Interviews - to print or not to print?

Maggiethecat · 2023-12-01T09:36:22+00:00

Dd has Cambridge law interview on Monday at home. She’ll have two interviews and each of them has pre reading, which apparently can involve quite a number of pages. We don’t have a printer anymore and she thinks that it might be easier to deal with lots of pages if she had a printout instead of having to rely on screen. She did one practice interview where she used the screen and she said it was fine, but there weren’t many pages and she’s also said that depending on how they send the material and the formatting of the pages it might be awkward to manipulate and read on her screen while interviewing at the same time. Any advice on whether to print or just try to manipulate data on laptop while interviewing?

ReadyForPumpkins · 01/12/2023 09:39

I read on a screen. There are too many things to print and you need to learn to read from screen.

Original poster

Maggiethecat · 01/12/2023 09:56

Did you use a separate monitor for reading and laptop/PC screen for interview?

OP posts:

titchy · 01/12/2023 10:02

Absolutely use a separate monitor.

goodbyestranger · 01/12/2023 10:12

Print 100%. Gives her the option to use either.

parietal · 01/12/2023 10:21

if you have an ipad or tablet of any form, convert the docs to .pdf and put them on the tablet. then you can read from that while looking at the proper computer screen for the interview.

or just print if you can.

Needmoresleep · 01/12/2023 10:28

Print. She can then annotate, and would be easier to read late evening the night before interview. 99% of the time read on the computer, but occasionally physical paper works better.

goodbyestranger · 01/12/2023 11:09

Physical paper is used in court. Covid inquiry currently using paper documents for witnesses and the examining counsel. There's a good reason for it.

Original poster

Maggiethecat · 01/12/2023 11:23

Think she only gets it 30mins before

OP posts:

goodbyestranger · 01/12/2023 11:26

Then it won't be that long. The long ones tend to be sent further ahead.

goodbyestranger · 01/12/2023 11:27

Therefore less need to print.

Original poster

Maggiethecat · 01/12/2023 11:29

Just passing and stopped in Curry’s, could pick up a cheap one but don’t want her to get hung up on printer if she doesn’t need paper copy.

then again if screen goes tits…..

OP posts:

goodbyestranger · 01/12/2023 11:34

In fact it could be a full case (DD3 got one of these with thirty mins to read) so maybe ignore what I said above. I think full cases are less usual though. Could just be a legal problem in which case it will be very short. Or an extract from legislation, also short. Honestly I would print to give options/ avert technical difficulties but also to annotate etc as Needmoresleep says. DD4 was asked to show her annotations at interview. I certainly know that all mine would have printed had their interviews been online.

poetryandwine · 01/12/2023 12:46

I think she needs either a printed copy or a separate machine, such as an iPad, to read from during the interview. It would be possible to do without, but potentially nerve-wracking.

Might you be able to borrow a pad or laptop from school for the interview?

mondaytosunday · 01/12/2023 14:29

My daughter has pre reading for her (HSPS) interview which will be sent 20 minutes before. She plans to print it out - I'll make sure enough ink etc beforehand! She does have an iPad however just in case.

eurochick · 01/12/2023 14:31

goodbyestranger · 01/12/2023 11:09

Physical paper is used in court. Covid inquiry currently using paper documents for witnesses and the examining counsel. There's a good reason for it.

It's becoming increasingly common to use electronic bundles in court. There are some hearings for which I cling to paper though.

But for the OP, if paper would make her more comfortable go for that. Your local library should have printers.

eurochick · 01/12/2023 14:32

Ok just seen your update on 30 mins before. The library isn't going to help then!

It is not going to be a huge amount of material. Use a second screen if possible.

Original poster

Maggiethecat · 01/12/2023 16:01

Printers are so cheap, I could buy one but we really don’t use them - last one’s ink jets clogged for lack of use!

Anyhow, will buy or borrow one if it makes her more comfortable. I have a spare monitor she could have a go with too.

they’ll either see the top of her head from reading the paper copy or the side of her face from reading from the monitor 🤔

OP posts:

Catopia · 02/12/2023 07:46

Buy a printer as an early xmas present, she can take it to uni, it's surprisingly helpful to have at uni for printing essays both to proofread and to hand in. If she gets into Cambridge she is likely to want to print her essay for her tutorials. Also useful for printing vouchers etc.

It will be a few pages. From memory, one of my Oxford ones was quite short, and one of them was quite long, but the themes to be picked out where fairly obvious. It is helpful to be able to highlight words, scribble in margins etc and if they'd have been interviewing in person they'd have given a paper copy.

We do use electronic bundles in most courts now, but there are still times when you print a key document and scribble on it for trials. However, that's more for you deciding what to ask - when you are being asked unknown questions it's easier to be able to see the full document so you can find the bit they are talking about in my opinion...

Definitely two monitors. Make sure she has the interview on the one with the camera on it, if that makes sense, so if she is looking at them they are looking at her.

Good luck to her!

FarEast · 02/12/2023 09:51

iPad or Kindle? Then a separate screen for interview, if it's online.

gaz4stace · 02/12/2023 10:06

If you do one, get a lazer printer, then the ink doesnt dry out. I'd had the same issue with previous printers due to lack of use but that doesnt happen with a lazer one.

Original poster

Maggiethecat · 02/12/2023 15:53

Catopia · 02/12/2023 07:46

Buy a printer as an early xmas present, she can take it to uni, it's surprisingly helpful to have at uni for printing essays both to proofread and to hand in. If she gets into Cambridge she is likely to want to print her essay for her tutorials. Also useful for printing vouchers etc.

It will be a few pages. From memory, one of my Oxford ones was quite short, and one of them was quite long, but the themes to be picked out where fairly obvious. It is helpful to be able to highlight words, scribble in margins etc and if they'd have been interviewing in person they'd have given a paper copy.

We do use electronic bundles in most courts now, but there are still times when you print a key document and scribble on it for trials. However, that's more for you deciding what to ask - when you are being asked unknown questions it's easier to be able to see the full document so you can find the bit they are talking about in my opinion...

Definitely two monitors. Make sure she has the interview on the one with the camera on it, if that makes sense, so if she is looking at them they are looking at her.

Good luck to her!

Thanks @Catopia - borrowed one from a friend up the road in the end.

she doesn’t want me to set up the other monitor so won’t press as she has become quite tetchy.

if she asks me to I’ll help her.

Roll on Tuesday!

OP posts:

Original poster

Maggiethecat · 02/12/2023 15:54

gaz4stace · 02/12/2023 10:06

If you do one, get a lazer printer, then the ink doesnt dry out. I'd had the same issue with previous printers due to lack of use but that doesnt happen with a lazer one.

Thanks, if we do replace it will get laser.

OP posts:

mondaytosunday · 03/12/2023 13:52

My DD just told me she asked on TSR and the response was they are not pdfs and you can't print them out (or send on - I guess what they are worried about). She said they have to be looked at on screen. Does anyone have experience of this? She is not taking it as gospel!