There are many ways to increase your chances of landing your dream job, but this small preparation can boost your credibility and show a great deal about you in just a few seconds.
Since you may only have as little as 30 minutes to impress employers at the first stage of interviews, it’s worth the effort and can leave a great impression in the recruiter’s mind.
Here’s what to bring:
A few copies of your resume –
Your resume may be one of the first things you send with your application in order to receive an interview offer. Even so, it’s a good idea to print off at least one copy. Recruiters may not print off the resumes from everyone they interview. If you bring a copy with you, they can be reminded within seconds the reasons why they wanted you in for the next stage. In addition, it’s good for you to have at least one resume on hand if they ask you about specific dates or responsibilities. By having one available, there is no risk of having mind-blank.
References –
You want to make yourself as easy to hire as possible, so bringing a copy of your references with you can go a long way. It shows that you are well prepared, open to recruiters talking to previous employers and more likely to be a trustworthy person. If recruiters find it hard to get checkable references about candidates, they may just move on.
Letters of recommendation –
If you can get a letter of recommendation from a previous employer and bring it with you, it’s a bonus for recruiters. This way, they don’t even have to contact the references yet to see that you are someone worth hiring. How to get a letter of recommendation? Contact your previous employer and ask if they would consider writing a letter of recommendation for you to be able to apply for a new position. Not an option or don’t have time? Have any of your previous employers left a recommendation on a professional online platform such as LinkedIn? If so, print that off to save time and still have something on hand to show.
So, for your next interview, make sure you bring these three documents with you to raise your chances of being hired. Check out the Interview Tips section for more ways to boost your job interview confidence and find out exactly what recruiters are looking for during interviews.