Notes for Teams interview

[Needthisjob]

I have an interview tomorrow via Teams. They have sent me a couple of the areas we'll discuss at interview in advance and say the rest won't be given in advance. I'd like to have some notes on the advance areas to help support my confidence in talking about them. If I had notes on the screen can they see them? I'm not used to Teams so I'm not sure what they can see but don't want them to see my notes. I don't want to print them off and have them beside me as I don't want them to see me glancing at my side as it'll be obvious I'm looking at notes (they've not said I can't have notes though).

If I can have them on my screen while talking to them I think I'll be more confident as I'll be looking at notes rather than their faces but need to ensure they can see me and not the notes. Anyone who is used to Teams, can you advise?

No they won’t be able to see them. They may however see you aren’t reacting to their body language. I’d split screen so Teams one side and notes the other.

Ah good point. How do you split screen?

Post it notes around your laptop screen works well.

Too many notes for that I think.

I have interviewed people over Teams. It’s fairly obvious if people are reading from notes. We normally say they can look at notes but not read verbatim if that makes sense.

put your Teams call in a window rather than full screen - set up your screen before you click the final join meeting button

I used post it notes stuck on my monitor screen (but I do have a large monitor) so my eyes would still be looking roughly in direction of my camera rather than my eyes drifting downwards

id also recommend only writing keyword prompt reminders - as it’s too distracting trying to read large chunks of text whilst listening / maintaining a natural interview conversation

good luck!

How is it obvious? Hoping not to read verbatim but if I get nervous I'll have that as a back up.

Using windows.

But you really only want one or two word prompts otherwise it will be clear you’re reading.

Then it's too many notes to read from.

You need to reduce each set to a few keyword prompts that get you through the rest. If not, it doesn't matter where you put them, it will be obvious.

I know some say you can tell if people are looking at a document on screen and not at the Teams meeting/interview but, honestly, interviewers are also trying to write notes so might not be looking at you all the time; and the webcam location differs between computers. I don't think you should be 'marked down' if you're not looking directly at the camera all the time, you wouldn't sit staring at the interviewer in a face to face. I've used both solutions recently - split screen when I was interviewed at home (I have a large monitor), and post-it notes stuck round the edges of my laptop when interviewed via Teams but at work. Just don't read it out, write bullet points or word prompts instead.

People don’t speak in the same way they write. Plus if they ask a follow up question then it can throw you.

You can do this without written answers

For example the tone of their voice, their eye and head movements and body language. Believe me. Just learn what you want to say and use some prompt words.

It’s really very obvious when someone is reading on a meeting

Cue cards around your screen or 1 post it with key words or themes you want to get across about yourself

Write down 5 and challenge yourself to talk about or mention all 5 of them by the end

1 or 2 should be situational ie I did this or I was responsible for that and this was the outcome

3,4,5 should be personal traits you bring. Efficient (give example), pick things up easily (give example) team player (give example)

Press the windows key and the left or right arrow to 'snap' the notes to one half of the screen. Select the teams window to snap that to the other half of the screen. (Should make more sense as you try it)

I had bullet points on various topics on sheets of paper stuck to the walls around me.

It's definitely obvious when someone is reading from notes during an interview. It's impossible to know exactly what questions will be asked so you essentially end up trying to shoehorn a pre typed answer into the question asked.

My best advice is to try to relax as much as possible. They saw your CV and decided it was worth interviewing you. You are already looking positive to them. They want to get to know you in the interview so just try to be yourself and give honest answers to the questions. The questions will be about you and your experience so you definitely do know the answers to them. And as others have said, if there are some key themes, or key points you want to make, post it notes with little reminders are great.

All the best for the interview tomorrow, I am sure you will do great.

How did your interview go? I just went through the same process and it times i felt it was obvious i had notes.

It wasn't great and they've said it may be after Christmas until I hear.