Merci de transmettre votre curriculum vitae + lettre manuscrite avec motivations et prétentions à
Envoyez une lettre manuscrite écrite en noir ou en bleu.
Un document non manuscrit peut avoir le défaut de sembler passe-partout.
La lettre de candidature est en général un document manuscrit
Le graphologue examine la lettre de motivation en se basant sur sept éléments :
Lettres de motivation: tout d'abord elles sont toujours manuscrite
Why must letters answering a job ad in France always be manuscrit-- handwritten?
Why, because most large French companies use handwriting analysis to choose employees.
(When you look up graphologie on Google, you come upon astrology and psychoanalysis almost immediately.)
A few years ago Science et Vie, the science magazine, did a dossier on graphology. They submitted the signatures of a number of people to various well-known graphologists, who concluded that the homeless guy living under the bridge was very intelligent and employable, while the famous scientist of the Académie de France was not to be recommended.
The value of graphology is simply asserted and believed, but not proven in any way; and indeed independent inquiries have shown that it is not a science and has no scientific validity. France seems to be the only country in the world that takes it so seriously. (Interestingly, France is also one of the last holdouts of old-time psychoanalysis. Few articles in the women's magazines even now are complete without "l'avis du psy" [the opinion of the psy] as the final, authoritative word, and mothers in parts of France are still told that they caused their child's autism.)
The age of the internet (young people use email instead of the post) and the EU courts (which frown upon unscientific recruiting methods) is gradually putting a stop to this. To the relief of all the anglophones in France, who never learned the importance of good handwriting.
[Later: I received this photo from Frog in L.A., who writes, "Here's a recent photo I took on Venice Beach (California). The "Sage Master" who offers handwriting analysis is actually... French!"]
And they laugh at us for believing in God :-). I know a French psychoanalyst. Very interesting person - she attempted to "hypnotize" some of us at a party.
The French are also big on the astrology, are they not?
Posted by: Jessica | 07 June 2006 at 14:06
This has always irked me. Particularly since I am left-handed, and it is a physical impossibility for me to write the ideal fountain-pen-graceful cover letter without smearing it across the heel of my writing hand.
Posted by: Romanbrent | 07 June 2006 at 14:56
Weird.
Actually, the Japanese are big into this too and I'd always meant to get mine done but then realized they can only analyze kanji and katakana characters.
Posted by: Sarah | 07 June 2006 at 15:33
Well, that's a relief... my handwriting is somewhat schizophrenic in nature anyway; it changes based on the day of the month, the mood I'm in, or how rushed I am. I've been dreading the "handwritten cover letter" aspect of trying to apply for a job in France. Maybe by the time I'm ready for some serious job-hunting, the handwriting analysis will be interdit!
Posted by: The Bold Soul | 07 June 2006 at 18:42
Great post. I've always detested this "lettre manuscrite" business. It is demeaning and infantilizing, especially when one is a professional and wants to project that image in his/her communication. And yet, I've read some reports from people who analyzed my handwriting, without knowing who I was or seeing my résumé, and they were pretty spot on... spooky, actually.
Another detestable practice in France is the demand for a CV with photo. I've worked for HR consultants in Paris, and I remember the headhunters relaxing at the end of day by playing darts with the candidates' photos they had pinned on the wall, or commenting grossly on someone's haircut, or tits, or worse.
And yet, I find the recruitement process in France far less intrusive than in the States, where they demand to know (and get access to) your most private information, such as health and financial records (and what about those urine tests?!)
As for goofball beliefs and altenative science, they're everywhere. I live in L.A. and there's plenty of them. I'm just thinking of a neighbor who follows my cat with a pendulum to check that his chakras are aligned properly, amongst other holistic deliriums.
Posted by: Frog in L.A. | 07 June 2006 at 20:36
I handwrote my letters for the first few months after moving here, but got no bites - granted though, my handwriting is atrocious! Ever since, I type them out and never include a photo unless it's specifically asked for. I haven't had any problems finding a job so far, but then again, I'm not applying for upper-level management type jobs they tend to use graphology for...
Posted by: samantha | 07 June 2006 at 20:54
Amusing, but hardly anomalous. This slots right in alongside the French fascination with socialism, what I can only describe as 'voodoo unemployment economics', and the much glorified debacle which was the French revolution.
Posted by: ZF | 07 June 2006 at 21:23
Funnily enough, I've been asked to send a handwritten cover letter together with my résumé to apply for my actual job, here in Canada. I was surprised as I knew it was a very European (or a least "French") practice. I don't think it was for a graphology analysis, maybe just to know if my writing was legible (I'm a secretary, thus need to leave notes on desks! hehe).
Posted by: Noelia | 09 June 2006 at 01:49