Appreciation post: the little notebook trick that fixed my interview jitters

I used to go into job interviews just winging it with a mental list of talking points. Last year I bombed a panel interview for a project coordinator role at a local nonprofit because I forgot to mention a key accomplishment. After that I started carrying a small spiral notebook into interviews with three bullet points written down: one win from my last job, one question about the role, and one thing I liked about the company. Now I glance at it before answering and it keeps me from rambling or freezing up. I landed a solid offer at a construction firm three months ago using this method. Has anyone else tried something like this or do you have a different prep trick that actually works?

2 comments

2 Comments

kellyr189d ago

Doesn't this just make you look like you didn't prepare enough? I feel like pulling out notes mid-interview shows you're not confident in what you're saying. Plus, interviewers might see it as a crutch instead of a smart move.

amyr578d ago

OH trust me, I've BEEN there. Having a few bullet points on a small card actually helped me land my last job because I could keep eye contact and still hit all the key points they wanted to hear.