Key facts
- Dumb.co, a startup selling modified flip phones, requires handwritten cover letters for intern applicants.
- The company received nearly 900 applications for four internship roles.
- About 70% of applicants submitted handwritten letters.
- Dumb.co hired 10 interns.
- The handwritten letters were intended to assess passion for the company's 'dumb living' mission.
Dumb.co, a startup that produces customized flip phones, has introduced a new requirement for its internship applications: handwritten cover letters. This measure was implemented to combat the increasing volume of AI-generated applications that the company found to be generic and disconnected from its mission. The startup sought interns passionate about adopting a more offline lifestyle.
According to Marlee Pelton-Fuentes, customer success manager at Dumb.co, the company was inundated with cover letters that sounded as if they were written by AI. She discussed this issue with CEO Danny Hogenkamp and other colleagues, leading to the decision to require handwritten submissions. The company advertised four internship positions: marketing, business and operations, customer success, and tech, on the job platform Handshake.
Nearly 900 individuals applied for these roles, with approximately 70% submitting handwritten letters explaining their interest in 'dumb living,' their desire to work at Dumb.co, and whether they owned a 'dumb' phone. An additional 200 to 300 applicants submitted their applications via mail, also including handwritten letters. After reviewing these submissions and interviewing 60 candidates, Dumb.co hired 10 interns.
Pelton-Fuentes noted that the handwritten letters provided more insight into the applicants' personalities, attitudes, and passions, making the selection process more personal. Judd Kessler, a professor at Wharton, commented on the trend of AI being used by both job seekers and employers to manage the overwhelming number of applications, describing it as 'AI selecting AI.' He suggested that creative methods to stand out, like Dumb.co's approach, are valuable for employers to find suitable candidates.
Ian-Karlo Krockel, who was hired as a marketing intern, shared that he had struggled with job applications until he found Dumb.co's unique requirement. He found the application process aligned with his personal shift towards using a flip phone and felt reassured that his handwritten letter would be read by a person rather than filtered by software. He spent about an hour writing and scanning his letter.