Comments on: better hiring through … wait for it … handwriting!

By: Dr.Prabhakar Belavadi

Dr.Prabhakar Belavadi — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:23:05 +0000

The merits and demerits of every evaluation depends on the evaluator’s ability and not the process itself. The handwriting analysis or graphology is a scientific method. Regarding the hiring for jobs issue as far as I know it is best used for matching the applicant for a suitable or appropriate opening. The aptitude of the applicant can certainly be assessed. The candidates who are not well versed with the science of handwriting analysis should reserve their comments. Graphotherapy, the way of changing the forms of letters by eliminating unwanted structures should be practised by them under the able guidance of a certified graphologist. It permits to change/refine a person from his old habits. An IT fellow who uses computer keyboard and does not use pen n paper has used the same equipments during his studies and atleast puts his signature for legal purposes. The vented feelings in my opinion about recruitment is only an excuse to camaflagoue their shortcomings.

By: Ashish K

Ashish K — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:10:28 +0000

In this cyber era when the kids start there schooling with computers, I feel now a days we all are bit detached from paper and pen. I conducted an informal survey in this regard where I asked such questions to the professionals that revels there handwriting habits, when they used pen for the last time and now a days how much comfortable they are.

Though I believe in the said domain of graphology, but I really have a doubt about how much this method would be effective for IT and related streams of hiring where the candidates looses the touch with pen and paper and over the period of time almost looses the writing practice.

I do not know the details of graphology but I do believe that writing should be considered as an important element in candidate screening but on the other side we just cant rely on this stream only.

Thanks for this feast of knowledge

By: Ted Levitt

Ted Levitt — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 00:34:15 +0000

How can one use “artificial intelligence and a sophisticated relational database” in handwriting analysis? No one tool should be relied upon when making a hiring decision. Yes, we cannot rely on our gut feelings. That is why we do have psychological research to provide this kind of data. However, this should be only one tool in a comprehensive selection strategy.

By: Chad Sowash

Chad Sowash — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:26:33 +0000

Are they going to include tarrot card reading in the interview also?

By: Aaron

Aaron — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:59:31 +0000

Can I take a typing test instead? Or better yet a texting test? I stopped ‘writing’ with pen and paper about 5 years ago.

By: Steven Rothberg, CollegeRecruiter.com

Steven Rothberg, CollegeRecruiter.com — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:26:06 +0000

I agree that basing a hiring decision on a handwriting analysis doesn’t pass the smell test, but sometimes, just sometimes, an employer makes a great hire despite having a severely flawed hiring process. I only need to look in the mirror to know that employers do that from time-to-time. See http://www.CollegeRecruiter.com/weblog/2008/03/sometimes_the_b.php .

By: martone

martone — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:35:33 +0000

Carnac the Magnificent

By: Michael Henreckson

Michael Henreckson — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:42:04 +0000

Yeah, they can also tell how many caffeinated beverages and candy bars the applicant has had that morning. :)

By: Thorsten

Thorsten — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:00:48 +0000

The handwriting analysis was used in Germany a couple of years in the past century. But with bad conclusions.

I am affraid to read that someone is shure to recognize that a candidate could be violent - only through his writing style. Of course, in the next step they will be shure to see by the lines of skin, who is beating his mate???

I believe it is like the discussions with the application forms and styles. The people who lives from that issues have to warm up old hats as a new idea. And the best way is to take a not profable test like this one. The best thing is, that nobody can demonstrate the opposite and hit ratio.

By: Chris Young

Chris Young — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:03:15 +0000

I must say I am a bit skeptical… I did some digging on their website and they indicate that handwriting samples have been ruled in the supreme court to be non-discriminatory. I’ll take their word for it and give them the benefit of the doubt.

What concerned me most was the absence of any job position analysis and a comprehensive identification of what traits are needed for success in what jobs. It would seem difficult to make a good hiring decision without knowing how the information identified in the reports serves as a predictor of success in the job.