Your Interview Armoury
We will be going through the top 8 essentials to bring with you to your interview:
Your CV, even if you haven’t been asked to bring one, it never hurts to print some extra copies. Imagine sitting opposite your interviewer and they ask ‘Do you have a copy of your CV?’ and you don’t have one on you, this is why being prepared can increase your chances of a successful interview.
A notepad and pen, this can potentially make you become more hireable than other candidates. If it feels appropriate, you could take notes on insights shared with you, and you may even learn something new that you didn’t know before such as key details on the job role. Taking notes can also accumulate questions for later on. Interviewers will notice If you’re progressively taking notes, it will not only demonstrate you’re invested in the job role but it also shows you will refer back to your notes once the interview is over. One point to be careful with though is not letting the note-taking impact your eye contact or body language when communicating throughout the interview.
Top Tip! You don’t want to ask for a spare pen during your interview, so make sure to bring spares with you.
References, your interviewer may not ask you for references, but it’s good to be prepared in case they do ask. Think of those who can speak about your professional abilities and achievements., e.g. your manager or a former teacher. Those who address your commitment and work ethic are strong options to demonstrate that you are a reliable candidate.
Top Tip! at the end of an interview when the interviewer will likely ask ‘is there anything else you would like to add?’ this is the opportunity to add ‘I would like to leave my references with you’. Not only will this look professional, but you have also ended your interview on a positive note.
Bottle of water, pack a bottle of water in your bag, in an interview you don’t know when you’re going to need some water because of nerves which may interrupt the flow of the interview. Although a lot of interviewers will offer you water upon your arrival, it can still be forgotten!
Top Tip! taking a few sips of water after being asked a tough question gains valuable seconds to think of a response.
Examples/Portfolio of your work, interviewers are impressed with candidates that can prove their skills with real examples. Of course, this won’t work all the time, but it could be that one essential requirement to explain your work, especially when working in a creative field. For example, if you have applied for a cake baker role the interviewer would rather see a portfolio of your work rather than trying to explain your abilities. It’s also a great way to show what you can do if you don’t have as much experience behind you. Certificates are another great way of showing your achievements, so if you think it’s appropriate and relevant, bring these along with you too!
Questions, pre-prepare questions to have in hand (have them in your notebook on a separate page) have 5-6 questions and ask 3 at the end of the interview, you can tailor the questions later on depending on how the interview went, the questions may have already been asked. Writing the questions down will also stop you from suddenly going blank. Make sure to ask valuable questions so it shows you have thought about the position carefully.
Identification, remember to bring photographic identification such as a Drivers License. It is always advised to take right to work documents such as a Passport, Visa, Biometric Card or Birth Certificate to prove your eligibility to work.
Directions & Contact information, after all the careful preparation, the last thing you want to do is arrive late to an interview. Write down the location and the directions and any information on the person who is interviewing you. Relying on your phone for the location and remembering the name of the interviewer can be risky if your phone runs out of battery, so remember to have a back up plan.
All the best for your interview from the team at Lighthouse Personnel Ltd!
Your CV, even if you haven’t been asked to bring one, it never hurts to print some extra copies. Imagine sitting opposite your interviewer and they ask ‘Do you have a copy of your CV?’ and you don’t have one on you, this is why being prepared can increase your chances of a successful interview.
A notepad and pen, this can potentially make you become more hireable than other candidates. If it feels appropriate, you could take notes on insights shared with you, and you may even learn something new that you didn’t know before such as key details on the job role. Taking notes can also accumulate questions for later on. Interviewers will notice If you’re progressively taking notes, it will not only demonstrate you’re invested in the job role but it also shows you will refer back to your notes once the interview is over. One point to be careful with though is not letting the note-taking impact your eye contact or body language when communicating throughout the interview.
Top Tip! You don’t want to ask for a spare pen during your interview, so make sure to bring spares with you.
References, your interviewer may not ask you for references, but it’s good to be prepared in case they do ask. Think of those who can speak about your professional abilities and achievements., e.g. your manager or a former teacher. Those who address your commitment and work ethic are strong options to demonstrate that you are a reliable candidate.
Top Tip! at the end of an interview when the interviewer will likely ask ‘is there anything else you would like to add?’ this is the opportunity to add ‘I would like to leave my references with you’. Not only will this look professional, but you have also ended your interview on a positive note.
Bottle of water, pack a bottle of water in your bag, in an interview you don’t know when you’re going to need some water because of nerves which may interrupt the flow of the interview. Although a lot of interviewers will offer you water upon your arrival, it can still be forgotten!
Top Tip! taking a few sips of water after being asked a tough question gains valuable seconds to think of a response.
Examples/Portfolio of your work, interviewers are impressed with candidates that can prove their skills with real examples. Of course, this won’t work all the time, but it could be that one essential requirement to explain your work, especially when working in a creative field. For example, if you have applied for a cake baker role the interviewer would rather see a portfolio of your work rather than trying to explain your abilities. It’s also a great way to show what you can do if you don’t have as much experience behind you. Certificates are another great way of showing your achievements, so if you think it’s appropriate and relevant, bring these along with you too!
Questions, pre-prepare questions to have in hand (have them in your notebook on a separate page) have 5-6 questions and ask 3 at the end of the interview, you can tailor the questions later on depending on how the interview went, the questions may have already been asked. Writing the questions down will also stop you from suddenly going blank. Make sure to ask valuable questions so it shows you have thought about the position carefully.
Identification, remember to bring photographic identification such as a Drivers License. It is always advised to take right to work documents such as a Passport, Visa, Biometric Card or Birth Certificate to prove your eligibility to work.
Directions & Contact information, after all the careful preparation, the last thing you want to do is arrive late to an interview. Write down the location and the directions and any information on the person who is interviewing you. Relying on your phone for the location and remembering the name of the interviewer can be risky if your phone runs out of battery, so remember to have a back up plan.
All the best for your interview from the team at Lighthouse Personnel Ltd!