Exposed by my own pen

By ASHLEY CAMPBELL

I have a confession: I'm devious and can be manipulative - you can see it in my handwriting.

To test the claims made for graphology, I subjected myself, and a few willing victims, er, subjects, to analysis.

In our defence, our samples were less than ideal - just signatures and a sentence or two of writing. One graphologist saw faxes only, not the originals.

Both Malcolm McLeod (of the TV2 programme The Profilers) and Paul Shallard would need a couple of pages from each person and several days to consider them if they were profiling job applicants. But still, there was insight to be had and they were willing to provide it.

Maybe I shouldn't have asked.

Ashley Campbell, careers editor, New Zealand Herald

Malcolm McLeod says my quick mind and ability to think ahead means I can be shrewd and cunning, getting in and out of trouble. While I'm a workaholic (I beg your pardon) I need a kick in the butt to get started on jobs I don't own (okay, okay). I'm overly sensitive and emotionally driven but also a bit emotionally constipated. Hmmm. But what I really like is that I'm a passionate genius who may be slightly intimidating. Really, Malcolm, I'm a pussycat.

Paul Shallard suggests there's a pattern here - something about taking criticism to heart too easily, being anxious and overcome by worry. But I have a coping mechanism - I plan ahead and constantly check to make sure everything is on track. My desk is probably untidy (if it offends you, don't look). I'm a persistent, determined, even-tempered ideas person, often distracted and can be manipulative. Oh, and I'm passionate.

Jon Mayson, Port of Tauranga CEO

McLeod describes Mayson as having great focus and concentration, but at risk of missing the big picture. He has strong opinions, can be intolerant, has a sharp, penetrating intelligence and high standards. However, he's apparently not a true team player, feeling a bit stressed and needs re-invigorating.

In contrast, Shallard thinks Mayson's controlled, inquiring, forward-looking mind takes the broad view. He describes Mayson as critical and quick-witted, sometimes sharp and sarcastic. He is mathematically able and can simplify problems well, but can be too black and white. A tendency to pessimism is moderated by strong self-control. Unlike McLeod, Shallard thinks Mayson would generally work well with others.

Diane Robertson, Auckland City Missioner

McLeod thinks Robertson is, like me, emotionally driven and very intelligent. She can set unrealistic goals and is apparently pedantic, tenacious, stubborn and opinionated, which is fine for someone in authority but could cause her trouble if she wasn't. McLeod picked that she was left-handed.

Shallard describes a realistic, practical independent thinker who has a controlled, inquiring mind and thrives on facts. He sees her as mature, with good judgment, logical and not overly demonstrative. She's an idealist and dreamer who wants to bite off more than she can chew, but keeps a balance.

Alan Bollard, Reserve Bank Governor

Thankfully for New Zealand's economy, McLeod says Bollard is a great organiser, bold and outspoken. But worryingly, his handwriting suggests he uses people to achieve his personal goals. And he's also feeling both stressed and bored at the moment. I blame the dollar.

Shallard describes Bollard as a detached person and an ideal leader who is not influenced by interpersonal pressures. Highly intelligent, he can be intuitive or deductive and likes to understand the logic of a situation. A great believer in planning, he likes to be in charge and may have difficultly delegating. He's also creative and takes imaginative leaps when solving problems. A straight shooter, with a tidy desk.

Angus McNaughton, Kiwi Income Property Trust CEO

McLeod describes him as competitive, ultra-pedantic, able to simplify abstract concepts, but a bored genius who craves fresh stimulation. Apparently McNaughton would work best in partnership with someone who can keep him focused on the big picture.

According to Shallard, he's a gifted, proud, sensitive, creative, tolerant and genial person who expresses feelings easily. He's a goal-oriented, sometimes impulsive extrovert who likes to hold an important place in public life. Tends to be extravagant and has good aesthetic sense. He's independent and has excellent concentration, but underrates himself. Can get sidetracked part way through projects, wanting to do something more creative.

Cindy Gibbons, entrepreneur, author and celebrity

It's okay, Cindy, you're in good company - McLeod says I'm shrewd and cunning too. Despite a tendency to be a control freak, McLeod picks Gibbons as good leadership material, saying she is passionate, arrogant but talented, able to see the big picture, tenacious and possessor of some good old-fashioned values. But she needs to keep her moods in check.

Shallard describes Gibbons as an over-the-top person who gives too much of herself. But she's also a self-reliant, strong-willed, persistent and practical action person who's not afraid of challenges. She's considerate, compasionate, generous and drawn to others, but lacks respect for authority, rules and conventions. Shallard sees her as a traditionalist, shy underneath an outgoing exterior, and creative.

Craig Norgate, former Fonterra CEO

McLeod can see a certain boredom with circumstances and searching for inspiration in Norgate's handwriting. He describes him as an emotionally driven perfectionist who puts himself under enormous stress. He's action-oriented, wants everything done yesterday, intelligent and great at simplifying the complex.

Shallard describes Norgate as an intelligent, dominant, considerate, up-front, action-man full of enthusiasm and humour, who takes on too much but leads from the front. Outgoing and sociable but not so devoted to planning, he tends to get energetically stuck in to achieve goals. Sometimes he doesn't complete things, but because of the amount he takes on he achieves a great deal. Shallard says Norgate's writing shows signs of depleted energy, which is probably not typical.

So, would you hire any of these people? All the stress, boredom, arrogance and tendency to manipulate, would be enough to put any employer off.

And some of us might just take it personally.