Interview- Can I Bring a Printed Sheet of Questions or Even Dot Points of Information to Read from?

Retailer123 on 19/02/2018 - 18:20
Last edited 19/02/2018 - 18:25 by 1 other user

Hey folks!

I'll be attending a interview soon, just had a quick question. I'm really stoked for the job so I'd like to prepare as much as possible. Is it appropriate to bring a printed sheet of questions to ask the interviewer? I don't have the best memory so I wanted to ask a couple of questions that I've thought about. The list i prepared are a specific questions from things like linked in posts, videos and other things that were in the job description that didn't make the most sense to me Not the general "what can i expect day to day" type stuff.

Also, if I'm going as far as questions, can I have dot points to bring in?

Would appreciate anyones input! Thanks.

Education & Work

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2018 - 18:21
    +2

    If you want

  • trustnoone on 19/02/2018 - 18:53
    +2

    I don't see why not, though it may put them in a bit of an uncomfortable position if the question is too researched (for example something they couldn't answer too easily and looks like you're showing off)? Other then that should be fine, though I'd at the very least bring a copy of possibly your resume as well so it seems like thats the reason you're bringing something, and the paper sheet is just extra notes.

  • pasey25 on 19/02/2018 - 19:40
    +1

    One or two dot points is fine. Any more and it will come off as odd

  • chumlee on 19/02/2018 - 19:43
    +2

    Yes. Shows you are prepared.

    Just not too many

  • smuggler on 19/02/2018 - 19:57
    +3

    Not necessary at all.

    I expect you to answer from your head if I interview you. The best questions are those that came from the interview itself. YOu need to listen to what the hiring manager and HR are saying. You should be able to ask a question that will stimulate a good conversation. No employer wants to answer run of the mill questions. They want to see if they can tolerate you.

    • Retailer123 on 19/02/2018 - 20:09

      Yeah I understand that. it's just I didn't know if there was a line or not when it comes to preparing for an interview. I mean I do want to seem like I prepared but on the other hand don't want to seem like a complete tool either. Thinking for now I'll just go off the top of my head. Thanks for the input!

    • R-Man on 19/02/2018 - 20:13

      Perhaps you misunderstood the post? they want to bring a sheet of Questions, not Answers. So any answers they give are still coming from their head.

      Also you can't presume what the interviewer finds a good conversation stimulant, the candidate's sheet of questions might do exactly that. Every interviewer is different.

      I say go for it, write down a couple of questions you want and mention you wanted to be thorough so you wrote them down to not forget them.

    • Wallyt99 on 01/03/2018 - 23:03

      How many interviews have you sat on as a hiring manager?

  • spackbace on 19/02/2018 - 19:57
    -4

    other things that were in the job description that didn't make the most sense to me

    Showing ignorance of the job you're applying for, good luck…

    • smuggler on 19/02/2018 - 19:58
      +1

      Showing ignorance of the job you're applying for, good luck…

      That's total nonsense. No employer will hold that against him. At least not in the corporate world.

      • R-Man on 19/02/2018 - 20:06
        +5

        also many hiring managers admit their job descriptions are often vague and even misleading, thanks to jazzing up and spin doctoring by the HR im sorry i meant the Talent Acquisition Partner

        It's not ignorance to clarify the job description. I would be pleased to see the candidate making sure the job is right for them.

        • matt3 on 19/02/2018 - 20:28
          +2

          Talent Acquisition Partner - how very Millenial.

        • R-Man on 19/02/2018 - 21:01
          +1

          @matt3: yep, please post this comment in the relevant AMA:P

    • Retailer123 on 19/02/2018 - 20:07
      +2

      How's that showing ignorance? It's more so asking for context rather than assuming, I think assuming something would show ignorance if I'm honest.

      • Third_Gear on 19/02/2018 - 20:11
        +1

        This is all a tricky one and quite subjective depending on the job description. Maybe the job description the OP is reading is really vague? If my future employer couldn't write a clear and concise job description I wouldn't apply. The inverse is true too! If I wrote a job description and a candidate didn't understand that, there is no chance they will be able to work with me and won't get hired.

        If an interviewer sat across from me with a list of bullet points and questions I would have no interest in hiring them because for me I would need someone who can think on their feet.

        Each to their own.

        • R-Man on 19/02/2018 - 20:17

          You have a point, if the candidate reveals they understood nothing in the job description, that's a negative, but very unlikely. Perfectly fine to clarify points in the job description while still demonstrating you understood the majority of it.

          You're being unnecessarily harsh about 'thinking on their feet.' In a workplace situation wouldn't you bring a list of questions to an important meeting with someone whose time you respect? That's what the candidate is demonstrating to the interviewer if they do that. You shouldn't see that as a negative.

        • Retailer123 on 19/02/2018 - 20:25

          Yeah, seems like everyone is on either side of this topic. I wasn't too sure myself, I only thought of it now so I wasn't entirely sure whether or not people have been doing this in the first place. I guess it all depends on the interviewer you get! Thanks for the input.

        • scrimshaw on 19/02/2018 - 20:34
          +2

          @Retailer123:

          Interviews happen one in two ways, structured or unstructured.

          Unstructured interviews flow a bit like a normal conversation, it's much more casual in nature and depend on free flowing conversation which tends to focus on your personal qualities as they relate to the work.

          You may choose to answer them as you would a 'structured' or formal interview, but if you follow a script too tightly it just sounds very rehearsed, and the conversation won't flow very naturally (and you'll be harder to relate to as a person). Remember an interview isn't just about formulating the best answer to a certain question. It's about getting to know you as a person and seeing your personality at play.

          If they only wanted answers to a question, they would have sat you down at a computer and ask you to fill out a very lengthy form or some kind of pre-formatted quiz.

        • Third_Gear on 19/02/2018 - 20:39

          @R-Man: I think it depends on the job really…if we knew what role they are applying for…. Lots of valid points all around!

          I remember one interview I did I gave the guy a flat packed archive box and told him to put it together. Simple task yeah? Looked good on paper but the kid couldnt figure out how to put a box together.

  • gimli on 19/02/2018 - 20:31
    +1

    I think it depends on the job and competition.
    I don't think there is inherently something wrong with bringing some notes. If it is a competitive post and someone equivalent to you on paper comes to the interview, then the other person who did not use notes may come across better in the interview.

    I would advise practice common interview questions several times so that you will remember what you want to say.

    As to clarifying position description etc. If it is something very specific then I see nothing wrong with writing it down and just saying you "wrote it down because you wanted to make sure you ask exactly the right question?". I think that would be a mature thing to do.

  • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2018 - 22:02

    This sounds like dale doback and Brennan huff from step brothers… “today we are interviewing… you!”

    • railspider on 22/02/2018 - 21:16

      LOL love that film! especially when Adam Sandler pretends to pee his pants to make the fat kid feel less embarassed

      • [Deactivated] on 22/02/2018 - 22:40
        +1

        lol yes what an altruistic act that was! Really caught the eye of miss Vaughan didn’t it railspider!!

  • Jalif on 19/02/2018 - 22:34

    It's perfectly fine.

    In my experience HR and interviewing managers love people who bring questions.

    People love to talk about what they know, and in this case they know the business you are interviewing for.

  • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2018 - 22:35

    Bring a print out of your CV and jot your points on that, and bring a second one to give to the interviewer in case

  • bobbified on 19/02/2018 - 23:19
    +1

    That sounds strange, to be honest. I've never actually seen or heard of anyone do that.

    All of the questions I have come from what the interviewer(s) tell me during the interview so there's nothing to really prepare before. And I may ask one or two generic questions at the end like asking them to describe what a typical day is like so that it at least shows some interest.

    I've never wanted to come across as though I'm interviewing the interviewers.

    • R-Man on 20/02/2018 - 09:05
      +1

      Really, I would think the opposite. It's great to interview your interviewer.

      All the interviews I've done in corporate offices have appreciated me flipping the interview on them. I would too, it shows the candidate is trying to learn as much as they can to seriously consider the job right for them.

      • bobbified on 20/02/2018 - 09:42
        +3

        I think there's a good reason to ask questions during interviews and demonstrate some knowledge on the company, but ask too many and there's the risk that an interviewee could ask questions that show that they haven't actually done their research properly (otherwise would've easily come across the answer to the question they just asked).

        To ask no questions may make it seem like they're disinterested.

        There's got to be that balance and they should be valid questions.

  • johninmelb on 20/02/2018 - 13:58
    +1

    Having been to many behavioural based interviews, I always used to have some dot points for various examples of questions I anticipated being asked based on the JD. The STAR questions often seem to flummox people, so a little prep there doesn't go astray. So often we come out of interviews and suddenly think of better examples of team work, problem solving, customer service, dealing with difficult people etc, that we could have used in the interview.

    Disclaimer: I have been on both sides of the table as both interviewer and interviewee. I have also worked as a Job Search Trainer and always taught my trainees to rigorously plan for interviews, and to have a short list of dot points for various things they did not want to forget. The training also included NEVER learning anything rote fashion, and reciting canned answers to questions. Almost every interviewer worth his/her salt can spot those. All of my trainees over the years I trained got jobs, but I tried very hard to give them all the best chance of success. It is not easy, as most of us here probably know.

  • pennypincher98 on 20/02/2018 - 14:22

    Questions on the sheet, yeah sure why not. Your memory should probably be good enough for a few questions and any more than that is excessive, but they shouldn't judge.

    Dot points: Definitely not. This is an interview, not a speech. Don't shoot yourself in the foot by saying you're so well equipped for this job you need to read off a sheet to remind yourself why.

  • Euphemistic on 28/02/2018 - 11:38

    In my last interview I took some notes in. It helped me prepare and get my thoughts straight even though I didn't really use the notes in the interview. Came out of that interview feeling 100% better than the previous times when I hadn't prepared notes.

  • TimboAus1234 on 01/03/2018 - 18:13

    I would bring a couple of questions but i would leave things out like "how much am i gonna get paid" "how many holidays do i get " save them for when they actually offer you the job.

    Good questions could be more about the posistion description, make sure you read it first :) then it shows you are seeking clarification on point's. Or the companies objectives to show that you want to understand the company.

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