Can you bring notes to an interview (and how to use them)
As you prepare for a job interview, you might realize that it would be quite helpful if you could bring some notes that you could use while you speak to interviewers.
However, is it okay to bring notes to an interview, and if so, then under what circumstances?
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Can you bring notes to an interview?
If you haven't been to a job interview so far, you might be worried that using notes might be seen as some form of cheating by recruiters and hiring managers.
On the contrary, using notes during job interviews is quite common. And doing it properly might actually increase your chances of landing the job.
Can you use notes during a video interview?
You can use notes during a video interview as long as you just refer to them from time to time rather than read entire answers out loud.
Even if you situate your notes in a way that they won't be seen by your interviewer, or better yet, have a window open on your screen, reading answers out loud can sound unnatural, and your interviewer might pick up on that.
Simply take a quick look when you need to, don't try to hide it, and use the reminder from your notes to formulate your own answer.
Can you use notes during a phone interview?
Using notes during a phone interview would be quite easy, and it is perfectly acceptable. Still, don't be tempted to read entire answers and phrases out loud.
There is no point in trying to hide the fact that you are using notes either – a recruiter wouldn’t mind. And here you can check the signs that suggest your phone interview probably went quite well.
When is it appropriate to bring notes to an interview?
It is appropriate to bring notes to job interviews when you have certain questions about the job and the company that you'd like to ask the recruiters.
You can also write down important details about your work experience that you’d like to share.
When is it not appropriate to use notes during an interview?
It won't be appropriate to use notes during a phase of the job interview that is supposed to showcase your ability to speak. Such as a simulated conversation with a customer, for example.
Reasons to bring notes to an interview
Bringing notes to an interview will provide you with psychological safety. There is no need to worry about forgetting something that you want to discuss during an interview because it will be in your notes. And there are a few other major advantages.
1. You will appear more prepared for your interview
When the recruiters notice that you have brought your own notes to the interview, it's only natural for them to conclude that you have taken the time to prepare properly.
2. You will be seen as a competent individual
In a formal meeting, such as a job interview, notes function as an “instrument” that is used to work towards a certain goal.
A person who is capable of utilizing such an instrument will be perceived as thoughtful and resourceful. And hiring managers look for such qualities in job candidates.
Another great way to appear more competent in the eyes of hiring managers is to wear glasses to your interview.
3. You will look more promising compared to candidates who don’t use notes
Consider the poor souls who showed up to their job interviews without notes.
How do they compare to you? A promising candidate who brought the important matters they wanted to discuss in writing!
4. The recruiters will think that you have more job opportunities
After one too many interviews, a job candidate would usually have to start taking notes to collect all the important details and compare them later on. Experienced recruiters are aware of this fact.
They will think that you are going through interviews with other companies so they should be eager to present you with a job offer sooner rather than later. And by the way, this gives you a bit of leverage to negotiate your salary.
5. Using them correctly is actually quite useful
And last but not least, using notes during job interviews is actually quite practical.
You will benefit from knowing that all the important details you'd like to discuss are in there and you will be able to quickly fish out the answers to questions that the recruiters might have.
How to use notes during a job interview correctly
While bringing notes to job interviews is perfectly acceptable, how you use them matters the most. Here are a few examples of how to approach this.
1. Prepare your notes in advance
Take the time to prepare your notes before each job interview. You can even customize your notes in order to best match each company
2. Don't get lost in your notes
When preparing your notes, make sure to structure them in a simple and effective way that works for you.
Use simple phrases, make lists, and circle the most important points.
You can even use a marker to highlight certain details or questions that you'd like to ask. And make sure to go over your notes the night before your job interview.
Losing yourself in your own notes for more than 10 seconds would be pretty awkward and embarrassing.
3. Ask if it is okay to refer to your notes
Highlight the fact that you have brought notes by asking the interviewers if it is okay to refer to your notes. The purpose of this move is to focus their attention on your notes for a moment.
This way, they will know that you have prepared for the interview properly and they will give you a chance, later on, to bring up some of the questions and details from your notes.
4. Don't read entire sentences and answers out loud
The correct use of notes during an interview would be to quickly glance at them when necessary to fact-check something or to find a specific question that you wanted to ask.
Don’t even consider for a moment that you will be asked certain job interview questions and you will be reading answers out loud. This would definitely hurt your chances of being hired.
5. Don't rely on your notes too much
Last but not least, don't be too reliant on your notes. It would be preferable if, most of the time during the interview, you spoke directly to your interviewers.
Simply place your notes in front of you and glance at them from time to time if you require some specific details.
Should you take notes during an interview?
But you also need to consider the fact that the act of taking notes might be seen as a sign that later on, you will be comparing your scribings from the different job interviews you've been through.
Keep that in mind if you are trying to present yourself as somebody who really wants to work for a specific company.
Taking notes during an interview is just fine if you are doing it efficiently without taking too much time and slowing down the interview
Why it is important to take notes during an interview
It is important to take notes during a job interview if this is just one of several interviews you will be going through in the upcoming days. You might start to mix things up and become confused after the third one or so.
Don’t take chances, and simply take notes during your job interviews so you can refer to them later on.
This way, you will be able to compare salary numbers, employee benefits, responsibilities, and other position-related details. Later on, you will be able to reject certain job offers due to salary or other factors.
Interviewer taking notes during an interview – what does it mean?
It is generally a good sign if an interviewer is taking notes while they are interviewing you. This means that they consider you as a potential new recruit.
Later on, they will refer to their notes when it is time to make a hiring decision.
On another note, recruiters have to interview other candidates as well, so notes are almost mandatory for them.
In the end, if things don't work out, here are a few helpful tips on how to tell a recruiter that you are not interested in their job offer.
My advice on bringing notes to job interviews
Here is what I like to think about the notes of job candidates: it is better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.
No recruiter would mind if you brought some helpful notes with you. But they would pay attention to how you use them for sure. So stick to the good practices that I have outlined above.
