What to Take to an Interview

There is one montage of every superhero/action hero movie that I always look forward to, its the "lock and load montage". The hero(ine) suits up, goes to their stockpile of equipment and weapons, and decisively packs up their preferred gear. In this scenario, you are the hero of the story. Packing the right tools in your briefcase will help you come out on top after the interview. (Please note: Do not pack weaponry or climbing gear for an interview, this may disqualify you from the role.)

Copies of Your Resume

Whether the recruiter asks you to bring a copy of your interview or not, always have 3-4 copies of your resume. In some scenarios, recruiters will use this as a very basic "litmus test" to see if you are prepared and deliberate. You also want to take more than one copy because the number of people you will be interviewing with could realistically range from 1-3 people. Having copies for the interviewers without being prompted shows a certain level of preparedness.

Ideally, you also want a copy of the resume for yourself. Some of the preliminary questions will be about your past work experience. Having the resume in front of you helps guide your discussion points and highlight your accomplishments.

Notepad and Pen

A candidate that is paying attention and actively engaged in the conversation is a great asset to any organization. You can show this by actively taking notes on highlights and important aspects about the role and the organization. These notes will also create a great groundwork for your stellar thank you letter after the interview.

Questions for the Interviewer

Prior to the interview you should have done research on the company and the role. Based on your research, you should have questions for the interviewer. Having those questions prewritten on a sheet shows a level of preparedness and forethought that many candidates are not able to portray.

If you need assistance with the types of questions to ask, check out our previous post Questions to ask Potential Employers.

With these tools you will have a leg up on many candidates. Use these tools effectively and you'll have an invite to a second interview or an offer letter soon enough.

Are there any additional questions you have about your job search, interviews, or resume? Please comment below or on our Facebook page. You may see your question featured on one of our posts!

This post was sponsored by Stallion Consulting Group, LLC.

Stallion Consulting Group provides one-on-one career coaching and training and partners with companies to improve their recruiting processes.