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Anonymous User wrote:On interviews I usually bring a black folder thing with my resume, transcript etc.. and some notes on the place im interviewing with. I usually open it up and have a pen in my hand during the interview and sometimes take some notes. I was told not to have anything with me for the OCI interviews from career advisor. Is this TCR?

I just feel having something in front of me makes me feel more comfortable, and I don't see why its a bad thing?

Helmholtz wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:On interviews I usually bring a black folder thing with my resume, transcript etc.. and some notes on the place im interviewing with. I usually open it up and have a pen in my hand during the interview and sometimes take some notes. I was told not to have anything with me for the OCI interviews from career advisor. Is this TCR?

I just feel having something in front of me makes me feel more comfortable, and I don't see why its a bad thing?

Not sure if serious.....

But if so: seriously, do not take notes during the interview.

Helmholtz wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:On interviews I usually bring a black folder thing with my resume, transcript etc.. and some notes on the place im interviewing with. I usually open it up and have a pen in my hand during the interview and sometimes take some notes. I was told not to have anything with me for the OCI interviews from career advisor. Is this TCR?

I just feel having something in front of me makes me feel more comfortable, and I don't see why its a bad thing?

Not sure if serious.....

But if so: seriously, do not take notes during the interview.

Bronte wrote:You should bring a padfolio and a pen with you to the interview. You should have copies of your resume, transcript, writing sample, etc. You should also have cheat sheet for the firm. I would open the padfolio and set it on the desk in front of you, but leave the pen in the slot so as not to fidget with it. Take "notes" when the interviewer tells you something that's he will likely think should be written down, which will probably tend to be nothing.

The advice to not bring anything with you to the interview is obviously incorrect. It conflicts with the prevailing advice to have a cheat sheet and to have resume, transcript, etc. on hand if requested.

Anonymous User wrote:

Bronte wrote:You should bring a padfolio and a pen with you to the interview. You should have copies of your resume, transcript, writing sample, etc. You should also have cheat sheet for the firm. I would open the padfolio and set it on the desk in front of you, but leave the pen in the slot so as not to fidget with it. Take "notes" when the interviewer tells you something that's he will likely think should be written down, which will probably tend to be nothing.

The advice to not bring anything with you to the interview is obviously incorrect. It conflicts with the prevailing advice to have a cheat sheet and to have resume, transcript, etc. on hand if requested.

Thank you. What I thought and usually do. My advisor said to bring resume, etc. But to not have anything open during the interview (meaning closed padfolio and no notes on firm). Anyway, thanks!

mths wrote:Don't take notes.

For the love of god, don't take notes.

blowhard wrote:

Anonymous User wrote: Thank you. What I thought and usually do. My advisor said to bring resume, etc. But to not have anything open during the interview (meaning closed padfolio and no notes on firm). Anyway, thanks!

I agree with having it with you...but I wouldn't refer to notes during the interview itself.

Cavalier wrote:

mths wrote:Don't take notes.

For the love of god, don't take notes.

Cavalier wrote:

mths wrote:Don't take notes.

For the love of god, don't take notes.

Bronte wrote:

Cavalier wrote:

mths wrote:Don't take notes.

For the love of god, don't take notes.

It would be more helpful to elaborate a little bit rather than make unequivocal quips. For example, if an interviewer said, "Oh, you're interested in XYZ, well you should email John Doe at blahblah.com" or "You should check out our most recent case in that area, Shmoe v. Doe," you think it would be a taboo to write that down?

Bronte wrote:Having an open folio and making the requisite eye contact are not mutually exclusive.

Helmholtz wrote:

Bronte wrote:Having an open folio and making the requisite eye contact are not mutually exclusive.

It seems like it would serve as a distraction. If not to you, then possibly to the interviewer.

IMO, if you need to write something down, open your portfolio, write it down, and then close portfolio. I might even preface it with, "Do you mind if I write that down? Blah blah would hate to forget that useful piece of advice blah blah." I've done a fair share of pre-OCI callbacks and screeners now. I can't think of a time where I even remotely needed to write something down.

Anonymous User wrote:I had an open folio and took some, but not extensive, notes in every interview I did. I never found it distracting and enjoyed having a few things written down that would job memories about particular practice areas or programs.

Eye contact is important but you don't want to be staring people down either, it can be just as uncomfortable to never avert your gaze as it can be to never make eye contact. Writing down occasional pieces of information isn't going to disrupt the interview flow for most people.

I did a practice interview with an attorney from a big firm (Wilkie) before the real deal and asked about my practice and he said it hadn't been distracting at all.

At the end of the day I don't think this is a bright line thing. I see the merits of what the people saying don't take notes are saying, I just don't think it's so obvious.

Cupidity wrote:Bring the folder, its a professional way to transport your resume, etc. Remove pages, hand them to interviewer, close folder. I've been told by a few friends who are conducting interviews that they auto-ding people for it. Only open the folder if the interviewer explicitly tells you to write something down like, "I think you should contact Partner McPartnerson because he manages what you are interested in."

Cupidity wrote:Bring the folder, its a professional way to transport your resume, etc. Remove pages, hand them to interviewer, close folder. I've been told by a few friends who are conducting interviews that they auto-ding people for it. Only open the folder if the interviewer explicitly tells you to write something down like, "I think you should contact Partner McPartnerson because he manages what you are interested in."