Refer to record cards during interview?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified)
in
Career Management

BLUF: Is visibly referring to record cards acceptable during an interview?

I am being interviewed for an internal position, for which candidates had to submit an initial two-page document outlining their suitability.

The interview requires a 3 minute elevator pitch followed by questions from the panel. I would like to nail the presentation element - would it be acceptable to refer to notes during this segment of the interview?

Any thoughts welcome.

Rick

Submitted by John Rosenau on Monday January 23rd, 2012 4:31 pm

Will using the cards differentiate yourself from everyone else?  What happens if someone else doesn't use cards?  I think you are probably best to rehearse and practice and not use the cards. 

Submitted by Aaron Buhler on Monday January 23rd, 2012 4:39 pm

Think about what they're asking you to prepare -- an elevator pitch.  In other words, it's quick so you shouldn't have too much difficulty remembering your key points.  And there's no way you'd whip out cards in an actual elevator -- they're looking to see if you can boil yourself down to the most important thing about you that they should know.  I think you could expect the panel to collectively roll their eyes if you read your pitch -- if you don't know the most important points without looking at notes, they know it's going to be a long interview.
For the panel questions, this is just like any interview.  You can't very well flip through notes to find the right answer.  So again, no referring to cards.
That being said, using note cards is an excellent way to prepare your comments and practice beforehand.  Definitely use them for that -- but you should get your pitch down cold if you want to stand out (in a good way).

Submitted by Rick Monro on Wednesday January 25th, 2012 4:04 pm

 Thanks for comments folks, makes perfect sense. Will update with outcome.
 
Rick

Submitted by Mark Horstman on Thursday January 26th, 2012 1:01 pm

 That's:  NEVER.
 
Mark

Submitted by Rick Monro on Thursday January 26th, 2012 3:42 pm

Thanks again for inputs folks.
Nailed the interview (I over-prepared, I believe Mark could approve :). I have since been told by my boss that it was the single best interview he had ever witnessed, and told by HR representative who was there that it was in the top 5 he had ever sat in on.
I would attribute a minimum of 80% of this to MT techniques. Mark and Mike, I salute you.

Submitted by Jane Cook on Friday January 27th, 2012 8:23 am

Congrats Rick, it gives me warm fuzzy feelings when I see fellow MT followers doing well!