Take it along to come out on top

All dressed up and ready to go ?

Considering what is useful to take with you on an interview may not be a priority, but simply having the right tools to hand and being prepared will demonstrate exactly how dedicated you are so it’s a good idea to equip yourself in advance of the following..

Take a copy of your cv

Most interviewers will bring a copy of your CV with them, however aim to take at least two copies of your CV along with you, both for yourself and for the interviewer. You may want to take additional copies if there will be more than one person conducting the interview. Double check to be sure you are printing identical CV’s and not different versions. Also be aware if a recruiter has sent your CV to the potential hirer they would likely format this with their own brand and perhaps shortened it, so it would be worth asking for a copy of what the client has been sent. This way each person will have your key skills and information to hand which could potentially influence questions, and will be a great resource tool for you if you get stuck with dates or need reminding of any key figures.

Some previous examples of your work

Although not always necessary this is sometimes an ideal way to show off your skills and achievements, it can be a way to reinforce your cv and prove your ability. It may be a small presentation you created to demonstrate your abilities to communicate with key people within an organisation. Or it could be charts, spreadsheets, your university dissertation, essays, or any other form of written structure which could be a blog post, article, or story or portfolio.

Additionally if you’re looking to work in an industry where you have little work experience, providing some examples of how you’ve gained the required skills and abilities outside of work will show enthusiasm and could be a great way to make yourself stand out.

A note pad and pen

Take your own pen and paper in preparation of writing any important information about the role or interview and generally is a great way of jotting a record of names, dates or numbers and figures. This demonstrates your commitment, focus and that you are interested in the job and organisation. It can be a great way to reference back on facts following the interview and review how it went.

Be mindful of your body language and resist temptation to fiddle about, fidget and shuffle papers and bang and tap – or even worse chew the pen, this will not leave the right impression.

Prepared questions

Towards the end of the interview you will be given the opportunity to ask questions and the worst thing you could do is to not have any prepared, and for there to be an awkward silence. Throughout the interview they may have answered lots of your potential questions however having a couple of questions prepared for the end of the interview is vital as it isn’t just a great way to gain more information it is a way to demonstrate your interest in the role and could even determine you to be the right fit for the opportunity and company.

A smile

Turn that frown upside down. Smiling is powerful stuff. It benefits you on the inside and the outside. Apparently tests have confirmed you can even fake it and still get the same results! So there is a science behind a smile. The mere act of smiling can lift your mood and lower stress considerably. People who smile appear to be more likeable, courteous and even competent. This is a great reason to smile at every person you potentially want to do business with.

Its true a smile can be contagious. If you smile and they smile, everyone in the interview room becomes a little happier.