The French use of graphology

[Rum]

An item on the news yesterday caught my attention. It seems that the French still regularly and commonly use graphology in assessing the best candidate employment positions.

The practice has declined a bit with the introduction of electronic application processing, but it is still used in very many cases. Applicants are asked to provide a sample of their handwriting for the assessment it seems. One can lose out because an 'expert' decides your loops are too closed..or whatever, it seems.

I was somewhat surprised at what is clearly a totally wooish practice.

Here's a link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22198554

[Clinton Huxley]

Used by French military to ensure officers can sign instruments of surrender neatly.

[klr]

... or to identify potential Dreyfusses.

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

An item on the news yesterday caught my attention. It seems that the French still regularly and commonly use graphology in assessing the best candidate employment positions.

The practice has declined a bit with the introduction of electronic application processing, but it is still used in very many cases. Applicants are asked to provide a sample of their handwriting for the assessment it seems. One can lose out because an 'expert' decides your loops are too closed..or whatever, it seems.

I was somewhat surprised at what is clearly a totally wooish practice.

Here's a link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22198554

They need their bumps feeling.

[Svartalf]

Alexandre Dumas managed to start writing literature because he landed a job in a minisstry, thanks to his neat handwriting.

[Rum]

Alexandre Dumas managed to start writing literature because he landed a job in a minisstry, thanks to his neat handwriting.

But it isn't neatness which is being assessed. Handwriting is 'interpreted' to read the personality of the person. It appears to have no foundation in anything logical or testable and careers can depend on it. I'm surprised people haven't sued.

[Mysturji]

This explains Médecins Sans Frontières:
No doctor could get a job in France, so they went somewhere else.

[Svartalf]

Alexandre Dumas managed to start writing literature because he landed a job in a minisstry, thanks to his neat handwriting.

But it isn't neatness which is being assessed. Handwriting is 'interpreted' to read the personality of the person. It appears to have no foundation in anything logical or testable and careers can depend on it. I'm surprised people haven't sued.

Recruiters have relied on arbitrary means or wooish methods to trim down pools of candidates for how long?
It's not like graphology was new, or egregiously ludicrouser than other means used.

[Svartalf]

This explains Médecins Sans Frontières:
No doctor could get a job in France, so they went somewhere else.

Given that in France, the classical career plan for a physician is to be self employed and to have his own office, you don't make sense.

[Rum]

Alexandre Dumas managed to start writing literature because he landed a job in a minisstry, thanks to his neat handwriting.

But it isn't neatness which is being assessed. Handwriting is 'interpreted' to read the personality of the person. It appears to have no foundation in anything logical or testable and careers can depend on it. I'm surprised people haven't sued.

Recruiters have relied on arbitrary means or wooish methods to trim down pools of candidates for how long?
It's not like graphology was new, or egregiously ludicrouser than other means used.

The last 20 odd years of my career involved regular recruitment. In my experience there were increasingly rigorous attempts to make the process as fair as possible. A points system was used for much of that time. A panel of three or more people would score various sections of the application form. Those scoring above an agreed score would be interviewed. The interview questions were the same for all candidates, though secondary questions were allowed. Each response was scored by each of the interview panel. The person with the highest score got the job. I'm not saying that it was foolproof by any means but at least it was even handed.

[pErvinalia]

Alexandre Dumas managed to start writing literature because he landed a job in a minisstry, thanks to his neat handwriting.

He was a dumb ass, though. I'm so funny!!

[pErvinalia]

Used by French military to ensure officers can sign instruments of surrender neatly.

[MrJonno]

Alexandre Dumas managed to start writing literature because he landed a job in a minisstry, thanks to his neat handwriting.

But it isn't neatness which is being assessed. Handwriting is 'interpreted' to read the personality of the person. It appears to have no foundation in anything logical or testable and careers can depend on it. I'm surprised people haven't sued.

Recruiters have relied on arbitrary means or wooish methods to trim down pools of candidates for how long?
It's not like graphology was new, or egregiously ludicrouser than other means used.

The last 20 odd years of my career involved regular recruitment. In my experience there were increasingly rigorous attempts to make the process as fair as possible. A points system was used for much of that time. A panel of three or more people would score various sections of the application form. Those scoring above an agreed score would be interviewed. The interview questions were the same for all candidates, though secondary questions were allowed. Each response was scored by each of the interview panel. The person with the highest score got the job. I'm not saying that it was foolproof by any means but at least it was even handed.

It may or may not be fair, but its a horrid way to recruit, it gives the interviewee no way of expressing any individuality. Never forget this public sector job I went for, they asked me 'how do you deal with doing part of a job you don't enjoy'. My answer was you can't expect to enjoy every part of a job but I paid to do everything professionally.

I didn't get the job apparently due to that answer, the 'correct' answer was 'was to discuss with your manager why you don't enjoy it and try to resolve why you are comfortable with it)

[Svartalf]

Alexandre Dumas managed to start writing literature because he landed a job in a minisstry, thanks to his neat handwriting.

But it isn't neatness which is being assessed. Handwriting is 'interpreted' to read the personality of the person. It appears to have no foundation in anything logical or testable and careers can depend on it. I'm surprised people haven't sued.

Recruiters have relied on arbitrary means or wooish methods to trim down pools of candidates for how long?
It's not like graphology was new, or egregiously ludicrouser than other means used.

The last 20 odd years of my career involved regular recruitment. In my experience there were increasingly rigorous attempts to make the process as fair as possible. A points system was used for much of that time. A panel of three or more people would score various sections of the application form. Those scoring above an agreed score would be interviewed. The interview questions were the same for all candidates, though secondary questions were allowed. Each response was scored by each of the interview panel. The person with the highest score got the job. I'm not saying that it was foolproof by any means but at least it was even handed.

Funny... I've come to realize that even if I had managed to pursue my studies beyond MA toward the PhD, I'd likely never have succeeded in becoming a university don... Even in academia, hiring practices are flush with hidden snares and unwritten laws that I'd have fallen foul of... same for mosst high level public jobs... and low level ones seldom go to those who are supposed to be able to occupy them, because of the competition from the overqualified... so let alone private hiring practices that are little regulated (except to make sure you can't be racist in your hiring practices).

[Svartalf]

Alexandre Dumas managed to start writing literature because he landed a job in a minisstry, thanks to his neat handwriting.

But it isn't neatness which is being assessed. Handwriting is 'interpreted' to read the personality of the person. It appears to have no foundation in anything logical or testable and careers can depend on it. I'm surprised people haven't sued.

Recruiters have relied on arbitrary means or wooish methods to trim down pools of candidates for how long?
It's not like graphology was new, or egregiously ludicrouser than other means used.

The last 20 odd years of my career involved regular recruitment. In my experience there were increasingly rigorous attempts to make the process as fair as possible. A points system was used for much of that time. A panel of three or more people would score various sections of the application form. Those scoring above an agreed score would be interviewed. The interview questions were the same for all candidates, though secondary questions were allowed. Each response was scored by each of the interview panel. The person with the highest score got the job. I'm not saying that it was foolproof by any means but at least it was even handed.

It may or may not be fair, but its a horrid way to recruit, it gives the interviewee no way of expressing any individuality. Never forget this public sector job I went for, they asked me 'how do you deal with doing part of a job you don't enjoy'. My answer was you can't expect to enjoy every part of a job but I paid to do everything professionally.

I didn't get the job apparently due to that answer, the 'correct' answer was 'was to discuss with your manager why you don't enjoy it and try to resolve why you are comfortable with it)

Funny, I once tried that method and not only was I stuck with the job I didn't want, I got on his shit list as well, which more or less directly led to my getting broken down to the point I was retired before reaching the age of 45.