People in the corporate world are always on their feet, whether they’re walking around meeting with co-workers in what is known as “walking meetings” running through what we like to call pop quizzes, aka mini-presentations.
Things are fast-paced. If it’s done, get it out; get ready for what’s next. If you don’t have what it takes to keep up, you’ll be eating old Jell-O at your desk while looking at others passing by with what used to be your paycheck.
With that said, there are some things that will help you get set apart from everyone else and give yourself one more chance at what you want.
Here’s what to bring to a job interview
The following are what you should bring to a job interview:
Your ID card
Bring your identification card or driver’s license along with your resume paper to make sure that there will be no mix-ups. Your identification card will help identify yourself if your name is not spelled correctly on the appointment letter.
At the same time, your driving license can serve as proof of identity when filling up certain government forms. Make sure that both documents contain current information and photos; otherwise, having them will not do any good.
A proven record of your achievements
It is important to bring the results of what you have done in previous jobs, especially if what you did was complicated and impressive. You can print these out and place them in a folder or briefcase so that you can present them to the employer, together with your portfolio. References from former employers are also important; otherwise, don’t bother showing up at all.
These documents may be available online where you used to work. However, it’s still best to bring a printed copy just in case what shows up on your screen doesn’t translate well when printed out. If all else fails, then you can turn in letters from individuals who know what type of projects you were working with before.
Your portfolio
Bring your portfolio along with you as well. It should contain what you think are the best pieces of creative work that you have done, including those designs and photos that impressed your previous employers.
Put what’s in the portfolio into a folder or briefcase to ensure that it remains protected and that what you present is complete and unblemished.
The appropriate attire
Generally, for an interview, men should wear collared shirts that button-down near the throat area so as not to expose anything below it, such as visible chest hair through an open gap. Tuck this shirt in so its length will reach the beltline where the pants meet.
For women, it is recommended to wear professional attire such as a blouse and skirt, also tucked in. Be sure that what you wear is clean and pressed with minimal wrinkles.
Accessories such as watches and rings should be removed before the interview since they tend to distract the interviewer from what you are saying. It can even give off a negative impression by conveying that what you say is less important than what these objects symbolize.
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Bring other documents as well
Print out copies of all other documents that may be needed for your reference throughout the meeting, including the job application letter if it’s required that you fill one up first.
You can just bring this along instead of handing over printed-out resumes so as not to waste time making unnecessary trips back and forth between the printer room or office near where you are interviewing.
A pen and paper
You never know what questions you might be asked during the interview, so it’s best to take a pen and paper with you. Write down what you think will help make your points stronger and effectively answer what may be thrown at you.
Think of what these questions and answers would be like before the actual meeting; that way, when someone does ask something similar, all you need to do is jot down what’s already in your mind. Be ready for anything!
A bottle of water
Bring along a bottle of water–not too much (it might spill) but just enough for such occasions as this one where nerves tend to heighten while waiting for the employer to finish what’s on his or her mind. Do your best not to look dehydrated to maintain what energy you have left after all the waiting!
Your resume
Most importantly, bring along what is most important in the interview–your resume! Make sure that what’s printed here is what will be discussed throughout the conversation; otherwise, print another copy just to be safe.
Carry it along with you wherever you go–you never know when someone might ask for a quick peek at what you have been doing through the years since graduating from high school or college.
Another copy might come in handy when you need to give it out to the person interviewing you, so make sure what’s on the resume matches what’s printed or what’s about to be printed. You don’t want to misrepresent yourself by what gets written, so it would be best if all done through careful measurements beforehand.
Breath mints or floss
Whether you eat a mint or what’s in the form of a stick, what’s important here is what you do with your breath. Freshen it up, so its scent isn’t what will stick to everyone else in the room once you open that mouth of yours.
Flossing is also helpful in removing what bits and pieces might be stuck between your teeth after all that food! Nobody wants to see stray bits of grub decorating a smile, especially not one that the employer is about to give attention to during an interview.
Directions on how to get to the interview
Make sure that what you printed out includes detailed instructions on how to get there; otherwise, what’s the point of printing it in the first place? Also, make sure to bring along any other means of getting to where you will be interviewing.
Do what you can to make the best impression ever–to avoid what could be a “not-so-favorable” outcome from what is expected of you once you arrive on time.
Arriving late sets a bad example for what your employer may see as an individual who cannot follow directions and cannot prioritize what is most important in his or her life. If anything happens along the way, have a contingency plan prepared so nothing will go wrong when everything needs to go just right.
Yourself
Last but not least, what’s really needed is you! Before showing up to what is hopefully one of the most important meetings in your life, make sure that what you present reflects what you are and what is necessary for such a position.
Make sure that what you say matches what’s on paper; it’s very important that who you are and what you do best come together as one.
So, what should you bring with you to your next job interview? The answer may vary depending on the company and position, but in general, it’s always a good idea to be prepared. Make sure you have copies of your resume printed out and ready to go, and if there is anything specific that was mentioned in the job listing or during the interview process, make sure you have that information handy too.
Beyond that, think about what personal items might help put you at ease or show off your personality – like a portfolio for creative professionals or a set of nice clothes if you’re interviewing for a corporate role. In short, do some research into the company culture and try to anticipate any questions they might ask.
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