That said if you apply for a qualified job in a foreign country you should have some familiarity with the customs of the target country, at least from reading. Otherwise working there might cause quite some difficulties for both sides.
I know what I am talking about. I knew foreign country B from being a trainee there. Later I went to its neighbor country C to work permanently. Given the fact that they are neighbor countries I assumed to know both of them. Well, there were quite some surprises...
Foucault would like a word.
Why do we shake hands, other than to give the other person our germs so that if I have a deadly disease the other guy will die too? Well maybe because it's just established. To show that you have respect for the other party, even that you are willing to follow customs. Calm down everyone!
(As for shaking hands - it seems to be pretty well established that it is a way of showing that you aren't going for a weapon - https://deepenglish.com/2014/07/handshake-history-listening-...)
If you put some effort into looking nice on a photo, people think you care.
On the other hand, they will see you sooner or later anyway, so there is not much gain but time.
