Job interviews often create pressure, making thorough preparation essential for candidates. The desire to perform well and recall specific details under scrutiny frequently leads job seekers to consider bringing preparatory materials. Using personal notes is a common strategy to manage the mental load of recalling complex information while simultaneously engaging with the interviewer. Learning how to incorporate these aids professionally maximizes interview performance.
The General Rule: Is It Acceptable?
Referring to notes during an interview is acceptable when done professionally. Interviewers often view the presence of organized notes as a positive indicator of thorough preparation and respect for the process. This demonstrates that the candidate has taken the time to structure their thoughts and information beforehand.
Notes should serve strictly as a brief reference point to jog the memory or ensure completeness. They must never be treated as a complete script to be read aloud to the hiring manager. The exchange must remain a fluid, natural conversation, where the notes serve only to support the candidate’s engagement.
What to Include in Your Interview Notes
The effectiveness of notes depends entirely on the quality and organization of the content prepared ahead of time.
Key Content for Notes
A concise record of your most significant career accomplishments, structured using a method like STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result). This framework allows for quick reference to specific, measurable achievements that relate directly to the job requirements, ensuring you can provide detailed evidence of your capabilities.
A list of specific, thoughtful questions intended for the interviewer. These questions should demonstrate genuine interest in the role and the company’s trajectory, focusing on topics like team structure, company challenges, or long-term goals.
Key facts and figures about the employer, such as recent major projects, organizational values, or researched news articles. This preparation ensures you can seamlessly connect your background to the company’s current work and mission.
Strategies for Using Notes Effectively
A careful and professional approach is required for the physical presentation and access of prepared notes. Presenting notes in a high-quality portfolio or padfolio conveys organization and seriousness. This provides a stable surface for accessing documents and projects an image of preparedness that aligns with the professional environment.
Content should be written in bullet points or short phrases, not complete sentences or paragraphs. This formatting ensures quick comprehension at a glance, allowing you to locate a specific talking point rapidly and minimizing time spent looking down. Place the notes strategically on the table, to the side of your dominant hand. Referring to the notes must be seamless, avoiding any disruption to the natural rhythm of the conversation.
Potential Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Using notes poorly can create a negative impression, suggesting a lack of confidence or mastery of the subject matter. The most common mistake is reading answers verbatim, which makes the candidate sound rehearsed and unnatural. This transforms the conversation into a stiff recital, often leading the interviewer to question the candidate’s ability to communicate spontaneously.
Over-reliance on notes often results in poor eye contact. Looking down for extended periods breaks the connection and makes the interviewer feel less engaged. Candidates should maintain eye contact for the majority of the time, only briefly glancing at notes to confirm a point or transition to the next topic. Additionally, relying on notes for basic professional information, such as your job titles or years of experience, suggests an insufficient grasp of your own history.
Virtual vs. In-Person Note Usage
The interview setting significantly influences the practical application and visibility of prepared materials.
In-Person Interviews
For in-person interviews, a professional portfolio is the most appropriate and discreet method for containing physical notes. This approach maintains a tidy appearance on the table and signals respect for the formal setting. The padfolio effectively hides the notes when not needed and protects them from accidental damage.
Virtual Interviews
Virtual interviews offer greater flexibility for note-taking, though discretion remains paramount. Candidates can utilize digital note-taking applications, keeping them minimized for quick reference during a pause in the discussion. An effective technique involves placing small, non-reflective sticky notes around the perimeter of the monitor. This allows for glancing at talking points while maintaining the appearance of looking directly at the camera, preserving consistent eye contact and engagement. Regardless of the environment, notes should enhance, not dominate, the primary exchange.