Introduction:
A job seeker asked, “What’s the best way to take verbatim notes during a job interview?”
Initial Response:
My answer may surprise you, but I recommend that you not try to take verbatim notes during a job interview. There several reasons why and today, I will share my top four with you.
Three Reasons:
- First, you don’t need verbatim interview notes. This will only create a more stressful interview experience for you. Try jotting high points or bullet points instead about information that you were not already aware of. You will be surprised now much of your conversation you’ll remember afterwards.
- Second, you want to exhibit presence and establish a connection with your interviewer. If you try to take verbatim interview notes, you will not establish the appropriate amount of eye contact healthy interaction with your interviewer. Unfortunately, you will also likely come across as lacking the interpersonal skills that many employers look for in their new team members. So, showcase your awesome verbal communication and interpersonal interaction skills by engaging in a coherent conversation with your interviewer.
- Third, your interactions with the interviewer should let him/her know that you prepared well for your meeting. If you are constantly looking down and writing, you could appear unprepared. Then, the interviewer will be left to assume that you don’t respect their time and are nonchalant about your candidacy. He/She will also likely think that, if hired, you will approach your work in the same way.
- The fourth and last reason is that, you want to remain focused. I don’t know about you, but I sometimes feel like I can’t walk and chew gum at the same time without losing my train of thought. So, instead, concentrate on responding coherently to the interviewer’s questions. Study the job announcement and practice describing examples of your doing the same type of work that your target job requires.
In Conclusion:
Don’t give the interviewer any reason to develop a negative perception of you because it will be almost impossible to change their mind. No job seeker wants that. If you must, after your interview, replay the conversation in your mind and write out more detailed notes at home. You can then use those notes to write out your interview thank you notes.
If you’ve found today’s post helpful, share it with others. Then, wherever you’re viewing, subscribe, like it, or leave me a comment or a job search question. I’d love to hear from you. I’m Cynthia O. and as always…
Career Search Success to You. Go Get Your New Job!
