Does it look bad if you bring notes into an interview?

PhiliousPhogg

...I think so.

But I had an interview today and I considered it (accountancy job). I had a lot to ask and thought I would forget some things.

Given that in any normal business meeting, you would bring notes or at least a pen and pad, should it not be acceptable in an interview?

Or should an interview be a test of how you present yourself on the spot with no props?

Another question: Should you be discreet with recruitment agents about what other agents are putting you forward for re the jobs and employers, ie. Should I be telling recruiter X that recruiter Y sent me for an interview with company Z who were offering €0000 in a blahblah role?

Nody

I would never recommend to bring in notes to a job honestly; and I can't recall ever seeing it either. Simply memorize the questions and make sure that you don't ask a question already answered.

Also never mention what other agencies are putting you forward for unless it is the same position. You may mention that agency X has put you forward for a job with Y but not more (to avoid two agencies sending in the CV for you which in some companies mean you're automatically thrown out).

another world

I would say it´s a big no no to bring in notes. Just revise everything as much as possible beforehand. I find memorizing things isn´t as good because if you forget it you´re left looking a bit stupid. Being relaxed will help say what you actually want to say as well.

yeahimhere

I definitly wouldn't suggest bringing in notes with answers to questions to refer to. Just practice beforehand and you'll remember.

The only things I've brought into an interview would be examples of work I've done but they are specific to the job I'm applying for.

Berty

PhiliousPhogg wrote: »

Another question: Should you be discreet with recruitment agents about what other agents are putting you forward for re the jobs and employers, ie. Should I be telling recruiter X that recruiter Y sent me for an interview with company Z who were offering €0000 in a blahblah role?

I have always told recruiters what other agencies I am with but have been wary not to tell them about other jobs until it is in the final stages so they cannot try to get their oar in with CV's as well.

I have had a number of recruitment agencies ring me about the same position with an employer but considering I would have gone for the job with one agency I had to tell the other agencies "Sorry, Im going for the interview with XYZ Recruitment"

I then have those other recruitment agencies ringing me up saying "So how did you get on with X Company?"
"I got on well in the interview but honestly thats all I can really tell you at the moment".

They were always quite understanding and continued to ring me about other jobs however good or bad the jobs were.

On the Notes thing in interviews. I have never done it other than having to prepare a presentation which meant I was reading from a presentation pointer sheet which elaborated things on the slides. I think that was borderline really. Nothing about a company cannot be memorised. If you are making points about the job in specific you need to decide if you know enough about the "JOB" to be even applying.

I always told myself "If I cannot answer a question in an interview then maybe Im not right for the job"

Maglight

Interesting questions OP. I wouldn't bring in notes with prepared answers, that would look a bit odd. But certainly I've conducted interviews where the candidate takes some notes as I'm talking and has a list of questions they wish to ask me. I think it's a good sign and shows the candidate is organised and thorough.

InReality

Well might be ok, but really only to list questions to ask them.

Checking Notes after you have been asked something would be a big no-no.

jimoc

I've always made a point of bringing a copy of my CV and a list of any questions I might want to ask to any interviews I went for.
The CV is just in case the company has a 'doctored' CV from the recruitment agency and I mention the list of questions and hand it over if the interviewer wants to just go down through them quickly rahter then having me just read them out to him.

PhiliousPhogg

Maglight wrote: »

Interesting questions OP. I wouldn't bring in notes with prepared answers, that would look a bit odd. But certainly I've conducted interviews where the candidate takes some notes as I'm talking and has a list of questions they wish to ask me. I think it's a good sign and shows the candidate is organised and thorough.

That's what I mean, I can easily talk about my past experience, why I want the job etc, without prompts. But I had a lot of questions to ask about the job, the company, future business, internal procedures, other staff on the team, etc. All stuff to show interest and commercial awareness.

I didn't bring notes on questions to ask into the interview. As someone stated above it's probably better if you have what you have to say memorised. I asked quite a few smart questions, enough to impress I think, but I forgot about other things, not easy to cover everything on the spot. My recruiter told me to bring in notes all right but I disagreed.

I had an interview a few weeks ago, and the interviewers didn't really say a whole lot about the role and the company and left it to me to ask the questions but I bombed on the spot, couldn't get a discussion going and the interview ended really quickly, horrible feeling (also smelt something rotten about that place but who knows). If I had notes there I could have done much better, but learned from the experience for sure.

I don't think it's that unprofessional, companys have whole different cultures and policies and it's good to get as much info as possible on what it's going to be like working there so that you can make a judgement between jobs if you have options.

Waiting to hear back from the interview...they are interviewing another candidate before deciding. My agent said she got very positive feedback, but you know you get all the positives from those f--kers, cant be too expectant.