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?

Please rethink that belief that it is a test

as a regular interviewer for years and years, we are just trying to get the best fit for the job. It isn’t a test. We want to get best possible representation of the individual in that interview. We want to hear about all your relevent experiences

im happy for a interviewee to say an they come back to a question, and go onto the next to give them time to think. To ask clarifying questions. To use notes. To sit in a thinking silence for a fair few seconds. It’s all good if it helps the, to show us what they can do

i look for confidence (the quiet confidence of I can do it), curiosity and capability. And some passion. The rest I can train. I want that to be able to shine out form the candidate we select - so they must be given opportunity to do that.

if someone is interviewing you and making it a test - it’s likely to be a shit company who doesn’t value good employees and worse, doesn’t hire particularly well as they’re merely seeing interviewing as a test and not a session to actually get to know that person

think more “date”, less “test “

Yes. I have always taken notes into an interview. Not reams and reams, just a few bullet points as memory joggers. I've found it particularly useful for competency- based interviews because I can't necessarily remember every situation in 35 years of working, on the hoof.

I have had a very high success rate in interviews so it has obviously never been a problem.

as a regular interviewer for years and years, we are just trying to get the best fit for the job. It isn’t a test. We want to get best possible representation of the individual in that interview

It is a "test" in the sense of assessment of their knowledge and ability, though.

Presumably we are all thinking about the job we do, and / or the job we are interviewing for, and I am aware all jobs are different.

If the role involves problem solving and / or giving advice to people who ask for help, then I would certainly not employ anyone who then couldn't do that (for examples / case studies / made up scenarios) at interview. We need people who have experience, knowledge, confidence, and ability to share that knowledge.

if someone is interviewing you and making it a test - it’s likely to be a shit company who doesn’t value good employees and worse, doesn’t hire particularly well as they’re merely seeing interviewing as a test and not a session to actually get to know that person

I can't agree with that. Unless this is down to using the word 'test' in a different way. If it is a role for which knowledge is crucial, why on earth would it be a bad thing to ensure that person actually does have that knowledge and isn't lying on their CV? It doesn't mean anyone is "merely seeing interview as a test and not a session to actually get to know that person" at all. That side is very important in my role, and the roles I would interview for, but the "essential" part of the role - indeed the baseline - is having that knowledge at their fingertips.

I absolutely agree, an interview isn’t a situation where the interviewer should be actively trying to catch you out, and having notes and time to think of the best examples to discuss is entirely normal.

I interview regularly and I think a candidate having notes shows they’re prepared and organised and know their own working style.

If the role involves problem solving and / or giving advice to people who ask for help, then I would certainly not employ anyone who then couldn't do that (for examples / case studies / made up scenarios) at interview. We need people who have experience, knowledge, confidence, and ability to share that knowledge.

Having some key bullet point notes doesn’t mean they can’t share or don’t have the required experience, knowledge and confidence for the role whatsoever, it shows they’re organised and prepared.

Holding having notes against someone in an interview is quite an outdated view, it’s becoming even common to share questions ahead of the interview to get the most out of candidates, its a test of experience and the more relaxed people are the best version of that person you’ll see.

In a role that specifically needs to demonstrate their ability in a given scenario a presentation or task ahead of time (even by an hour or so) is often the best way to asses.

Very odd you’d think someone else had written the answers 🤣 You might as well then consider the entire CV or application questions had been written by another person!

It’s a much more modern way of interviewing for candidates to be prepared with bullet point notes and also many organisations are starting to share questions or the way their organisation structures interviews in advance, sometimes just an hour or so ahead of the interview.

Yes I actually can’t believe anyone would do this.

I agree with this. You’re always looking for the best out of someone. But that’s exactly why they don’t need notes. It should be a natural conversation. Not them repeating something out of a notebook.

I don’t think it’s odd.

I once saw someone at a group interview admit their flatmates helped them make part of their presentation!

Yes always, and when hiring i consider it a huge plus when someone has prepared notes, a sign they are diligent and thorough. Even better when they take notes in the interview,e.g. noting down the question So they make sure they stick to it. An interview is not a memory feat.

Being an expert does not mean only holding information in your brain. It means knowing how to prepare well, how to use sources of information and actually use them.

Absolutely, I keep it very succinct rather than reams of notepaper, it just helps to have an aide when the nerves hit and you suddenly can't remember the name of the project you spent 5 years on! Interviews aren't a GCSE exam, and it's not Dragon's Den, I think it demonstrates good preparation if anything.

Very odd you’d think someone else had written the answers 🤣

I have to admit, it wouldn't have crossed my mind until it happened 3 weeks ago.
Interview on-line, and candidate looking at the person behind their camera for every answer.
I was pretty surprised myself, at the time.

You might as well then consider the entire CV or application questions had been written by another person!

Well, that is always a possibility, and always has been. Nothing new in that happening. But generally, the interview is a chance for them to expand upon it, and it would clearly come out if they couldn't talk about anything without notes.

Yes, every single time...always got the job. It's nicely presented and typed up...