If you’re preparing for a job interview, you might wonder if it’s appropriate to bring notes with you or not.
In this article, we asked our experts, “Is it ok to bring notes to a job interview?”
Here are their insights:
Table of Contents
- It is absolutely acceptable and encouraged to make some notes to bring into the interview
- Make sure to have organized notes
- It is absolutely okay to bring notes, however, not to be read from
- Bringing a list of questions that you would direct to your employer would be good for you
- Do not bring notes on anything personal or about you
- Keep your notes in a folder, purse or briefcase, and not just carrying random sheets of paper
- It is not a good idea if the notes are to answer questions about your past experiences
- Minimize using notes in relation to the questions you have for the company
- Preparing notes for a job interview makes common sense
- Summarize your own strengths into 3 or 4 notes that you can refer to during the interview
- In fact, I would go so far as to say you should bring a few notes
- I don’t mind notes at an interview as bringing notes is about being prepared for the interview
- Bringing notes is not only okay, but it’s also a sign of a great candidate
- It is expected that you will bring notes to an interview
- Use your notes only as reference points to support your application
- Refer to your notes in a natural way that flows with the conversation
- Notes can reveal much about a potential employee’s business and work ethics
- Know your audience first
- It’s perfectly fine to bring notes to an interview in most cases
- It’s nice to confirm that the employer is okay with you bringing notes as you walk in
- It is appropriate to bring notes but candidates should be careful of how they use them
- Having notes on a job interview is fine as long as you aren’t reading from them
- Notes show respect to the person and company you’re interviewing for
- If a candidate tends to get nervous and wants to bring notes, I would advise against it
- You may bring your notes only as a guide in case you forget an important question
- Notes are beneficial to an interview
- My advice is to not bring any pre-written notes
- It is good but never read in verbatim in front of your interviewer
- If you feel more confident and it’s a ‘must’ to have notes with you, then make sure it is organized
- It is within your right to bring notes to a job interview
- Have notes that give you talking points about specific details that are not on your resume
- You can use the notes to add any information you’ve researched about the company
- Be transparent and inform the interviewer that you brought notes
- Notes make a statement that you took the time to do some research
- Only by referencing and not reading from the notes
- Bring your notes if it lists your questions for the interviewer
- It’s not a good idea to have notes on how to answer the most common questions in interviews
- Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Coming to a job interview after having completed some rigorous research on the company, the hiring manager, and the role conveys a very positive impression for prospective candidates.
It is absolutely acceptable and encouraged to make some notes to bring into the interview
This is particularly if a candidate would like to “go deeper” in a particular area that they may have uncovered during their research. This demonstrates an air of confidence by the candidate, that they are doing their own investigation to be sure this particular opportunity would be one in which they will thrive and will have “career headroom”.
Bringing in a list of 5-8 well-thought-out questions in a candidate’s notes can also provide an extra edge of confidence that “I have this”, knowing that even if a little case of nervousness occurs, the questions are already written down on the yellow pad.
Make sure to have organized notes
Is there ever a downside to bringing notes to an interview? Yes, if a candidate has notes strewn across multiple sheets of paper and is flipping through papers in a manner that is distracting, the lack of organization and “scattered” nature could reflect negatively.
Hence, it is important to have “organized notes”, not multiple sheets of paper that can become distracting.
Hence, prepare your important points where you want to “dig deeper”, prepare 5-8 thought-provoking questions so you have them at the ready, and script out your “close for the next step” in the interview process, to be sure you don’t forget. Keep it to one, clean page, and go nail that interview (with your notes)!
Remember that your objective in an interview is to make a genuine connection with the person you are interviewing with. Anything that distracts from that should be avoided.
There’s nothing wrong with bringing notes or even taking some notes in an interview with some important caveats:
- Make sure the presentation related to the notes is neat and professional. For example, use a leather padfolio and a nice pen rather than a dog-eared folder to carry your notes and chewed-up Bic pen to take notes.
- Familiarize yourself with any data or information that you expect to share in the interview beforehand and only refer to your notes quickly if needed to confirm a specific number or detail.
- If you choose to take notes, do so very selectively and discreetly. Don’t scribble away like you’re in a college lecture hall.
- If you’ve made notes of questions you want to ask, it is very appropriate to refer to your notes to make sure you don’t forget to ask a key question.
- Make sure that you maintain eye contact, smile, and remember that an interview is a conversation.
To a great extent, whether it’s appropriate to bring notes to a job interview depends on what one considers to be “notes!”
Late in my academic career, I developed a health issue and was job-hunting to find a position located closer to my siblings and extended family members.
By that point in my career, my “vita” (the academic equivalent to a resume– which includes a great deal of one’s overall academic background) was over 15 pages long. So I doubted whether all of the super-busy members of search committees had digested (and remembered) my entire vita.
With that in mind, I made a highly “abridged” version that was only three pages long, and I brought enough copies of that much-shorter version to pass out at my interviews – should it seem to be necessary. (And I also brought along enough copies of a recent course syllabus so that the members of the search committee could see how my courses were structured– should our discussion go into that arena.)
While I considered these “handouts” to be visual aids (rather than actual notes), they often came in handy!
On the other hand, I’d never brought actual “notes”– for my own use– to an interview.
The members of a hiring team expect to be interviewing candidates with sufficient expertise to be able to answer their questions– thoughtfully and in detail– without fumbling, stumbling, or digging through notes!
Thus, job applicants need to be able to demonstrate their expertise and provide solid answers during interviews while maintaining eye contact with their counterparts.
Carole Stizza, ACC, SSCS, SHRM-SCP
International Speaker | Author | Executive Leadership Coach, Relevant Insight, LLC
It is absolutely okay to bring notes, however, not to be read from
Notes that are helpful normally include:
- Details and data on the company that is of interest to the job you are interviewing for. Know the company you are interviewing for.
- One word reminders of examples of experiences you want to share to showcase your talents and skills. They should support the success listed on your resume and link to the job you are interviewing for.
- A list of questions you need to ask them to evaluate if the role sets you up to be successful too. An interview is a two-way conversation and you need to interview them to fit no different than they interview you.
- Include blank paper to take notes. These can be to capture interview questions that stump you, details about the job you are asking about, or names and details about those you would report to, need to support or need to connect with once hired.
Having notes indicates you’ve done your homework, you’ve come prepared, and have thought through questions to ask. Consider this, if a reporter or podcaster set up a time to interview you without any notes, questions, or sample details from your work, you’d guess they were just winging it and it wouldn’t leave the best impression possible.
Yes, you can have all the data in your head, but when you really want the job you will get nervous. Having notes provides you with something to refer to, rebalance your nerves, and means you care and you’ve done the homework.
Having conducted a lot of interviews to hire people as an HR professional, when job candidates come in with notes – I’m already intrigued.
It is acceptable to bring notes to an interview, but it depends on how you’re using them that can affect how you will be perceived.
Bringing a list of questions that you would direct to your employer would be good for you
It shows how interested you are in joining their team. Having a list of information about the company is also a good reason to have notes, this shows your interviewer that you’ve done appropriate research about them before coming to the interview.
Do not bring notes on anything personal or about you
However, personal questions should not be placed in notes, such as experiences and how you would act during certain scenarios. You should be able to answer questions like these confidently, bringing notes here would show weak character.
You can’t have talking points when talking about yourself, it shows that you are unsure of yourself and will reflect poorly on how the interviewer will judge you.
Taking notes during an interview would be a benefit for you, however, you should ask the interviewer first if that would be okay. This will show the hiring manager that you are taking the interview seriously. Always remember to write down each interviewer’s name and email address so you can properly thank them after the interview.
Keep your notes in a folder, purse or briefcase, and not just carrying random sheets of paper
In addition to bringing several copies of your resume to an interview, I get asked a lot about whether it is ok to bring notes to a job interview or not.
I always say it is perfectly fine to bring notes to a job interview and there are several different types of notes you should bring.
Example notes
You want to bring notes with examples of what you have done and your accomplishments so you can review them prior to the interview. You should not look at these notes when doing a face to face interview; however, for a video interview it is ok to have them around to glance at.
The key is you don’t want to look like you are reading your answers. The notes are there to keep you focused and not distract you or the interviewer.
Company notes
You can bring notes you made on your research of the company and can refer to them in the interview. It is ok to have these out during the interview so you can update them as you speak with the interviewer and get additional details. These notes help emphasize you are prepared and interested in the role.
Question notes
These are notes to help you remember what questions you want to ask the interviewer. These also help emphasize you are prepared and interested in the role.
Job history notes
If you have not already completed an application prior to the interview, you will want to bring notes about all your previous jobs, so you have all the information you need to complete the application.
Reference notes
You want to have all the contact info you need for your references in case the company asks for them.
The key to all this is that you want to be the most prepared and professional candidate they have spoken with, so whatever notes you need in order to do that make sure you have them with you.
A job interview is an opportunity to showcase yourself. You should use it to showcase what you have done, and how you can help another organization excel using your current talents, or the talents that you want to develop over time.
The best candidates for job interviews are ones that have done their homework. While it can be daunting to keep the facts straight during such a stressful time, the question of bringing notes depends…
It is not a good idea if the notes are to answer questions about your past experiences
These should come naturally to you and you should be prepared in advance to have examples ready to draw from. In short, from your experiences and achievements, those should come straight from your head, and notes should not be required.
Minimize using notes in relation to the questions you have for the company
You should be informed enough about the company not to need notes for basic info, but if you want to drill deeper into specifics details for questions, then it is good to show that you have done some homework.
For instance, if you have an interview in finance, and you want to discuss growth, to clearly state you have a few stats that you want to discuss, pulling out notes is warranted and appreciated. You could simply state, that you took notes to ensure correctness, etc.
Notes in an interview can also be good if you want to bring the background to a previously stated analysis that you did and expressed. A candidate may be challenged on an assumption, and the details behind it may not have been known to the interviewer, so having notes with the right reference points is a great idea to help instill confidence.
Preparing notes for a job interview makes common sense
Do as much research as you can about the company offering the job – their history and location, who started the company, how many employees and who is their competition. It’s very flattering if you can show some knowledge of their business.
Conversely, if you can’t uncover much info in advance, turn the tables and ask the interviewer these questions which will demonstrate that you are sincerely interested in them. This shows that you truly want the job.
Summarize your own strengths into 3 or 4 notes that you can refer to during the interview
Don’t try to cram too much into these talking points and tailor them to suit the job opportunity. Relevance matters so read the job description carefully and respond to it specifically.
Be prepared to answer the inevitable interview question “What is your weakness?”
You should be reasonably honest with your answer but this should be seen as an opportunity to sell yourself. For example, “Although I don’t have the 5 years of direct sales experience required, in fact, I’ve been in sales since I was a kid selling lemonade”!
In fact, I would go so far as to say you should bring a few notes
This shows preparation for those that are conducting the interview. I am a fan of bringing an old school padfolio to every interview I do whether it is for a new job, a new client, a new leadership program I’m applying for, etc.
In it, I can stash fresh copies of my resume/cover letter/bio, have quick access to the bullet points I’ve rewritten, and want to be sure to share with the interviewers about my skills.
I have a few pre-written down questions that I want to ask the interviewers at the end of the interview and I have an organized place to put their business cards they give me (so I can write a quick thank you email later).
Bringing in notes shows several character traits that they may prize in an employee – planning, preparation, intentionality, researching skills (about the company or competitors) and supports your energetic case that you will indeed make a great addition to their team.
Eric Chen, MSM, MSAT, MBA, JD
Associate Professor of Business Administration, University of Saint Joseph
I don’t mind notes at an interview as bringing notes is about being prepared for the interview
Being prepared doesn’t mean you stalk the people that you hope to eventually work with. But it does mean that you learn a bit about them so that you can assess the potential fit in terms of personality and work culture.
Being prepared means you checked out the company or the organization that you want to work for. In my classes, I teach my students to access news articles and 10-K SEC filings to assess a company’s strategy, operations, and financial situation. You don’t want to go to work for a company that is on the verge of failing. You want to work for a company that is going places.
Being prepared generates a lot of information. While it would be wonderful to be able to remember everything, sometimes, you just can’t. In these cases, I think that having notes would be fine.
My students are taught to bring portfolios to their interviews. These portfolios have extra resumes, examples of projects completed, PowerPoint slide notes, and questions that you would like to ask the interviewer.
I encourage students to bring a pad and a pen to take notes during the interview and to write down things that you want to discuss at some point during the interview. Sometimes, if you don’t write down a note, you forget. That’s an opportunity lost.
Keep in mind that notes don’t mean that you get to read off your potential cheat-sheet word for word.
Notes are things that will serve as reminders, not presentations waiting to be read. Reading off a note sheet could result in sending the wrong message. You certainly don’t want to come off as stiff, robotic, or boring.
Bringing notes is not only okay, but it’s also a sign of a great candidate
When applicants bring notes to an interview it demonstrates that they have done their homework on the company, the role, and potentially the people interviewing him/her for the position.
While you should have a working knowledge of the basics such as the product/services the company offers and the markets they serve, having additional detail on their competitors and the wider market will help you stand out from other applicants. It will also prepare you to ask the interviewer questions, so be sure to jot a few down in advance.
Often times people who take time to prepare notes never need them, but referring to work you did in advance is a great way to buy time on a tricky question while displaying your work ethic.
It is expected that you will bring notes to an interview
This “pre-work” is critical in showing prospective employers that you have not taken this opportunity lightly. Those notes may include thoughtful questions, rock star stories that align to the job description, and prompts that will calm you during what-can-be a stressful process.
You won’t want to read these notes verbatim, but rather glance at them when the time is right.
You will want to be transparent with the interviewer, and let them know that you’ve put time and effort into this interview and wish to refer to your notes if needed.
I always say yes, bring notes, but remember, let’s not have the hiring manager waiting for you to fumble through them.
One of the strategies I point out during interview training is to bring a binder (or portfolio) to the interview. Here are some things you can add:
- Resumes – to give out and reference if you have a brain delay.
- Cover letters – to give out upon request.
- Reference letters – to give out upon request.
- Bullet points for successes for sales/projects (metrics) – to glance at quickly for referencing a good narrative (don’t use the same one twice).
- Bullet points for your ability to relate to the job you’re interviewing for – weave these in and mix them up with #4; you have plenty of time in the room, so navigate slowly with articulation, and make sure you are not redundant! Again, only 1 accomplishment for every question.
- Bullet points of biggest strengths and weaknesses – to glance at once it’s time to inquire, but try to come up with these before you get into the room.
- Sales sheet/project sheet – to glance add so you have the ability to address your sales figures/metrics/project data if specifics are needed (I would still resort to #4 as your key points to address though).
- Closing questions – to glance at once it’s time to inquire, and always ask at least 2 questions no matter what.
Related: What Is the Difference Between a Resume and Cover Letter?
Use your notes only as reference points to support your application
I would absolutely encourage anyone to bring notes to a job interview, provided they are used as reference points to support your candidature.
Ideally you want to produce each document at a relevant point in the conversation. Plan your interview in advance and think about how your answers can lead to the introduction of your supporting paperwork. Some examples include:
- Letters of thanks or recommendations from clients, colleagues, or managers.
- Copies of any relevant training certificates or qualifications you may have.
- Articles or market research about the company that you wish to discuss during the interview.
- Samples of your work that do not breach any confidentiality agreements with your current employer.
- A copy of your resume highlighted with points for discussion.
- Suitable forms of identification.
Not every interview is identical, but they do typically follow a similar structure which can present opportunities to introduce your notes. For example:
- Introductions – “Tell me about yourself?” (opportunity to show certificates or qualifications).
- Introductions – “What do you know about the company?” (Opportunity to produce articles or market research about the company)
- Discussion of resume (Opportunity to bring up letters of thanks or recommendation from clients, colleagues, or managers/samples of your work that do not breach any confidentiality agreements with your current employer.)
- Wrap up – do you have any questions for us? (Opportunity to produce articles or market research about the company)
Bringing notes to an interview shows that you have taken the time to prepare, painting you as a serious and attractive candidate. Don’t feel like everything you bring needs to be introduced to the conversation, instead remember the old saying; better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
Related: How to Answer “What Interests You About This Position?” in a Job Interview
Angela Watts, SHRM-CP, RACR, CCTC
Executive Resume Writer | Recruiter | Owner and CEO, MyPro Resumes & Recruiting
Refer to your notes in a natural way that flows with the conversation
A candidate who needs to reference their notes to answer each question may come off as unprepared and contrived. One who references their notes a couple of times during the interview is likely to convey they are prepared, interested, and committed to accuracy.
The most common use of notes that I see as a recruiter is a candidate looking at their pre-written questions to ask the interviewer at the end. This has never struck me as odd because the conversation is likely to run in many directions and it can be challenging to remember questions amid varied discussions, interview anxiety and your own need to analyze company fit.
It’s important, however, to read the question in your head and skip it if we’ve already discussed that topic. Nerves often take over and candidates embarrass themselves by asking a written question that the interviewer has answered.
Overall, notes can be beneficial to an interview when used appropriately.
Notes can reveal much about a potential employee’s business and work ethics
Bringing notes to a job interview is an immediate sign of a potential employee that will be organized, a problem solver, and resourceful. The more you can see how an employee would work, the better you can determine if they will fit in terms of performance and culture.
People who use organized notes are problem solvers, and they typically only want to solve a problem once, which is why they write the answer down.
In an interview, if a candidate does not know an answer from memory, but says they can look it up in their notes if given one minute, then this quick exchange can tell you five main things about how that candidate works and their business and work ethics:
- This tells you they are humble enough to admit not knowing an answer and that they ask for permission to go outside of standard expectations.
- They clearly know to manage expectations and communicate delays.
- They have demonstrated they understand technology’s part in scaling human abilities like memory and speed, and they know how to set themselves up for future success.
- You’ll also be able to tell whether or not they respect previous NDA’s and proprietary IP based on what is in the notes they are sharing with you.
- Most of all, you can see they are a problem solver and are willing to set up their own notes system in order to help them streamline problem-solving.
The reality is, in business, we all use notes all the time.
The closer you can match your hiring process to identifying candidate success in day-to-day operations, the better your chances of a successful hire.
The interview process has evolved from the traditional face to face interview, especially during a worldwide pandemic.
Candidates are now in a fortunate position to have as many notes as possible with well thought out questions, and the interviewer will be none the wiser!
Know your audience first
In a traditional Face to Face interview, I don’t see any problems with bringing notes, but it’s best to know your audience before whipping out your notepad. Some interviewers might see notes as a crutch that gives you an unfair advantage over other candidates, and others will find you prepared and well organized.
If in any doubt, leave notes until it’s question time and ask if it’s okay if you refer to them.
The last thing you want is for nerves to take over and you miss an opportunity to ask a question that demonstrates how well you researched the company.
It’s perfectly fine to bring notes to an interview in most cases
You can use your notepad to remember the questions you were hoping to ask. You can also write notes during the interview to help yourself remember key details about the job.
However, you should spend 90% of your time looking at the interviewer and maintaining eye contact. While it’s okay to write the occasional note, you don’t want to spend the interview looking down and writing notes constantly.
It’s nice to confirm that the employer is okay with you bringing notes as you walk in
You can say, “I brought a pad of paper with me in case I need to take down a note or two and to remember a few questions I was hoping to ask. Is it alright if I bring it in with us?”
Almost employers will say, “yes,” but they’ll appreciate you asking.
It is appropriate to bring notes but candidates should be careful of how they use them
Most interviewers are comfortable with note-taking on information exchanged during the meeting and to come prepared with a list of questions to reference is usually fine. It may even be ok if the candidate refers to a list of themes that they want to make sure are covered during the discussion.
However, it is never appropriate for a candidate to reference answers to questions that were prepared in advance.
That will lack authenticity and give the opposite appearance of preparedness than is intended. Preparing is essential beforehand but once the interview begins, people are better served to be as natural and conversational as possible.
Having notes on a job interview is fine as long as you aren’t reading from them
Regardless of whether it’s a zoom meeting or an in-person interview, your engagement and eye contact will have a lot to do with whether or not the interviewer perceives you as a good fit for the company and the job.
You are better off preparing for the role by studying up on the company, the position, and the person who will be interviewing you. Once you have done this, jot down a few bullet points of things you want to be able to recall during the interview, and when appropriate, glance at those bullet points to ensure you have hit all the hot topics that you want to discuss or recall.
Notes fall into two categories: key stats about the company and interview questions.
Not only is it acceptable to bring notes inside of a notebook in a portfolio folder to an interview, but our in the industry it’s considered a strike against if you do not.
Notes show respect to the person and company you’re interviewing for
Interviewees do have the ability to recover during an interview if they show that they have committed their research to memory by asking pointed questions that related directly to what we do and accurately citing their research in our discussions.
Notes show that you have prepared and you have done your requisite homework ahead of our meeting.
It shows respect for the person and company that are meeting with. You are also displaying your level of professionalism by arriving with prepared questions.
However, the notes should be organized and clear. For example, if they are handwritten, I’m looking to see if that was a first version or a clean final copy of their questions.
If a candidate tends to get nervous and wants to bring notes, I would advise against it
I think it would be better for the candidate to practice as much as possible so they don’t need notes. That said, an alternative is to bring case studies or a portfolio to use as an aid when meeting with a hiring manager.
It may help the candidate to walk through the materials with the hiring manager and leave copies of the case studies/portfolio.
Jérémy Chevallier
Marketing Director, Crash
You may bring your notes only as a guide in case you forget an important question
You may never touch your notes. But, in the case that you forget an important question you wanted to ask the interviewer—hint, you should absolutely have questions—or if you aren’t the best at telling stories, but want to leverage narrative arcs to give a better interview, notes help you remember key points you intended to mention.
Again—you may not need them during the interview but you’ll be glad you brought them in case you do.
When the purpose of bringing notes is to remember information that improves the interviewing experience for both parties, you’re best off bringing them. And any interviewer who looks down on you for having notes with you is probably not someone you should want to work with.
Notes are beneficial to an interview
Absolutely! In my experience, not only is it ok to bring some notes to a job interview, it can actually be beneficial.
An interview can be overwhelming and it’s easy to just answer the questions being asked of you, but you need to remember it’s your chance to get to know the organization and the people you will potentially be working with, as much as it is the interviewers chance to do the same.
I always advise candidates to take a list of questions to ask an interviewer and things you want to know, this shows the hiring manager you aren’t just there to answer questions, you have taken some time before the interview to prepare and think about what it is you want from an employer.
You might find all your questions are answered throughout the interview but by having some notes you won’t go home and wish you had asked something that you forgot.
It’s important to mention, notes should be written or printed neatly on a piece of paper not stored on your phone, as devices should be put away.
My advice is to not bring any pre-written notes
An exception would be a media-type interview where you e.g., want to show a portfolio of your work – photos, designs, etc.
If you are interested and want to get the job, You should have done your homework and should have researched the company, people, job role, etc. You should already know (and memorize – there are lots of techniques) what happened in your own life & career.
I believe that notes are just a distraction, which causes you to have bad eye contact, attention, and it’s almost like a little security blanket.
You need to show confidence and be really engaged with the interview panel; the only way to do that is to listen intently to them and answer the questions they want to be answered.
If you feel you can’t do this without notes, I recommend you learn about memorizing techniques, and most importantly – prepare!
Bringing notes to a job interview certainly draws a fine line between professionalism and unprofessionalism.
It makes you look more professional when you have specific questions written down you’d like to ask the interviewer.
If there are small details that make you seem more valuable, such as specific data/results from your last job, that can also be acceptable to have.
However, It can make you look less professional when you’re constantly referring to your notes to answer questions. This can make you look unprepared and distracts from forming a genuine connection with your potential employer.
It is good but never read in verbatim in front of your interviewer
It’s good to bring a notebook along to a job interview where you can take notes. If you have specific questions for your interviewer, practice them ahead of time.
You may make note of said notes in your notebook, but you do not necessarily need to bring notes to an interview to read in verbatim in front of your interviewer. Practice beforehand and refer back to your questions before the interview wraps just in case there’s any you might have missed.
I would have to say I am not in favor of candidates bringing notes into a job interview. I guess It all comes down to perception. If someone has to refer to notes, rather than me or the hiring manager listening to them fully, part of my mind would be wandering off thinking of reasons as to why would they need notes?
Even if they give perfectly cited answers from the notes it probably won’t be as powerful as if they give a less than perfectly cited answer but eye contact and engagement were kept.
If you feel more confident and it’s a ‘must’ to have notes with you, then make sure it is organized
The worst thing that could happen is for you to rummage around looking for the note that you referred to only for you having to sift through papers or notepad trying to find it. This would ruin the flow of the interview and would certainly harm your chances of securing the role.
I do, however, believe you could bring examples of work and this can be a very powerful tool to use.
Maybe the role you are interviewing for requires a high level of data analysis and reporting and you could provide them with some previous high-level reports. However, follow some quick rules if you do decide to share examples:
- Ensure the working example is redacted. If the hiring panel sees you are careless with another company’s IP then they will think you would be the same with their sensitive information.
- Keep it organized. If you have more than one work example use labels to identify and find the exact example you want
- Don’t force a work example into a question. Only show a work example if the question is exactly about that particular topic/example.
It is within your right to bring notes to a job interview
It reflects better on you as a candidate if those notes contain questions prepared in advance that you would like to ask the interviewer at the end of your interview.
It reflects very poorly on you if the notes contain points on how you plan to respond to some of the questions that the interviewer may ask. If you are checking your notes to see how best to answer an interviewer’s question, the interviewer will catch on, and this might significantly hamper your chances of getting hired.
Bottom Line: Bringing notes to an interview is perfectly okay as long as they contain appropriate content such as questions you would like to ask the interviewer at the end of the interview.
When preparing for an interview, it is definitely okay to bring notes along with you. You should also have a copy of your resume so as the interviewer asks questions about it, you can reference any exact wording if needed.
Have notes that give you talking points about specific details that are not on your resume
You may have notes that assist you with talking to the interviewer through a project, problem, or another part of your professional career. The notes don’t have to be a script. They should be words or phrases that are enough to spark your memory so that you can speak fluidly and not read from the paper.
Other items I encourage that the interviewee has on their notes are any questions they plan to ask about the job, company, or interview process. This a good place to have these questions and leave space so that you can jot the answers down if you wish.
You can use the notes to add any information you’ve researched about the company
If you’ve looked up any current business news such as mergers/acquisitions, new products/services, or noticed that they’ve had leadership changes, you can have these on your interview notes for reference as well.
In the current environment, with COVID-19, many interviews right now are happening virtually. The same goes for online interviews. You can still have your notes to one side and your resume to the other, to reference as you complete the interview. Make sure to not lose eye contact for long periods when referencing your notes.
As an entrepreneur who has interviewed and hired many team members over the years, I’ve always loved when candidates bring notes to their interviews. Aside from showing a sense of preparedness, it shows excitement and passion that I always find infectious.
Be transparent and inform the interviewer that you brought notes
Bringing notes to a job interview allows a candidate to feel more comfortable and in control of an often scary and stressful experience. However, I would always suggest being transparent from the get-go: telling the interviewer from the outset that you brought notes to ensure you don’t miss anything creates trust in the process and suggests immediately that you are taking the interview seriously.
Notes or prepared questions are great – but what I love seeing is a candidate bringing even more to the interview. It could be researching on a topic pertaining to their role, suggestions about something they believe may bring added value to the potential employer, or even their vision for the industry.
It shows commitment, a sense of pride in one’s work, demonstrates that they’ve taken the process and the potential employer to heart and that they are passionate.
Who wouldn’t want to bring in more passionate, driven people into their organizations?
Notes make a statement that you took the time to do some research
Bringing notes to an interview is 100% acceptable and in my opinion a great idea for both the interviewee and interviewer.
It shows visually that you both took the time to do some research. I personally view it as a compliment when I see someone I am interviewing to work for my company pull out some notes, it means that they actually care and want the job, so they took the time do to some homework they were not asked to do.
When someone goes above and beyond before they are part of the company what do you think they will do as one of your team members. I’m all for photographic memories and people that can recite my whole bio from memory, it still doesn’t do the same thing as someone who pulls out a notepad and has a list of questions they’ve prepared in advance with follow up questions.
Only by referencing and not reading from the notes
Yes! It should be your quest in a job interview to show your employer as best as possible what it will be like to work with you. Jobs are an open-book test and you are demonstrating how it might be to have a meeting with you after you’re hired in the interview.
By referencing your notes, but not reading from them, you show a hiring manager that you’ve prepared for this step and care about the opportunity, but still, know how to communicate in impromptu situations.
Dino Rezo
Content Manager, Employment Hub
Bring your notes if it lists your questions for the interviewer
Yes and No. Some employers like to ask potential employees if they have any questions to ask them at the end of the interview. In that case, we would recommend that you bring notes to the interview so that you can be ready to answer them. It also shows that you have done your research and demonstrates interest in the job opportunity.
Preparing for interviews can be kinda scary, the whole idea of being asked questions is stressful, and if we’re being completely honest, not too fun.
But if you take a day or two to sit down and get information on the company, the job, the hours, you’ll have some answers for the questions you will most likely be asked. In the end, when you look like you know what you’re doing, you will definitely impress the interviewer.
It’s not a good idea to have notes on how to answer the most common questions in interviews
You’ll probably be asked these two questions: “Tell me something about yourself?” or “Why did you leave your last job?”
It’s ok to write some talking points when you are practicing for an interview, but it would not lAAAAAook serious if you start reading your answers from your notes.
Also, avoid notes taken on your cellphone. This is just inappropriate to rely on notes that you have taken on your cellphone. Taking out your phone and looking at it while you’re being interviewed will distract you and the interviewer. Also, your potential employer will not look favorably on the situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring electronic notes to an interview?
This depends on the company’s policies and the format of the interview. In some cases, it may be appropriate to bring electronic notes; in others, it may not.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Check with the company: Before bringing electronic notes to an interview, check with the company to see if it’s allowed or if there are any restrictions.
Be discreet: If you bring electronic notes, make sure they aren’t visible and only use them when necessary. Avoid fiddling with your device during the interview or constantly referring to your notes.
Ensure your device is fully charged: If you bring electronic notes, be sure to fully charge your device beforehand to avoid technical issues during the interview.
Be prepared for technical difficulties: You should have a backup plan in case there are technical issues. Consider bringing a hard copy of your notes as a backup, or you can access them on your device even if there is no internet connection.
Are there situations where bringing notes to an interview is inappropriate?
Although it’s generally acceptable to bring notes to an interview, there are a few situations where it may not be appropriate:
Group interviews: In group interviews, bringing notes can be distracting or give the impression that you aren’t fully engaged in the conversation. It’s best to rely on your memory and ability to listen in these situations actively.
Impromptu interviews: If you’re called into an interview at the last minute and don’t have time to take notes, don’t worry. Focus on being present and engaging in the conversation rather than worrying about what you might have forgotten.
Creative or artistic roles: In some creative or artistic jobs, bringing notes isn’t necessary or may even be considered a hindrance to the application process. Do your best to learn about the company culture to determine if notes are appropriate.
What should I do with my notes after the interview?
After the interview, it’s important to consider what you want to do with your notes. Here are a few options you can consider:
Keep them for future interviews: If you bring notes that contain information about the company or job, you may want to keep those notes handy for future interviews with the same company or in the same industry.
Discard them: If your notes contain sensitive or confidential information, dispose of them appropriately. Otherwise, you can simply discard them.
Reflect on your performance: After the interview, take some time to reflect on your performance and review your notes. Were there areas where you could have been better prepared or more focused? Use this information to improve your interview skills for future opportunities.
Remember, the goal of bringing notes to a job interview is to help you present yourself in the best possible light. When the interview is over, it’s important that you focus on the next opportunity.