Is it appropriate to bring interview notes to an NHS band 4 interview?

[user1471867483]

Despite reaching the interview stage multiple times, I always come second and receive feedback about the lack of thoroughness in my answers when I am interviewed for NHS band 4 roles. Is it advisable to take into an interview a notebook with bulleted answers to questions I may be asked? Can I ask at the beginning of the interview, "Do you mind me having a notebook as it keeps me stay focused"?

Whilst it is not "prohibited" it will make you look odd - sorry..

I have never done this and have never interviewed anyone that done this but I remember a manager I worked with before saying that someone done it and she gave them the job as she thought they were very organised so I guess it depends on your luck of how the person interviewing interprets it.

I don't think ypu should take a list of answers to possible questions, but I have had people have notes of scenarios that they refer to to formulate the answers to the competency based questions that we ask in the NHS. If you have 4 or 5 such scenarios you can usually use the SMART approach to develop your answers - and obviously prepare the possible responses beforehand. Is it a clinical or non clinical role?

I did what @SirChenjins describes for a recent job (not NHS but different professional role). I was offered the job and in feedback was told they were impressed with how well I’d prepared.

I used the STAR approach when prepping scenarios:

Situation
Task/Action (I collapsed these two)
Result
Link - Added this element as it was a career change role and I wanted to show the direct relevance of my examples to the new role.

I was careful not to be conversational not robotic, and to use my prep in a light touch way - I only glanced at the notes 2 or 3 times.

You could do something like this and even not take the notes in if you prep well enough beforehand.

I interview for B4 roles quite often in NhS.
no I would not think it appropriate.
some candidates bring a notepad to write the questions down in to focus their thoughts and that’s fine and seems to help.

I print the job description and person specification and take it in with the annotations and notes all over it.
I also will jot down notes about examples to use with the essential criteria as an aide memoir.

I’m a band 8c and had sticky notes around my screen the last time I interviewed, and would have happily taken my notes had it been an in person interview. I recently recruited for a band 6 and one candidate asked if they could have the questions in advance. I asked the other member of the panel who had no problem with it, so we sent all candidates the questions to make it equal. He got the job as he had thoroughly thought about the questions, was able to provide excellent examples, and was very thorough with his approach.

So surprised by comments, I would always always takes notes into an interview and I’ve got most jobs I’ve gone for over the years. If anything I think it shows you’re prepared and taking the interview seriously

STAR! I knew as I was typing SMART it wasn't right - I had a senior moment there.

There's a current mandatory training in the NHS for hiring staff, it's something about inclusivity, I can't remember the name of it. In the training they talk about giving interviewees the questions at the start, and state that it's OK to bring in notes. We recently had someone bring notes. They only looked at then at the end, and it didn't help them, but it reassured them that they'd said what they'd hope to say.

Perhaps different in the Civil Service, but I quite like it - it shows they're prepared and actually want the job.

Not full answers to possible questions but examples for each 'question'. So if there are four competency examples I would be more than happy with a A4 page with key 'words' and their possible examples depending on the question for each question.

I've been on a few panels this year, both as HM and just as a member, and although you can tell when someone has notes (our interviews are conducted via teams) because they glance down or up, it hasn't effected the score detrimentally.

On the last SCS panel I did, someone had notes and they were the only person who was above the bar and appointable. The others came across as unprepared or struggling or even completely incompetent in one case (tip: it's a good idea to check name pronunciation if you're going to name-check people...).

Ive sat in on interviews from band 6 to board of directors of my local nhs turst, lots of people do and have brought a note book to write in or to check they've answered everything. Noone ever considers this odd when we discuss the interview after

I always do this (NHS), I write what I think might be the question at the top and bullet point my answers. I’ll answer the question and then check my notes to make sure I have covered everything I wanted to. It has never been an issue.

Thank you all for your replies 🙏

I'm supposed to have an interview tomorrow morning, but I have to cancel it as I need to take my cat to the vets with on an urgent matter.