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Thinking about what to take to an interview is often something that we leave to the last minute. Riding off the high we achieve by applying for a job and actually getting a response is generally enough for us to start planning for our inevitable futures in our new role. However, once the day arrives and we start counting down the hours until we sit face-to-face with a potential employer, that’s when the panic sets in and we begin to second guess everything we’ve ever known.

From how you dress to how confidently you speak, a lot of factors go into proving that you are an ideal candidate. Since an in-person interview generally suggests that your resume was interesting at a bare minimum, it’s time to compliment those words on a page by showing the best side of yourself in person. So, to help you do that, we’ve put together a quick cheat sheet on what to take to an interview. You can thank us when you manage to find the right job!

Directions

You may be thinking to yourself that taking directions to an interview is so obvious that it doesn’t even deserve a place on this list, and in an ideal world, you would be correct. However, ask any employer that has been through the interview circuit a few times and they’ll likely have more than one story of someone turning up to an office on the other side of the city because they didn’t put in that extra prep time.

It’s a simple mistake that will cost you dearly in regards to your first impression, which can be enough to lose you the job altogether. Employers are looking for people they can trust to be self-driven and autonomous, and proving that you can fulfil that role after failing to make it to your destination is an uphill battle at the best of times.

A Neat Carrying Case

The old culinary cliche “the first bite is with the eye” applies to interviews as well. While hopefully not literal, how you present yourself when first meeting your employer will inevitably shape how you are perceived in the interview process. Since we’re talking about what to take to an interview, think about HOW you’re going to get these items to the interview location.

Will you:

• Carry all of your possessions in your hands, coat, and any pocket you can find?
• Leave all of your items in the car and go get them as necessary?
• Bring a neat bag, briefcase, or portfolio to store all of your items?

If the answer is A or B, I’d like you to sit outside for a moment and deeply reflect on your decision-making process. An interviewer wants someone who appears prepared and organised, so turning up with an awkward stack of knick-knacks and papers isn’t going to be a fantastic look. A neat bag will not only give off the air of a professional, but it will also prove to your potential employer that you are organised and thoughtful when it comes to presentation.

A Pen and Paper

Interviews are a two-way street, and part of an interviewer being invested in you will be based on how invested you are in them. One of the basic interview tips you will always hear is “ask questions”, and by being able to write down the answers and information of note, you will appear engaged and dedicated to success in your new role.

Plus, aside from putting on a mask of interest, the information you gather should be of actual interest to you if this is a job you’re passionate about. Thinking about it in this way will stop you from asking unnecessary questions for the sake of it, as you should want more information about the role you will be dedicating a large amount of your waking life to.

At Least One Copy of Your Resume

While it’s preferable to bring a few copies just in case it becomes relevant, having a copy of your resume on hand will make the interview process significantly smoother. Consider your resume as the prequel to your interview; a fantastic outline of everything that your interviewer likely knows about you up until this point. It will help you to answer questions, and if there is more than one interviewer, is an easy way of keeping everyone filled in on your strengths and experience without the anxious boastful preamble.

Self-Care Items

Breath mints, floss, antiperspirant, an inhaler if potentially required; you don’t want to turn up to an interview only to realise that you are a sweaty, halitosis-ridden mess with nothing to help you and no time to fix the situation. Having self-care items on hand to improve your presentation will make you feel more confident and look more professional. Just remember, if you’re bringing deodorant, be incredibly sparing. It’s possible we’ve referenced this in every article we have published thus far, but too much body spray in a small room is a definite mood killer.

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Knowing what to take to an interview can seem stressful, and it’s easy to overthink it. Just remember that you’ve already gotten this far, and the interview is you launching off the foundations your resume has already built. Good luck and stay confident!