What should I bring to an interview? Most people ask it the night before, standing over a bag and wondering if a fourth copy of their resume is overkill. It is not. The basic rule behind every good checklist is simple: bring what proves who you are, what you’ve done, and what gets you there on time.
The specifics depend on the interview type. A slim folder will do for an initial meeting with a hiring manager. A meeting with a staffing agency recruiter, on the other hand, is often the start of your hiring paperwork, and that changes what you need to bring to a job interview more than most guides mention.
The short list
- Four or five hard copies of your resume
- Typed list of 3 professional references
- A government issued photo ID
- A notepad, a working pen and a couple of questions on paper
- A copy of the job posting, plus the name and phone number of the person you’re meeting
- Directions and payment for parking or transit
- Samples of work, licenses or certifications if required for the position
- Switch your phone to silent before you walk in
Quick Tip: Keep all of it in one folder or bag you can carry in one hand, so the other is free for a handshake.
What to bring to an interview: the short list.
Copies of your resume
You might have already submitted your resume, but the interviewer may have skimmed it on a phone between meetings. Sometimes a second person joins without notice. Bring four or five clean, unfolded copies in a folder. Print the same version you filed. If you have made changes in it since you applied, the interviewer ends up comparing two documents rather than listening to you.
A reference list
A single page listing three professional references will get you points with most employers. For each reference, be sure to put down their name, title, company, how you know them, their phone number and email. Be sure to ask your references first and let them know to expect a call. A reference who knows the position you are applying for and answers the phone when you call will get you a job faster than a bigger name who doesn’t return your calls.
Photo ID
Office buildings, government sites and hospitals have a practice of checking ID at the front desk before issuing a visitor badge. Commonly, a driver’s license or state ID is fine. Without one, you might get to spend the first ten minutes of your appointment in the lobby.
A notepad, a pen, and your questions
Write down three or four questions before you go. Nerves tend to kill them just as the question is asked, “So, what questions do you have for us?” Use the same pad for the names of all you meet. That makes the thank-you email a lot easier to write later that night.
The job posting and contact details
With a copy of the posting, you can review the requirements while you wait. Have the name and direct number of the interviewer written somewhere which you can reach without a working phone. It is a courtesy to call ahead if your conveyance stalls before your start time.
Work samples, licenses, and certifications
If you have a particular example of your work that can be presented, it’s a good idea to bring it along. This could take different forms, depending on the role you’re applying for: designers and marketers bring a portfolio, writers and paralegals bring a short writing sample, and accountants and IT professionals bring copies of relevant certifications. You can have a few copies to hand over to the interviewer and keep your originals, unless someone asks to see them.
Other things to take for an interview
Breath mints, tissues, a phone charger, a water bottle that stays in your bag, and a card or cash for parking. None of these will win you the job. All of them can keep a small problem from becoming the thing you remember about the day.
What to bring to a staffing agency for an interview?
An interview with a recruiter is at the same time a conversation and an onboarding process. If everything goes well, you may even be offered several positions at once, so agencies ask you to prepare paperwork to speed up the onboarding.
In NRI Staffing, for instance, we ask candidates to complete a phone interview before they meet a recruiter. Before the meeting, we ask them to download, print, and fill out the forms on our Documents page and bring them with them. This also applies to people looking to fill a permanent position, as some of them start as a temporary one. The forms include federal and state tax withholding (DC, Virginia, and Maryland), Form I-9, direct deposit authorization, and background-check disclosures. If a form does not download, you may complete a copy at the office.
Here’s what that adds to your bag:
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Documents for Form I-9.
Every new employee is obliged to present documents that can confirm his/her identity and eligibility for employment in the United States. In order to do this, one has to offer either one document from List A, which confirm both identity and work eligibility (for example, a passport or Permanent Resident Card), or one document from List B, which confirm one’s identity (for example, a driver’s license or state ID) and one document from List C, which confirm work eligibility (for example, an unrestricted Social Security card or a certified birth certificate)
One can choose what documents to provide as long as they are on the lists. It is essential to check the expiration dates beforehand and ask one’s recruiter what they need to show that day. The full list is on the USCIS acceptable documents page.
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Clinical credentials for healthcare roles.
NRI asks clinical candidates for current credentials including Immunization records, PPD, and CPR (BLS, ACLS, or PALS). Original licenses and certifications are examined, copied, and verified with the issuing agency. Bring original copies.
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What you need for skills testing.
Office support candidates will be tested on grammar and spelling, specific software, and typing speed. Accounting candidates may be tested on general ledger, invoice, expense report, and balance sheet problems. Some testing is a link sent to you prior to the interview. Bring reading glasses if you need them for the computer screen.
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Have a clear picture of what you want.
In the recruiting process, one person is compared to many for an opening. Be sure to give specifics on availability, your travel radius, desired pay, and interest in temporary or temp-to-hire assignments.
After the interview and testing process NRI checks two references for every applicant, another reason you’ll want to have that reference sheet ready. You can see each step on our hiring process page.
What to bring with you to an interview on video or phone?
There is nothing to prepare, but remember to have your resume, the job description, and your questions handy-printed out or opened on a computer screen that you can see. Test the link and your microphone fifteen minutes early, plug in your laptop, and have the number of the interviewer ready in case the call gets disconnected.
What to leave at home
- Coffee, food, and gum. You want to finish or toss them before you walk in the door.
- Extra people. If someone is driving you, they can wait in the car or a nearby café.
- Documents no one asked for. Your Social Security card goes with your hiring paperwork, not your first conversation. Bring it if a recruiter or human resources asks for it for Form I-9.
- An overstuffed bag. If you have to search for your resume, you’ve packed too much.
Walk in knowing what’s expected
The easiest answer to “What should I bring to an interview?” comes from knowing what the other person is looking for. An advantage of working with a recruiter is knowing who you meet, what documents to bring, where to park, and the nature of the position before walking through the door.
NRI Staffing has placed professionals in administrative, legal, accounting, healthcare, and government positions throughout the Washington, DC, metro area since 1967. If you’re preparing for an interview, or want a recruiter in your corner for the next one, talk with the NRI recruiting team. You can also browse current job openings.
Frequently asked questions
What should I bring to an interview?
At a minimum, bring multiple copies of your resume, a reference list, photo identification, a notepad and pen with questions, and the interviewer’s contact information. In addition, bring work samples or certifications if the job requires them.
What should I take to a job interview at a staffing agency?
In addition to the standard list of items, you should bring completed onboarding paperwork, your Form I-9 documents and, for healthcare positions, your original licenses and credentials. Ask your staffing agency recruiter ahead of time to ensure you bring everything.
What should I take to an interview if it’s my first one?
Stick with the bare minimum for a first interview: two or three copies of your resume, a photo ID, a pen and notepad with some questions, and office directions. If you don’t have work references, your teacher, coach or volunteer supervisor can act as a reference instead.
How many copies of my resume should I bring? Four or five covers almost any panel. For a one-on-one meeting, two or three is plenty.
Can I bring notes into an interview? Yes. A short page of questions and reminders is normal. Glance at it; don’t read from it.
Should I bring my Social Security card to an interview? Only when you’ve been told to, usually because you’ll complete Form I-9 that day. That’s more likely at a staffing agency, where hiring paperwork can happen during the same visit.
