If you plan to use handwriting analysis for business, you will need to make sure you're trained properly. Analyzing handwriting can be an exciting yet demanding job, and a successful handwriting analysis professional does more than simply utilize handwriting analysis software.

There are plenty of ways to obtain the handwriting analysis info you need to succeed in this industry. Consider the following handwriting analysis education and training opportunities:

1. Get trained in handwriting analysis services by getting a certification.
2. Learn from handwriting experts by joining professional associations for the handwriting analysis industry.
3. Sharpen your skills at a local handwriting analysis seminar.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get certified in handwriting analysis through specialized schools

Handwriting analysis education and training is as simple as taking a class though a professional handwriting school. Going this route will ensure that you get the instruction and certification you need in the handwriting analysis industry. Getting certified can increase your chances of obtaining a job as soon as possible, and most certification classes are conveniently offered online.

I recommend: Handwriting University International allows students to obtain training and certification from anywhere through its full standard certification home study course. The International Handwriting Analysis Conference, which includes nearly a week of training, offers handwriting expert certification.

Obtain information on handwriting analysis by joining a professional association

Joining a professional handwriting analysis organization can make it easy for you to network, find classes and have access to all kinds of educational resources. Many associations are presided over by experts in the field, and most handwriting analysis professionals belong to at least one such organization.

I recommend: Join The International Graphoanalysis Society to have access to training courses, books, experts and contact with other handwriting analysis professionals. The American Handwriting Analysis Foundation offers educational resources, as well as annual conferences.

Find a seminar to learn more information about handwriting analysis

Attending a seminar is a great way to get plenty of information on handwriting analysis within a few days. No matter what your skill level or how long the seminar, you can always learn something new from the instructors and fellow handwriting analysts.

I recommend: Findaseminar.com offers the "From Handwriting Analysis to Clinical Assessment in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy" seminar, which teaches the basics to more advanced concepts and incorporates classroom discussion. Brainprints.com offers a handwriting analysis seminar hosted by an expert in graphology.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many handwriting analysis specialists and professional groups offer publications for beginners and more advanced analysts. They often range from books packed with tips and tricks to articles that discuss the history and evolution of this industry. Reading such literature is a fast way to gain some insight into handwriting analysis.

Handwriting analysis for business is becoming a popular employment screening tool, used in conjunction with more traditional methods. From an applicant's resume, you can learn if they have the job experience or education you're looking for. From their in-person interview, you can judge how they perform under pressure. But what if you could also evaluate how well they work with others, or spot deception - before you hire them? That's the goal of forensic handwriting analysis, which uses the subtle differences in handwriting to identify an individual's emotional, intellectual and social characteristics.

How can your company benefit from simple handwriting analysis?

1. Increase retention with more accurate placement of workers.
2. Reduce the risk of workplace conflict by spotting potentially troublesome employees through handwriting analysis.
   
3. Improve productivity and morale by hiring "team players."
4. Enhance everything from client relations to company image with information on handwriting analysis.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use handwriting analysis to screen potential employees

Handwriting experts say you can use handwriting analysis to uncover hidden personality traits, such as immaturity, selfishness or indecisiveness. By analyzing handwriting, they say, you can determine if a potential employee is a team player, has a bad attitude or is manipulative, for example.

I recommend: Written Inc. offers a Candidate Insight Report, designed specifically to help employers "weed out" problem employees before they hire them. Ocampa offers pre-employment handwriting analysis screening.

Test the accuracy of handwriting analysis services--on your own handwriting

Maybe you're skeptical about how much you can really learn about people from their handwriting. Why not test the process on yourself? Many handwriting analysis experts offer free instant analysis or demos on their websites.

I recommend: Take a handwriting self-evaluation at The Hand Behind the Word, The Handwriting Wizard, or The Handwriting Center. Or, take a free handwriting analysis course at Handwriting Insights.

Purchase handwriting analysis software

If you decide to use handwriting analysis regularly, handwriting analysis software can make the process quicker and easier, and eliminate the need for repeatedly hiring a handwriting expert. Software may not provide the depth or individualized analysis of an expert opinion, but can be useful as a preliminary screening tool.

I recommend: With Handwriting Analyst, you can analyze just a signature or a longer writing sample, and obtain either a brief or detailed report. The Handwriting Analyzer generates a report of up to three pages, along with graphs and a job and personality matching feature.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Handwriting analysis samples can vary from just a person's signature to four or five lines of text, and can consist of anything, but should be spontaneous--not copied from a book, for example. The sample should be written in ink and on unlined paper, and should be dated.
• •  Handwriting analysis probably won't ever replace resumes and interviews, but it may provide another dimension to the evaluation of an applicant's potential. Job applicants may 'pad' their resumes, and background checks aren't always reliable, but a person's handwriting is automatic, and may reveal more about their personality than other methods.

The simple dot of an "i" can provide valuable insight into a writer's personality. But the field of handwriting analysis is filled with potentially confusing key terms. Even if you're not conducting the analysis yourself, becoming familiar with these commonly used terms will help you find the right handwriting analyst.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Graphoanalysis, graphology and handwriting analysis

The terms graphoanalysis, graphology and handwriting analysis are often used interchangeably. Graphoanalysis is the trademarked term for the system developed by Milton N. Bunker in the early 1900s. This system determines personality traits by examining the writer's pen strokes. The International Graphoanalysis Society sets the international standard for handwriting analysis certification. Graphology and handwriting analysis are more generic terms and may refer to any system of analysis.

I recommend: Learn more about the history of graphoanalysis by visiting the International Graphoanalysis Society.

Handwriting expert

Handwriting experts don't typically conduct personality analyses. Rather, these professionals often assist in criminal investigations and testify in trials. For example, a handwriting expert can verify the authenticity of a suicide note, and a graphologist can give insight into the victim's state of mind. Companies, particularly in the insurance field, may want to consult a handwriting expert when forgery is suspected.

I recommend: A description of a handwriting expert's services and background, can be found at HandwritingExpert.com.

Trait-stroke graphology

Trait-stroke graphology is a handwriting analysis methodology that determines personality traits of the writer by examining individual letter formations. Analysts who practice trait-stroke graphology believe individuals with similar handwriting habits exhibit similar personality traits.

I recommend: Handwriting Analyst offers a brief history of trait-stroke graphology and the theories behind the practice.

Gestalt, or holistic, graphology

Gestalt, or holistic, graphology is a handwriting analysis methodology that finds its basis in gestalt psychology. Gestalt graphology closely follows the same principles as gestalt psychology: The whole picture is more important than the elements that comprise it. In this type of graphology, the handwriting analyst determines the writer's personality profile by examining the document as a whole, rather than by individual letters.

I recommend: To read more about how gestalt graphology compares with trait-stroke graphology, visit Sheila Lowe & Associates.

Graphic definitions

Graphic definitions refer to the shaping of letters in handwriting analysis. When analyzing writing, graphologists examine specific characteristics that can be grouped into similar graphic definitions. How a person crosses a 't' or dots an 'i' is an example of a graphic definition.

I recommend: See a listing of graphic definitions at HandwritingCenter.com.

Zones

Handwriting analysts divide letters into zones: upper zone, middle zone and lower zone. Some part of every letter in the English alphabet is found in the middle zone. How the writer uses the zones may be indicative of personality traits.

I recommend: Learn more about zones and personality traits at Handwriting Insights.

You might think analyzing handwriting is just a fun hobby for some, but handwriting analysis for business can come in quite handy. In fact, its uses in the business world might surprise you. You have your choice between hiring handwriting analysis services, using software or just learning the basics, but you should get an overview of the handwriting analysis applications and uses before making any purchases or signing any service contracts.

Finding information about handwriting analysis and the companies that offer it is easy. You might not have taken this science seriously in the past, but you might start when you consider the following uses in the corporate world:

1. Use information on handwriting analysis to your advantage when hiring new employees.
2. Gain insight on your group of employees by making handwriting analysis part of your company profiling procedure.
3. Put compatible teammates together based on their handwriting to work on projects for ultimate productivity.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take advantage of handwriting analysis services when hiring

The human resources department of your company should learn handwriting analysis info before hiring the next employee. There is a lot that handwriting experts can tell you about each potential new employee, from personality traits to whether they really want the job. Even if you opt for handwriting analysis software instead, it's worth every penny if you can use the information to hire the best employees.

I recommend: Check out Handwriting Analysis Inc. to have handwriting analysis specialists analyze the handwriting of your potential employees. Ocampa provides similar services.

Have a handwriting expert create a company profile for you

If you would like to know more about your staff as a whole, you don't have to go to the trouble of giving out personality tests. Instead, start analyzing the handwriting of each staff member, or send it out to a company that offers handwriting analysis for business.

I recommend: Handwritingpro offers handwriting profiles for your employees, among other services. HuVista features a whole list of corporate reports, including the ability to examine the handwriting each of your employees to compile an overall company profile.

Let a simple handwriting analysis tell you who works well together

Teams are important in business, which is why you should learn information about handwriting analysis prior to building teams of your employees. When you analyze handwriting, you can decipher which employees would work best together, and which ones would have a hard time communicating effectively. This can save you time and issues with employees.

I recommend: Handwriting Research Corporation discusses ways in which handwriting analysis samples can determine compatibility when it comes to company teams. Graphology Consulting Group provides similar services.