To ask if you take notes with you into interviews?

[SoloWanderer]

Do you bring notes into interviews, especially for senior or management roles? How has this worked for you?

Yes always, bullet points of key examples and a copy of my CV, there’s no reason you can’t take notes into an interview with you.

I have done in the past. I keep them in my bag until they ask for questions and then take them out. 'Let me just make sure we have covered everything I wanted to say and ask.' then flick through them and address any points missed.

Yes I do. Again as per PP just bullet points and memory joggers.

Always, I have a few star examples, notes on how my CV fits, notes on my research of the teams work, questions to ask them.

Yes. I don't always use them, but they're there if needed.

Notes - yes, but me dragging a huge whiteboard was a big, big mistake.

Absolutely. It shows you have prepared and means you can refer to them in what they know is a tense situation to make sure you cover everything. An interview isn't a memory test to trot out prepared responses. It's to adapt to what you're being asked with a range of good examples. It's always worked well, but then I'd always be expected to produce written documents and resources, and check data when presenting information in the job applied for.

No but I really revise and bullet point notes & leave in the car then

I did for my last interview, presented it nicely on an A3 sheet so it was easy to glance at and find what I needed. Gave it to the interviewers at the end in case it helped them remember what I had said for their scoring, plus it showed the prep I had done. I got the job.

No never. In my field I have to be ‘the expert’. If I had to memorize or read from notes I would look like I hadn’t fully prepared. I’d look like I was doing a Father of the Bride speech or interrogating a suspect. That doesn’t mean I don’t prepare to within an inch of my life. I do, but by the time I go into that interview room I am a swan who’s totally on top of the brief.

😂😂😂

I was interviewing for a senior position and took my notes with me just in case, to several different sessions. I only checked them once. Didn’t get the job. The only negative feedback was the fact I checked my notes. Two years on and I’m not still bitter about it at all 😂

I was going to interview recently, always took a notebook. Got the job.

No never. I’d feel like I was cheating on a test.
Ive interviewed lots of people and no one has ever brought notes in.

Yes I have, and got the job. I've recently interviewed as well, and its probably 50/50 those that do and don't. It didn't negatively affect what we thought of the candidates.
It was university and NHS management roles.

I did for my last interview. I had notes for a presentation and they had given a guide to subject questions so I had notes. One of the interviewer’s commented positively about them saying she always has notes too as it keeps her on track and I got that job.

Wow I'm nearly 40, regularly interview people, and have never considered or seen anyone taking in notes. It's a great idea though and I may consider it for future interviews. I've always memorised everything and have to say it's very stressful!

Yes I have and it was bulletpointed so I knew not to miss any questions about pensions etc. I got the job.

I've been on a lot of NHS interview panels and most people bring notes in but I never saw it in different industries. I think it's a great idea though.

Yes, I've taken notebooks in because if my brain goes blank, I know I've got something to hand to jog my memory.
One handy thing about being interviewed online for a job during covid was being able to stick post it notes all round my laptop screen (got the jobs!) 😁

only if I'm having to give a presentation - if I'm being asked to speak about my skills and experience, why would I need notes to remind me?

Should have us3d a few Magic white board sheets - they fold nicely into a hand bag 🤷🏼‍♀️🤣🤣🤣🤣

Worked in industry. Interviewed may people using competency STARs based approach over many many years

always perked up when I saw someone take out notes - a very good sign that they had prepared and knew they were fallible in not remembering stuff in heat of moment

I’ve also prepd younger people for interviews a lot ..always advised them to take memory jogger of their STARs, a sheet with the key words used to describe role, and question they want to ask.

tell them to take notes. PARTICULARLY Note down name of each interviewer and their role, so you don’t forget. Use their names or make reference to their role.

🤷🏼‍♀️

well you either send a lot of time practicing talking out loud about your STARs (in which case fabulous and great), or have an absolute perfect memory that doesn’t get affected by the “reptilian” brain response to adrenaline - which is a remarkable achievement
sometimes it isn’t just a memory game, or knowing yourself. If you’re doing a competency or STARs based interview, it is about being able to quickly view possible options of experiences you’ve had to use as answer to that specific question and choose the best option to illustrate the competency theyre looking for. That involves sometimes needing to think hard or outside the box. Hard when youre relying completely on memory at same time.

This, on both points.

I would feel like I didn't know my stuff - like someone had written out some good answers for me, rather than being able to respond to what is being asked.

I have never seen it from anyone I have interviewed either, and would wonder why they didn't know their stuff well enough to be able to answer what was being asked.