

{"id":13595,"date":"2021-06-21T16:53:28","date_gmt":"2021-06-21T16:53:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/?p=13595"},"modified":"2023-04-09T19:22:39","modified_gmt":"2023-04-09T19:22:39","slug":"handwritten-resume-pros-and-cons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/handwritten-resume-pros-and-cons\/","title":{"rendered":"Submitting a Handwritten Resume \u2014 Pros and Cons"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contrary to popular belief with how high-tech our working environments have become, there are instances where it is acceptable to submit a handwritten resume.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not conventional, but still acceptable.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below, we will discuss them, and the pros and cons of submitting a handwritten resume.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Should you submit a handwritten resume?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>You should only submit a handwritten resume if the job application asks for one. Sometimes, small businesses will also accept handwritten resumes. You can also submit one if you are in the creative industry and want to try an unconventional method to stand out from competitors.&nbsp;<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>YES, if the job application is specifically asking for a handwritten resume<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the job application is asking for a handwritten resume you will have to follow their request.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try to find out why they are asking for a handwritten one instead of the regular digital resume.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They could be testing your handwriting, so make sure to use proper stationery and write neatly.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research the type of candidate the company is looking for and try to adapt your handwritten resume accordingly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Small businesses that do not have job applications online will also accept handwritten resumes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It all depends on the nature of the organization.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>YES, if the job is in the creative art industry<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A resume is more than just a document with your experiences. It is the first glimpse of who you are that the recruiter sees.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When applying to a creative art-focused industry, it is more appropriate to be out-of-the-box creative.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you think your target company is looking for someone who is creative and is confident enough to not follow the norm, then by all means submit a handwritten resume.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once deciding to do so, design it in a way where your personality and creative abilities shine through.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep in mind that this is risky so research the company&rsquo;s policies well to understand if they would accept this kind of resume.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>NO for most job industries (unless otherwise stated)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For any other industry, especially tech-focused and the ones overseas, applications are most likely online.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, submitting a handwritten resume may paint you as someone unprofessional for not following the standard.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You might also come off as out-of-touch with the current work environment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every recruiter is looking for someone who is on top of the game and will follow company policies and standards.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>NO, if ATS software is used<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most job applications are now online is because they are scanned by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) first.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most recruiters only look at resumes that have surpassed the ATS otherwise they are disregarded.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ATS rejects any handwritten documents and only accepts those in PDF or Microsoft Word format.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is also why it is important to use relevant keywords and formats.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, there is a high risk of losing the opportunity of having your resume considered from the start.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are still unsure about whether you want to submit a handwritten resume or not, let&rsquo;s discuss the advantages and disadvantages.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Pros and cons of submitting a handwritten resume<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Pros of submitting a handwritten resume<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><b>A handwritten resume shows more personality<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>A handwritten resume can demonstrate your writing skills<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>A handwritten resume can show how much you want the job<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><b>1. A handwritten resume shows more personality<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A lot can be said about someone&rsquo;s personality through their handwriting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether their letters are straight or slanting, the spaces between words and overall neatness indicate aspects of a person&rsquo;s character.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Submitting a handwritten resume is more authentic than a digital one.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also gives you more room to demonstrate your personality which can be hard to do in a usual online resume.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><b>2. A handwritten resume can demonstrate your writing skills<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For teachers or anyone applying to a job where they will have to handwrite material, a handwritten resume is perfect for showcasing your writing ability.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The spelling, handwriting, and sentence structure is more personal as it is done by hand without auto-correct or other countless apps that adjust writing.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><b>3. A handwritten resume can show how much you want the job<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are someone without access to a printer or a computer that can help you design a resume, a handwritten resume may be your only choice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do not let the digital world discourage you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Submitting a handwritten resume and explaining to the hiring manager your reason for it, might work in your favor.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It shows great character and determination and goes to show how willing you to put in all your effort to get the job.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We&rsquo;ve discussed the advantages and so sometimes, a handwritten resume can be perfectly acceptable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Cons of submitting a handwritten resume<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><b>A handwritten resume can be unreadable if you have an unclear handwriting<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>You cannot customize a handwritten resume<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>A handwritten resume can signal to the recruiter that you are not tech-savvy<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>A handwritten resume can signal to the recruiter that you won&rsquo;t fit in<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><b>1. A handwritten resume can be unreadable if you have an unclear handwriting<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your handwriting is not neat enough to be easily readable, do not submit a handwritten resume.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You do not want the recruiter struggling to figure out what you have written or misunderstanding your vital experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><b>2. You cannot customize a handwritten resume<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike a digital resume, a handwritten resume remains as customizable as your writing ability goes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You cannot add different <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/the-best-resume-fonts\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fonts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, styles, or formats.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It will be hard to decorate and design a handwritten resume while remaining professional.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most likely, it will end up very plain and not eye-catching.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><b>3. A handwritten resume can signal to the recruiter that you are not tech-savvy<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Handwritten resumes are a thing of the past.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technology is essential to our current work environment and pretty much every aspect of our life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are not submitting a handwritten resume, the recruiter might assume that you don&rsquo;t have any fundamental or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/list-programming-languages-on-resume\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">advanced IT skills<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They might also think that you are unwilling to adapt to the modern environment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This may disqualify your application immediately.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><b>4. A handwritten resume can signal to the recruiter that you won&rsquo;t fit in<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As mentioned previously, everyone&rsquo;s lives have become very digitalized.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A majority of companies&rsquo; cultures are focused on being innovative technology-wise.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you come off as someone who is not tech-savvy, you would not fit in the organization, or it would take a lot of resources to ensure that you adapt.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a huge dealbreaker to recruiters.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, that you have both pros and cons, you can make an informed decision regarding submitting a handwritten resume.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just remember that your <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/cover-letters\/\" title=\"cover letter\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">cover letter<\/a> should follow the same format.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Contrary to popular belief with how high-tech our working environments have become, there are instances where it is acceptable to submit a handwritten resume. Not conventional, but still acceptable.&nbsp; Below, we will discuss them, and the pros and cons of submitting a handwritten resume. &nbsp; Should you submit a handwritten resume? You should only submit &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13600,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable-in-feed":false,"article-schema-type":"Article","disable-critical-css":false,"_convertkit_action_broadcast_export":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[521],"tags":[659,661,660],"class_list":["post-13595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-resume-writing","tag-handwritten-resume","tag-handwritten-resume-cons","tag-handwritten-resume-pros"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13595","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13595"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13595\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24430,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13595\/revisions\/24430"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13595"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13595"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13595"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}