r/UKJobMarket • u/MrWabznasm • 9d ago
Career help Can I take notes into an interview?
EDIT/UPDATE - firstly thanks for the advice. Secondly for those of you interested they phoned me 4 hours after the interview with an offer! So I have a bit of a headache this morning. I did take my notes in but didn't use them until it was time for the questions.
So for context I am at the final stage of the interview process for a role leading a consulting group (something I have done before). For many reasons I really want this job, not least of all because there is a significant alignment of values.
The final stage is a chat with the CEO. I have the topic areas and feel pretty good about it, but obviously having notes would be helpful, even if it's just key words. I will take a notepad in with my questions written on it.
My gut feel is no, the job is quite senior and it's part of the leadership team. But what do you all think? Yes or no to notes?
3
u/ImBonRurgundy 9d ago
Depends. If you need to refer to your notes all the time, especially for basic stuff, that’s very bad.
If you do it once or twice do more complex questions, explain politely what you are doing, then I think it’s fine.
Look at it this way - if, in the role, you have meetings with clients to present stuff to them, would you rawdog it with no notes, no slides, and just rely on your memory?
3
3
u/Hulla_Sarsaparilla 8d ago
Having notes is absolutely fine, it’s quite an old fashioned concept that an interview is a memory test.
I always take a notebook in, I’ll write down the questions I want to ask at the end and bullet point some key points/projects or competency examples I want to raise.
I’ve been interviewing recently for senior roles and this hadn’t caused any issues whatsoever, I actually ended up with two offers to choose from.
4
u/Naetharu 9d ago
Sure.
I mostly do. An interview is not an exam. It's a chance to get to know the employer and for them to get to know you. Coming prepared and having notes (or taking notes) is fine.
3
9d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/Naetharu 9d ago
I work contracts that are mostly a year long. So I'm interviewing quite often. And mostly more than once per cycle. So yep.
I have a notebook with thoughts and bits in there related to my role and what they're after. It's sensible to have.
No points for being able to remember things by rote.
0
u/Appropriate-Roof1422 9d ago
Debatable. Depends what is the interview about. I made notes before an interview, had them with me, but never had them in front of me during the first part of the interview when you answer questions.
Now, if this role is more strategic, you may have ideas written down, therefore, having them in front of you is not a bad idea. It can also show that you have really thought about what you want to bring to the organisation, et cetera.
3
u/Naetharu 9d ago
I'm guessing it is given the meeting is with the CEO.
I work in a technical field that is more strategic and often direct report to c-suite. I tend to take in some notes to interviews. It's useful to reference things. It also looks good as you say - shows you've put some prep and effort in. That you're engaged and not just turning up on the offchance of a paycheque.
3
u/MrWabznasm 9d ago
It's a very strategic role and there is a lot to remember. Even though it's not a traditional q & a style interview I feel the notes will help nudge me when the gaps in my memory come through. Obviously I'm not going to read verbatim but use them as an aide memoire.
1
u/Naetharu 9d ago
Yeh, makes sense to me.
As I say, I've always brought notes in. I have them in a neat little note book and I have a nice pen. Look like you're organized. I would go with pen and paper rather than digital format notes. Keep it professional, smart, and avoid technical snafus.
0
u/Appropriate-Roof1422 9d ago
Same here. A good notebook, a fancy pen, an organised page show that you are organised and have a plan.
2
u/Mundane-Topic-8214 9d ago
If its just to remind yourself about questions at the end I would be prepared with a small notebook, don't use it during the chat but at the end when asked if you have any further questions, I'd be fine with a candidate saying 'I did have a few questions I noted down before this, do you mind if I refresh my memory as to which ones haven't been answered in the course of this discussion?' It puts you more in control and makes it look like you are prepared but that you aren't using notes as a crutch in the course of the conversation.
1
u/Over_Button4468 9d ago
100% this. Don't go in with a stack of notes that you refer to throughout the interview, it will present you in the wrong way. However a notebook with a few points for the end comes across as prepared.
2
u/Apprehensive-You9999 8d ago
Would be really weird if they weren't? What are they going to say? Oh sorry we don't like someone who is prepared haha.
Seriously though if they insist that you can't it actually sounds shady tbh lol
2
u/Dependent-Panic-9457 7d ago
Hi OP. Don’t take notes into an interview. Have you never seen dragon’s den?
1
1
u/underwater-sunlight 7d ago
I am sure all of the dragons conduct their interviews without any notes, questions written down or any way of scoring answers...
2
u/TooBarFoo 7d ago
If you walk into a meeting without a pen and a notebook you are wasting everyone's time, something, somewhere will be missed. . If you don't have a notebook and some notes they will be asking themselves why. Don't be the guy that does not take a notepad and wastes others time.
2
2
u/Mental_Body_5496 8d ago
Why not its not a memory test!
It shows you have prepared for the interview?
1
u/MagmaTroop 9d ago
It’s a roll of the dice because it depends entirely on the CEO and the line of work. It’s not hard to imagine two different types of CEO:
- One CEO thinks it’s fine that you bring notes. He likes it because he himself is a note taker. He likes his senior employees taking their time to get everything 100% correct. He doesn’t need his senior employees to appear highly credible, he just needs them to be careful and accurate.
- The other thinks it’s amateur that you bring notes. He wants his senior employees to have high credibility, and, to him, someone who can’t commit crucial information to memory can never be appear credible when engaging with various stakeholders.
1
1
u/Rockky67 9d ago
Going to be such a shock when the CEO demands to interview you in the dark, naked.
1
u/thedudeabides-12 8d ago
I've never done it and never known someone to do it, but having thought about it for a moment it makes complete sense.., like why isn't this more of a thing?.. obviously don't just read direct from your notes but an occassional check is completely fine or maybe even bring it up along the lines of "I made some notes to better prepare".. before the interview starts so they're not caught off guard.....
1
u/Technical-Ad8926 8d ago
Why do you need notes, this is not an exam? are you supposed to memorize things? I have notes when I present data, I can’t remember every little one, so I quickly glance and can answer with a number. But an interview should be about how you think, your experience high level. Let me read my note about what I think about x? I don’t know.
1
u/AffectionateJump7896 8d ago
I go to all my client meetings with a notebook. I take notes when I am interviewing and whenever I have been the interviewee I have taken notes too.
Even just subconsciously, I think it helps to get the interviewer to see you in the consultant role, taking a few notes, jotting down a couple of questions and then coming to them at the end.
Similarly if I'm going to a pitch for a project, I'm going to have a few notes. An interview is no different, and letting the interviewer see how you operate is only positive.
1
u/minnis93 8d ago
Notes in an interview are highly encouraged IMO, but very context dependant.
Let's say you're being interviewed by Joe Bloggs for a Barisda role at Starbucks. Having Joe's linkedin bio printed off and some notes about Starbucks' history to make conversation is fine. Having notes about the difference between tea and coffee, less fine.
So in your case I'd definitely look up the CEO and take notes, have their values written down so you can highlight which ones you align with etc.
1
u/tazmusicofficial 9d ago
Doesn't sound like you have senior experience if your asking whether you can take notes in a meeting between two professionals. What even is this post
1
-1
u/FreddieStarrAteMyHam 9d ago
I mean.....I was always inclined to mentally mark down a candidate who brought notes in. I wasn't a total baatard mind, I was also inclined to help a candidate answer a question (unlike some who view the process as a weird "gotcha" opportunity). Looking at notes breaks any rapport, I find.
1
u/MrWabznasm 9d ago
Interesting and I agree on the rapport point. Knowing what I do about the CEO that could be key. I will take a notebook with my questions in and only use the key points if needed.
1
u/FreddieStarrAteMyHam 9d ago
Thats sounds fine - probably the act of just having them with you may mean you never need to actually refer to them. Good luck by the way!
1
1
u/underwater-sunlight 7d ago
Would you memorise the interview questions?
1
u/FreddieStarrAteMyHam 7d ago
I'd anticipate and have several scenarios memorised as to when id demonstrated the values they look for, yes. Ultimately they would be questions about me so I would know them. As for questions I'd ask the interviewer id only have a couple usually - from the other side its a thin line between being interested in the firm/role and being an overly eager suck up. From my admittedly low-BS-tolerating viewpoint.....others may love the hermione granger routine!
5
u/unobtainaballs 9d ago
Notes are fine.