Forget coffee, is it acceptable to bring notes into a job interview?

Is it acceptable or unprofessional? (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto) If there’s one thing the internet loves, it’s a heated debate. Last month, social media was set ablaze as people argued over whether it’s unprofessional to bring a coffee into a job interview. Spoiler alert: Millennials and Gen X think it is. We’ve since moved on from this, but now there’s a new job interview dilemma taking Mumsnet by storm. The question that’s causing a stir… Is it acceptable to bring notes to an in-person job interview? A woman wanted to take her notes into an upcoming job interview, but the internet wasn’t convinced it was a good idea (Picture: Getty Images) An anonymous woman took to the online parenting forum to ask fellow users for their thoughts, posting: ‘Am I being unreasonable to bring notes into a second-stage job interview? ‘I’ve prepared thoroughly and have some brief cue cards covering key examples, achievements, and points I’d like to make. ‘Would you consider it acceptable to bring these into the interview and occasionally glance at them if needed, or would that come across as overly rehearsed or unprepared?’ She clarified that she wouldn’t be reading out scripted answers, just keeping a few ‘prompts’ handy. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. More than 80 people commented on her post, and it’s fair to say the vast majority felt very strongly that it would be a bad idea. Experts warn against reading from a pre-prepared script (Picture: Shutterstock / fizkes) ‘If you can’t remember then you don’t deserve the job,’ read one response. Another wrote: ‘Don’t do it. You should be well prepared in your head for whatever you want to put across; the ability to think on your feet is important, especially if, as you say, it’s a relatively senior role. I’d see it as you not being very comfortable or confident that you can do the job.’ While a third replied: ‘Only acceptable if by phone and you have them on a second screen, but even then it’s better to not look at them.’ Others claimed it would be a ‘real mistake’ to bring notes and it ‘would look odd’. Not everyone felt this way, though, with someone else sharing: ‘I have done this [and] wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. I think it shows you’re prepared.’ A second added: ‘I take notes into interviews and have secured new roles and promotions by doing this. It shows you’re taking things seriously and have properly prepared. ‘In my experience, I don’t even need them once they’re on the table, but it’s reassuring to just have them there. ‘Unless the interviewers are going to remember absolutely everything you’ve said without taking notes, then I don’t see why you having your own notes should be an issue.’ Do you take notes into job interviews? What do interviewers think? Simon Burch, the director of Penguin PR, regularly interviews and hires new candidates for his Derby-based public relations firm and says he’s ‘very happy’ for people to bring notes. ‘It shows that they are engaged with the interview process and our company and that they have done some research beforehand,’ he tells Metro. ‘If they have also written down some questions and they refer to their notes when asking them, that’s fine too.’ Simon continues to say that regardless of notes, it’s easy to tell whether or not someone has prepared for an interview. ‘If they have prepared but are nervous and get flustered when they’re trying to remember something about our company, or our clients, I’d rather they check notes than have someone trying to guess, who clearly hasn’t prepared at all. ‘There is no excuse for it in this day and age – we have a regularly updated website and active social media, so it’s easy to find out something about us.’ He adds that he welcomes handwritten notes, as at Penguin PR they still use pen and paper in all their interviews, to show ‘engagement’. Interviewers say it’s fine to bring notes and take handwritten ones during the interview (Picture: Shutterstock / Lomb) Do HR experts agree? Jessica Brewer, the founder of Emiz HR & Coaching, thinks taking notes into an interview is ‘absolutely acceptable’. ‘To me, it indicates that someone wants to get the most out of the interview,’ she explains. Her top tip is to think carefully about what notes you’re making and how you’re using them. ‘Focus notes on key information that you want to get across to the future employer and questions you might want to ask,’ she advises. ‘It is particularly worth jotting down key numbers and dates that you want to showcase, just to make sure you get them right in the moment, which can be difficult when you’re feeling nervous.’ However, the expert advises against using notes as a script or writing pre-prepared answers for standard interview questions. ‘It could ruin the flow of the interview and could feel to the interviewer like someone was cheating,’ Jessica cautions. ‘Think of your notes as pointers to keep you on track. It’s key information to weave into your answers to enhance the interview, rather than something to be used verbatim. HCPC-registered Business psychologist Dannielle Haig agrees that ‘glancing at notes’ is fine, but reading word for word isn’t. ‘I’m not really meeting you, then, I’m meeting your notes,’ she tells Metro. ‘You need to have a proper conversation with me. She points out that for those who struggle with anxiety or are neurodivergent, having a few bullet points at hand can really help. ‘Nerves do funny things to our memory. Under pressure, our working memory basically shrinks, so having a few bullet points can be the difference between someone showing what they’re capable of and going completely blank. ‘For anyone anxious or neurodivergent, notes level the playing field a bit.’ Do you have a story you’d like to share? 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