To wonder why that are asking for a handwriting sample

[NorthEndGal]

Skimming through the help wanted, and I see a store looking for a "zen associate" to sell merchandise. It asks you to email your resume, then hand write an autobiography, photograph it, and email the photo to them.
Wtf?
Are they trying to see if you can follow instructions, or perhaps they wrote it high?
Or maybe they want to do a handwriting analysis?

Is this a normal thing to ask for when applying for a job?
YABU it's normal
YANBU it is odd af

Why are they asking*

It's to stop spam applications, it ensures people actually want to put the effort in to applying rather than just email generic CVs.

When my dad was recruiting he got a load of time wasters who only applied to ensure they kept their JSA. He was a small business, and he didn't have time to interview folk like that, so no handwritten application went straight to file 13.

No idea what a zen associate is, but I've seen it as a requirement on some jobs too. Mainly in the form of a 'hand written covering letter' to include along with a CV and other details.

I want to know what a zen associate is... I'm googling it, I'll report back. I'm guessing it's a calm, sort of hippy sales assistant.

It's a landscape architect.

If they're planning on using a graphologist to glean anything useful then you can safely assume they're woo nutters and it's best to not apply.

Apparently French companies still like graphology.
I'm just really glad handwritten cover letters have gone out with the Ark, because I can't hold a pen well enough to write more than two words. I used to have to stick huge bright printouts explaining this on top of job applications, and I'm pretty certain they still just chucked them anyway.

I'd guess it's a small firm trying to avoid timewasters, and can only recommend phoning them up to discuss.

Maybe its to judge level of grammar and spelling.

I wouldn't send a photo. It's not necessary and could land them in heaps of problems under Equality Act 2010.

I'm amazed they haven't asked for a DNA sample.
In the words of Jim Royle :
Hand written autobiography my arse!