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Work/volunteering

Handwritten applications?

(14 Posts)
MiniMouse Wed 16-Jul-14 18:45:23

Ana good idea, but I gave up on that years ago as I still wandered off course. I remember one of my pupils used to turn the paper almost upside-down to write and could not be encouraged to do it any other way!

Ana Wed 16-Jul-14 18:34:14

That's why I always use the lined backing sheet!

MiniMouse Wed 16-Jul-14 18:33:19

Good luck Phoenix I'm left-handed, too, and my letters point the right way, but my lines go downhill to the right unless I twist the paper round! If I forget, then, as I get near the bottom of the page, I run out of paper on the right and still have an inch remaining on the left wink

Anne58 Wed 16-Jul-14 18:16:11

Thank you, I've posted it, handwritten letter, printed CV.

PS Did the letter 3 times, still looked awful.

HollyDaze Wed 16-Jul-14 18:11:35

Another aspect could be that if you are willing to sit down and write it out by hand instead of printing a copy off, then you are more likely to be seriously interested in the job.

Whatever the reason though - I wish you good luck and hope you get the job smile

annodomini Tue 15-Jul-14 19:13:17

Good luck, phoenix. You deserve it in spades. flowers

Mishap Tue 15-Jul-14 19:03:08

Go for it - hopefully it will be a firm that values experience.

Charleygirl Tue 15-Jul-14 18:12:40

When I was an employer phoenix I was caught out. We looked at the CVs, decided who we were going to interview and one CV which was type written, stood out so she was interviewed with others. The person was German, could speak a little English but she did not write her CV, a friend did. We did not empoy her.

Ana Tue 15-Jul-14 18:06:15

I've read some horror stories about hand-written applications - submitted on lined paper torn from an exercise book, crossings-out(?), lilac felt-tip pen and circles for 'i' dots...

As long as it's set out properly on good-ish quality writing paper (I always use the lined loose-leaf as a guide, otherwise it's all downhill) and is clear and well spelt and punctuated, I'm sure you'll stand out from the crowd, phoenix. Good luck!

grannyactivist Tue 15-Jul-14 17:33:49

There are still quite a few employers who ask for handwritten applications phoenix - and yes, it is usually to assess the candidates spelling and grammar skills. Although of course anyone with a bit of nous would copy it from a spellchecked computer document. smile

Anne58 Tue 15-Jul-14 17:29:20

Thank you!

The firm in question is rather old fashioned in some ways, I'm actually tempted to sort of "hint" at my age maturity by putting something like "I have many years of experience"

goldengirl Tue 15-Jul-14 17:25:25

They may have had someone for interview who passed themselves off as someone else in a typewritten letter. I wouldn't let it bother you - show 'em what you can do! Good luck

Ana Tue 15-Jul-14 17:22:18

I'd imagine it's much easier to assess the standard of literacy of a candidate by a handwritten letter - they're probably just fed up with bad spelling and sloppy grammar.

Yours will be absolutely fine, phoenix. Anyway, I doubt they'd get a graphologist in, unless of course it's a job with MI5! grin

Anne58 Tue 15-Jul-14 17:10:47

I have found a job that I'm going to apply for, it requests applications by post in you own handwriting shock accompanied by a CV.

I do hope it's not going to be assessed by a graphologist, I'm left handed and my writing slopes "the wrong way"!

It has made me wonder why they have asked for hand written covering letters, if it's just to check spelling and punctuation (i.e. you didn't rely on a spell checker) then that's ok, but it has got me thinking.......