Why do some employers ask for handwritten letters of application?

Perhaps how well an applicant is able to follow directions. Having to hand write a letter requires to put extra thought and effort into the application. Also, it shows, in a way, neatness and organization.

To show that the person has determination and desire to sit down and write a real life letter, for one. It’s also a great way to judge how verbose the person is without the help of digital reference tools or having their spelling autocorrected. You really can tell a lot by how well someone communicates, even as demonstrated in this community.

I have used this often to determine; can they write where someone else can read it, can they spell (without spellcheck), can they put a sentence together (without grammar check), can they follow directions?

I actually received a “handwritten” letter, printed on a computer, saying they did not see the reason for hand writing, when they had a computer available. They did not get the job.

Would you force someone to use a typewriter when the computer is available? A kerosene lamp when you have electricity?

The idea of forcing people to write by hand is ludicrous. If you think you can learn anything useful from that, you are deluded. Schools don’t even put much emphasis on it any more, and soon, they probably won’t even bother to teach handwriting. Just typing.

I certainly wouldn’t have a job if I had to submit handwriting. No one would be able to read it.

You can tell whether someone can spell correctly or use grammar correctly with typing. Look at what happens here. The amount of fractured English is unbelievable, and these are folks for whom English is their native language.

Honestly, I can’t imagine a good reason for an employer to ask for handwriting, unless they eschewed technology. Maybe it’s a buggy whip manufacturer?

It prevents you from mail-merging 200 letters of application.

@daloon
I have people working in remote areas, computers are not an option. Handwriting may be old-fashioned but it is still needed.

I only hire literate people, if you can’t read and write, don’t apply.

@DrBill—what kind of work is that, where people can’t have computers? Sounds kind of mysterious.

@daloon
Dirty environment, massive electrical fields. Detrimental to computers and most electronics.

@daloon – Great observation, and I agree 90%. I fully agree that embracing technology is the path to smarter people in general – so what if people use calculators or formula sheets, it’s knowing how to apply the knowledge that matters most. However I do believe that one should pay homage or at least observe and respect the steps that were taken to be where the skill currently is. In my university program I was forced to learn the advanced mathematics behind 3D graphics. I didn’t understand why, and even now I still think it was a bore not studying hard was actually a great choice, but I guess I respect it more knowing its origins.

That said, if an employer asked me for such a thing, it gets noted on the Employer Quirk mental list. It does in fact say something about a company that has such a policy, and that may affect whether I choose to work for them or not.

Possibly hand writing analysis to just personality. I was in a small business owners group and one member was an owner of a very successful security gadget company. Cameras, anti-shoplifting devices, electronic tracking items etc. and he had dozens of patents. He swore by handwriting analysis as some may IQ tests or proficency tests. It was sort of like industrial psychic stuff. He used a firm that did work for criminal court cases, forgery, etc.

Many of the answers to this question really miss the mark. Grammar? Spelling? Do prospective employers really think that by requiring me to handwrite answers that I can’t first type the answers on my computer (and use grammar and spell check) before hand copying them to a piece of paper? Do prospective employers really think that by requiring handwritten answers I’ll be forced to answer on the fly? I believe it has to be more diabolical than that.

I think they want to weed out prospective employees who won’t jump through the hoops. I think the idea is to include something that is painful or absurd and weed out applicants who aren’t that desperate.