What Should I Bring to the Interview?

Most job candidates know it's a bad idea to arrive at a job interview empty-handed, but many are unsure of what to bring. As soon as you schedule a job interview with a potential employer, begin preparing a short list of must-have items that will help make your interview go smoothly.

Extra Copies of Your Resume and Cover Letter

A job recruiter might arrive to an interview unprepared for a variety of reasons. If your interviewer is dealing with an office emergency that caused him to arrive unprepared or simply forgot to bring your documents to the meeting, you must be ready to pick up the slack. Prepare multiple copies of your resume and cover letter to bring to the job interview. Multiple copies are necessary because the interviewer might invite other representatives to the meeting. Bring copies for yourself as well, as it's perfectly normal for an interviewee to have a resume in front of him during an interview.

A List of Questions

Recruiters normally give candidates the opportunity to ask questions during job interviews. The questions you ask speak volumes about your interest in the position and your understanding of the job itself. Don't waste the interviewer's time by preparing general questions you can easily answer with a quick Google search. Instead, prepare questions that give you even more insight into the position and industry. Questions such as "What sets your organization apart from similar companies within this industry?" or "What type of on-the-job training is available that can help me expand my skills and grow within your organization?" let recruiters know you're serious about advancing your career.

Reference Information

Find at least three people who can vouch for your level of professionalism and ability to perform well in the position for which you're interviewing. Ask former managers, colleagues or college professors if they're willing to give you a reference. If they say yes, gather their full names, professional titles and contact information. Type this information on a reference sheet, and bring copies of this sheet to your job interviews. Give your reference sheet to interviewers at the end of each meeting, and make sure your references know you're actively interviewing so job recruiters don't catch them off-guard.

A Pen and Notepad

You might need to jot information down during a job interview. Having your own writing utensils handy makes you appear prepared and organized and is much more professional than asking your interviewer for a pen and a sheet of paper. Keep multiple pens and a notepad in your briefcase, and make sure your notepad doesn't contain any distracting or offensive images that can turn off recruiters.

Having these must-have items readily available during your interview can help you stand out among other candidates. Check your briefcase the night before your job interview to make sure you don't forget anything, and use the folders and slots in your briefcase to ensure your items are neat, organized and easy to find.

Photo courtesy of Brian Niven at Flickr.com