! Can't believe how strong they are at this age.

The job is an office job and hulk hands would not really be appropriate. I have decided to tape my hand with KT tape and use it as a reference point when apologising and say 'no handshakes today' in a bright and breezy manner. I can then whip off the tape before my own boss sees me and starts to question anything.

That's the sad reality, I can't show weakness or injury as it starts a sub-conscious dialogue of 'I knew she would be unreliable/sick/injured etc' which becomes justification later down the line for poor treatment of me. I've only been in this job a few weeks and I need to prove myself in the role and minimise all mention, discussion and visual cues of disability. I know it's not right but I think this will be the only way to keep my job.

I'd definitely just say "I can't shake hands for medical reasons" if I was the one giving the interview.
But if I was being interviewed then I'd be more cautious and maybe invent a fictional trip to a very ill great aunt in a nursing home? Or just an injured finger giving the false impression that the problem was temporary. It's a tricky one if you don't want to disclose your disability at interview. Maybe surgical tape round fingers like the OP, you wave your taped up hand and say "sorry" which gets you out of it without you having to lie.

Oh I only just saw that you're new tk the job. I can see why you'd be more cautious about just saying "I have a disability that means I can't shake hands" then.