Notes in an Interview?

ryan86uk

Hi all,

As the title suggests are taking Notes into an interview deemed a bad thing? good thing? Acceptable?

Obviously there could be different answers depending on the job applied for. Generally speaking though?

Thanks

t0rt0ise

I'd think it a bad thing. I'd never consider it. I tend to take notes with me and read them until I go in and then put them away.

globalds

Job as a journalist or stenographer maybe ?

But I don't see any reason to think to take notes in any interview I have had.

Aryndeneth

I agree, as you're talking about yourself and things you've actually done, I wonder why a interviewee needs notes to remember things about themselves. Also, using notes can make an answer feel almost a little scripted and it stilts the flow of the conversation. By all means use notes if they help you prepare for the interview but don't take them in with you.

ryan86uk

Fantastic replies - appreciated guys

:beer:

t0rt0ise

Aryndeneth wrote: »

I agree, as you're talking about yourself and things you've actually done, I wonder why a interviewee needs notes to remember things about themselves.

I wish my interviews were like that. In the NHS we get asked about Equality & Diversity, Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults and so on, and things like that have certain things that just have to be said.

Aryndeneth

t0rt0ise wrote: »

I wish my interviews were like that. In the NHS we get asked about Equality & Diversity, Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults and so on, and things like that have certain things that just have to be said.

I agree. I just didn't go into that much detail about everything that could come up in an interview just in order to give a to-the-point answer. However, the point still stands, I've given some very technical research based interviews and if there's something technical/policy related etc etc I need to know that the interviewee knows this stuff and can discuss it not just read it from notes.

polo32

You could possibly take in a small folder with a copy of your CV and relevant certificates/qualifications which could provide visual prompts if it's appropriate but imho just get up 15mins earlier and give those notes an extra read before you go in! good luck!

stix62

I think the only time it would be acceptable to bring out notes during an interview would be at the very end when/if you get asked the ' Is there anything you would like to ask us?' question.

InsideInsurance

I agree with others, I find it slightly odd when someone has to read their own CV when asked to describe their career history/ what they did for a certain employer etc.

Its also slightly worrying when they produce reports/ artifacts they've created for another employer/ client as they are in most cases breaching copyright, sharing corporately sensitive information etc.

Carrot007

I think other are being a bit unfair.

I tend to go blank in interviews and probably could forget my name in such a situation!

Seriously though my notes are usually a list of things I have been working on recently i am proud of so i can work them into the questions asked. I also put down reminders of how to act (I tend to direct my ears towards people rather than look at them so a helpfull reminder to keep a bit of eye contact helps). Also sometimes interviewers, especially if it is done by HR rather than someone that knows the job like to talk in there own terminology, having a reference to remind you what they actually mean can also help.

This has never been a problem at the place I work and is frequently suggested on courses on the subject offered to staff.

Interviewers have never aksed to see my notes but i would have no problem if they did. That might be the key to what sort of things you should write in them.

If you dissallow notes you may end up hireing the person who is best at interviews, which is not necacerily the best person for the job.