Bringing job spec to interview?

colly10

Hi, I was just wondering if it's acceptable to bring a job spec to an interview to remind you exactly what skills they have asked for, so you can work down through them and point out your previous experience in each area?

MagicMarker

I would say no.

Surely you have the skills they have asked for and thus can just list off your skills?

steve9859

It is no problem taking a job spec to an interview.

But not so that you can go through the skills and competencies. To get across your skills, you should prepare answers to questions that you are likely to get, and work examples of your competencies and skills into them. When you are going through the example of a particular skill you should do it very formulaically: first set the context, then outline what were tasked to do, then the you faced, and then what the outcome was and if appropriate the long term impact.

But you can pull out the job spec when it comes to the end of the interview and they ask whether you have any questions for them. I have pulled out a job spec at this stage in an interview, covered in scribbles and questions, and it makes a good impression when someone I am interviewing does the same. You should seek clarification on any aspects of the role, or ask them to expand on a particular task. That shows that you have really thought through what the job actually is all about.

dvpower

I'd say yes.
Bring the job spec and a copy of your own CV. You wouldn't go to any other meeting without all the relevant information to hand; why would a job interview be any different?