Interview tomorrow... Dilemma...

[Greedyfly]

Hello,

I have read Nextqueens post for tips for my interview also but I have an additional question.

I am going for an interview tomorrow and really want this job. A few people on here have given me great advice in preperation. It's at the NHS and is admin based.

My question is: I have a terrible memory (which is worse at the moment because I am on strong painkillers), would it be ok to take cue cards to my interview? Would this be seen as good forward thinking or seen as me having a bad memory and it being unprofessional?

I generally interview well and I am confident with people but I always forget to sell myself properly and feel this is what is letting me down.

What do you guys think? Thanks

[woofgang]

Take the cue cards. Don't dwell on your bad memory, just produce them and say you like to be well prepared. The best of luck at your interview. I used to interview in the NHS and I would have been happy to see evidence of such diligent preparation.

[4getmenot]

I think bad idea, Wait for them to ask the questions and I think that will then trigger the answer you need.

[woofgang]

Probably best not to dwell on the painkillers at interview either. You will get a confidential health assessment and can discuss them then.

[4getmenot]

Is maybe ok to have a list of questions, so when they say 'is there any questions' at end of interview you can say yes I've made a list before I came of things I wanted to ask. That will show you've been thinking about the job.

[boxtops]

Greedyfly, certainly. There is nothing to stop you taking a notebook in with you, with the key points you want to cover - this will show the interviewer(s) that you have prepared. These days in he NHS we all have forms to fill in and interviewing is no exception, so you will probably see the interviewer making notes and referring to papers (including your application). I would look favourably on someone who appeared to have done homework about the job being interviewed for, and asked questions. You can then look through your notes and at the point they ask you "is there anything else" you can check you haven't missed anything. Good luck!

[Greedyfly]

Thanks Woofgang. I wouldn't mention either. I have just had a couple of interviews for the NHS this year and have always lost out due to internals or my not selling myself enough in my opinion. I am good at interviews, I just recently forget my transferable skills =(

[Greedyfly]

Thanks guys. Fingers crossed and all that!

[buildersmate]

There are two different facets to an interview and you are being given conflicting advice.
Sure it is fine to take notes on points you want to make sure you wish to ask them.
What its not OK to do (if that is what is being suggested above) is to go with a list of topics to cover in the event you get asked about 'when you have worked well in a team situation' (say).
I can just see it now:
Interviewer: 'Tell me about a time when you worked well in the team'
Greedyfly: 'Just a mo - let me find my notes on that!'
Sure it is OK to pause whilst you construct your answer(s) but you really need to be practiced enough such that you can say 3 good things in about 45 seconds when one of the generic 'transferable skills' questions crops up. Having said your piece, shut up then wait for the intrerviewer to either ask you to expand on one of the points you just raised, or moves on to another topic.

[woofgang]

no i wasn't suggesting "let me check my notes on that"
Sometimes in interview you are asked questions where the answer is kind of a mini presentation...eg "what do you know about the data Protection act and its relevance to your job?" so you have on your cue card something like "need to know, secure storage, limited retention, permission to access, audit trail" and you go through the points expanding as you go...sort of memory joggers.

[tamborine]

cards would seem lame....boost your self confidence with: "I'm the best person for this job, that's why its my interview".

Answer questions succinctly and leave your jollity at home.

[tamborine]

Ooops I'm a day late....hope it went well for you.