Pooja Virendra Kumar - Times News Network

Bangalore, Apr 26: A few lines on your scribbling pad could just get you your next promotion or a rejection letter from a prospective employer--it's all about how you write those few lines.

Handwriting analysis is fast becoming a widely-used assessment tool, with several companies using it to get a better insight into the personality of their employees, be it in the IT, pharma, BPO or marketing sector.

Handwriting assessment is increasingly becoming an integral part of tech hiring. Graphology expert and director of Handwriting Institute India Rafiullah Baig says he has around six MNC clients--most from the IT sector--who regularly come to him for handwriting analysis.

"As of now, it's happening more in the CXO category. Companies do not want to take a chance when inducting critical and senior talent.

Both Indian and MNC companies have started asking for handwriting samples of candidates for assessment as this will give hirers an added comfort," said B S Murthy, CEO of Human Capital, a human consulting firm, which uses handwriting analysis to select candidates for top level executives of companies.

Handwriting analysis, or graphology, has the potential to reveal even the finest of personality traits of an individual.

"It is like a blueprint of a person where everything, from his professional worries, personal life, health and monetary obligations can be known in one go. Along with it the employer can also figure out if the employee will be loyal to their company," said Baig.

...Adds Murthy, "This tool reveals 120 personality traits of an individual, is also faster and cost effective. It can reveal traits like attitude, level of self esteem, physical and mental drive, temperament, integrity, communication, etc,. Those who project false personality during interviews or projects can be scanned through this tool."

Amitabh Das, CEO of VATI Consulting, an HR Firm said, "Graphology in India is still in a developing stage. Used as a supplementary tool along with psychometric behavioural tests to understand various patterns of an individual, it should certainly be successful."

The technique is useful as the presence of the candidate is not required. All particulars garnered about him are kept confidential by the HR. Recruitment involves spending lot of money, from placing advertisements to holding written tests, interviews and later orientation programmes.

Companies may be willing to spend a little more on handwriting analysis to get the right candidate.

Aseen Marwah of another HR firm Browse Consulting believes aptitude tests are the best tools to select the right candidates. But spending a few hundred rupees on handwriting analysis should not be a concern for the company if it helps get an additional insight into the personality of the person.

A handwriting analyses can cost between Rs 850 to Rs 1000, the charges increase with the complexity of the case and its purpose.

This science is also being increasingly used by the police to crack fraud cases involving property wills and kidnapping cases involving threatening letters.