Do I Need To Take Anything With Me To An Interview

If you are anything like me, you may be forgetful, especially in times of stress and a job interview can be naturally anxiety invoking for many people. On the day of the interview, you will have probably reenacted possible questions that you may be asked and run various scenarios around in your mind. The clothes that you have selected for the interview will be ready to wear, shoes polished and your overall appearance will be immaculate! However, you may have a niggling feeling that you have forgotten something…

If you are wondering whether or not you should take anything with you to your job interview, the answer is yes and of course, this should be prepared in advance so you feel confident and organised on the big day so you are not left worrying or feeling overwhelmed with trying to remember everything.

You will have usually submitted your CV to your potential employer but it is wise to bring a few copies with you in the same format as the one you sent. You may be asked questions about your CV and having it to hand can make it easy for you to refer back to and answer any questions with clarity. Interviews can occasionally have unexpected twists and you could even end up being interviewed by multiple interviewers on the day which may all need their own copy of your CV. Finally, you never can anticipate what networking opportunities you may encounter during the day so having a few spare copies of your CV can be extremely beneficial for you.

Similar to above, you may have already submitted a list of various professional references which include their contact information and their relationship to you but bringing a copy of the list will prove that you are committed to securing the role and demonstrates how prepared and organised you are.

For identification and verification purposes, it is wise to bring along proof such as a valid driving license or a passport. Often the interviewer will want to see the original version and may then photocopy it to keep on their files.

You may be given quite a wealth of information during the interview process, about the company, the role for which you are applying and any other associated and relevant facts and statistics so it is a good idea to have a plain notepad and a pen so you can make notes. Not only will this make you appear professional, proactive and forward thinking but it will ensure that none of the important information that you are being given will be forgotten.

Take all the above in a professional style bag or in a folder so you can keep all documentation together. A small bottle of plain water can become handy especially if you can feel your mouth becoming dry with nerves! Also, take an umbrella with you if there is even the slightest chance of any rain so you can remain as smart and well groomed as when you set off.

Careful preparation is essential so by taking the time to gather what you may need to help your interview go as smoothly as possible, you will arrive at the interview with confidence and an increased chance of securing that job.