Were you under the impression that handwriting analysis was a thing of the past? A company called Written Inc. would tell you that you're wrong, because handwriting reports "reveal the true personality traits" of job applicants. The company is dedicated to analyzing job candidates' handwriting for employers. They use a program called Candidate Insight Reporting and their website says it helps clients weed out the "bad apples, reduces turn-over rates, and reduces risk and liability."
Wondering how they get the written samples in the first place? Candidates give their consent by filling out (by hand, of course) the Sample Collection and Consent Form and are aware their writing will be analyzed.
Star by Julien Macdonald
Sure whatever- I'd do a handwriting sample. All those years of practicing in elementary school haven't been for naught.
1What's next? My star sign? My aura color? I absolutely would not consent to this. Why not hire people based off of their skills, educational attainment, experience, commitment to the job, and personality? Isn't that what matters?
2I don't think I'd want to work for a company that feels it's necessary pay someone to analyze handwriting. I wouldn't really care that they'd analyze my handwriting, but I just wouldn't consent because I would no longer want to be considered for the job.
3If they can't tell who the "bad apples" are by an interview, references, background check, and resume, then I wouldn't want to work for them anyway.
Deciding not to hire someone based on facts or personality is one thing, but to not hire someone from perceived characteristics based on how one writes just seems ridiculous.
4I think it is pretty dumb but I also think drug testing is dumb unless you hold a position where you are responsible for another persons life than I can understand it. I do not use drugs but really it is none of anyones business what I do in my free time.
5Everyone uses computers these days!
6What if you jammed your finger and your handwriting is sloppier because its hard to write?
7I agree with juju & cvandoorn.
A more than capable candidate shouldn't be rejected on the basis of handwriting unless it was completely illegible.
We'd have a shortage of doctors.
8I agree with almost everyone here. Not only would I not consent to this, but I wouldn't want to work for a company that did this. If you need to run a handwriting check to figure out who is good for your company then I think you have bigger issues than an open position.
9I am wondering what companies are doing this and what positions this is required for. It's bad enough sometimes you go through 3 interviews and now you would have to do this on top. It's getting more difficult to just get a job.
10I have such pretty penmanship; I love to show it off. I'd write everything in big curly-Q letters with stars and hearts and mermaids.
11I'd do it if I had to - and if they promised not to grade it! Handwriting always was my worst subject.
12I used to have nice handwriting but now that I have CTS. My handwriting is really sloppy. They can't hold my handwriting against me but if it is used to figure out personality traits, I guess that's ok...that is, if it is for something positive.
13with computers these days, i really don't see why handwriting should be so important!
14That is really weird but I'd have no problem giving a handwriting sample.
15I don't like that. As long as you can spell and your grammar is good, then a handwriting sample shouldn't be necessary. I heard that several brilliant minds in history had really bad handwriting, but it never stopped them from being respected.
16I'd be fine with doing it myself since I have good penmanship but someone like my brother who was born a lefty then forced to write with his right hand has much sloppier handwriting. It's something he as a child never had control over. Same with kids who weren't taught how to write properly in school. For those reasons, I think handwriting analysis' won't always be accurate in determining who is a qualified candidate. It can be a very small piece of the hiring process and nothing more.
17It's dumb, but I wouldn't have a problem with it.
The funny thing is, my penmanship actually helped me land the great apartment I have now. I had to fax over some paperwork to my then-potential landlady, and handwrote her a cover letter to go along with it. I have really nice handwriting (my SO said it looks like the Declaration of Independence
), and when the landlady called to tell me I'd gotten the place, she mentioned that she used to be a schoolteacher some decades ago, really valued penmanship, and loved
mine! She barely did any checking up on me after I faxed her that note and my application, and I'm pretty sure the impression my handwriting gave her was a factor in her liking me and
deciding to rent to me 
She'd never even met me in person before then.
18This might be appropriate for some jobs. Like, you know, calligrapher.
19I had my handwriting analyzed once and it summed me up in a lot of ways. But that would seem an odd thing to use to qualify candidates for a job, I think. I'd probably go along with it, but wouldn't like it much.
20Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.