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Bring a copy of your resume?
Pattie Hunt Sinacole discusses if you should bring a copy of your resume to an interview
Q: I had an interview last week in Boston. I thought I was ready to go. I researched the location, the company, their competitors, their customers, etc. Almost everything! However, I met with the hiring manager. He asked me for a copy of my resume. My jaw dropped. I never thought I would be asked that question. The company is a software company. I didn’t think I needed to bring a copy of my resume. Is bringing a resume an expectation?
Q: Technology has certainly influenced the hiring and selection process across. We source candidates using technology. We network using technology. We share opportunities using technology. We interview candidates using technology. We turn down candidates using technology. However, there are some steps within the selection process where technology has limits.
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Candidates are still evaluated on a variety of factors, where technology makes little difference. Does a candidate arrive and/or turn on their screen on time? Is a candidate appropriately dressed? If a video interview, is the background appropriate? Is a firm handshake offered? Does the candidate maintain eye contact? These can contribute to how a hiring manager assesses a candidate’s capabilities, but in particular how well prepared a candidate may be.
Candidate preparedness can include a range of factors, including bringing several extra hard copies of their resume to a face-to-face interview. I always recommend that a candidate bring SEVERAL copies of their resume to the onsite interview. Many hiring managers are overwhelmed with the data thrown at them, from resumes sent via email to resumes sitting in some applicant tracking system. Make it easy for the hiring manager. Bring several copies. By bringing several copies, you are already showing your value. You are saying “I am prepared and organized. I can make life easier for you.” Print your resume on crisp, white or ivory paper. Avoid any type of colored paper which may feel gimmicky and unprofessional. Some candidates even offer a file folder, so the resume is presented as if it was just printed (vs. presenting it in a crumpled, dog-eared fashion, as if it has been sitting in the bottom of a backpack for weeks. For video interviews, a share screen option of a resume may be helpful, or a resume shared via chat.
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When a candidate is well-prepared, a hiring manager hopefully notices. It is a way for a candidate to convey their level of interest in a role. If a candidate is unprepared, often a manager will interpret that behavior as disinterest or sloppiness. Don’t risk sending this message.
Additionally, for in-person interviews, some candidates also bring their business card, professional references, a note pad and pen. If appropriate, some candidates may bring work samples.
Finally, what to leave at home when invited to an in-person interview? Gum, coffee, outlandish outfits, too much perfume and too much jewelry. Sometimes the website will give you a clue on how to present yourself. Once you learn what dress is the norm for this employer take one step up. It is better to be overdressed, rather than underdressed. You want an interviewer to focus on you, your skills, your anticipated contributions, not your fragrance. Although you should bring it with you, remember to silence or turn off your phone. The humming, buzzing or vibrating cell phone can be a significant distraction.
Remember to make sure you have email addresses, so thank-you emails can be sent quickly. One recommendation: always ask about the next step in the process. If the hiring representative says weeks, you know that you likely won’t hear back right away. If the same person says days, then you know to follow up in a few days.
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