Do you know what to bring to a job interview? Here’s a list of items you need.
Copies of Your Resume
Bring a few copies of your resume. You can’t count on the hiring manager having it in front of him, and you might end up interviewing with more than one person. Have a resume ready to hand out.
Pens and Notepad
I can’t tell you how irritated I’ve been with candidates who weren’t able to write something down—names, dates, websites, whatever. Yes, you can enter things into your phone or tablet, but an old-fashioned pen and paper is faster to jot down some notes. Bring more than one pen in case your ink runs out.
A List of Questions to Ask
It’s hard to remember what you want to say in a stressful job interview. Make a list of questions to ask that you can glance at to jog your memory. While you’re at it, you can jot down a list of points you want to make about yourself, too.
Your 30-60-90-Day Plan
Never go to a job interview without a 30-60-90-Day Plan. This is your strategic plan for what you’ll do in the first 3 months on the job. Going over it in the interview with the hiring manager sets you head and shoulders above your competition. Find out how to create a 30-60-90-day plan and learn how to talk about it in your interview.
Brag Book
Brag books are collections of your past work, performance reviews, awards, complimentary notes, and so on. These are fantastic illustrations of what you’ve done in the past (and will do in the future). They’re perfect to bring out when you’re telling a story about something you’ve done, or to use as an extra reference for you. Learn more about brag books and build yours today.
A List of Your References
Don’t put your references on your resume, but do bring a list to your interview for when they ask. Be sure to prep your references before you go to let them know they may be called, and what would be helpful for them to talk about.
Flash Drive with Copies of Your Resume and 30-60-90-Day Plan
I am a big believer in being over-prepared. Because I know that paper resumes and 30-60-90-day plans can get dropped or coffee can get spilled on them, I always want a backup plan so I can print out new ones. Just in case.
Keep all these things neatly contained in a nice leather briefcase or portfolio. (Make sure it’s of good quality, in good condition, because hiring managers do notice these things. The better-prepared you are, the better the interview will go. Make sure you practice your answers to interview questions before you go. Best of luck!