You just got the call–you have the interview! Awesome, so what do you do now?
Of course, the most important thing to bring to any interview is the best representation of you. You have the skills, experience, and mindset. You are ready to walk in confidently, and you’re dressed to the nines (check out: Dress to Impress: Tips for Picking Clothes for an Interview).
Here are three things you should bring to your next interview:
Resume. It may seem redundant to bring a resume to an interview, but bring it anyway. (In fact, bring a copy for everyone you know you’re meeting with.) The interviewer might not have the resume you initially submitted and might expect you to provide one. You can also use your resume to review major points that you want to remember to bring up before heading in. If you have them, bring business cards as well; you never know when you’ll have a networking opportunity.
Portfolio. This depends largely on the career you are interviewing for, but for most fields, a portfolio composed of a few samples of your work shows you are a professional who takes this interview seriously. This takes some preparation, but having a up-to-date portfolio is incredibly handy to have in the interview room.
Pen and pad of paper. Just because this is a job interview doesn’t mean that it can’t be informational. Bring a pad of paper and a pen (or spring for an even fancier padfolio) to your interview to collect important contact information and jot down notes. On a related note, prepare a few questions to ask your interviewer.
What essentials do you bring to important interviews?
