What to bring to a job interview: a short checklist, by interview type.
Bringing the right things is a small part of an interview, but it removes worry on the day and lets you focus on the conversation. Pack the night before, and check whether the employer asked for anything specific.
Bring copies of your resume, a list of the questions you want to ask, a notebook and pen, the name and contact details of the person you are meeting, and anything the employer asked for, such as identification, a portfolio or certificates. For a video interview, have the same papers beside you and a charged device. Leave out anything you would have to explain, and keep your phone silent.
The essentials for any in-person interview
- Copies of your resume. Enough for each person you expect to meet, plus one. They help an interviewer who has not printed it.
- Your questions. A short list of questions about the role and team, so you do not go blank at the end.
- A notebook and pen. For names, details and anything you want to follow up on.
- Directions and contact details. The address, the entrance to use, and a phone number to call if you are delayed.
- Anything they asked for. Identification, a portfolio, work samples, references or certificates, if requested in the invitation.
What changes by interview type
- Video. Your resume and the posting open or printed beside you, your questions, water, a charged device and the meeting link. Close other apps.
- Phone. Your resume, the posting and your notes in front of you, a quiet room and a charged phone.
- Panel. Enough resume copies for each panel member, and their names written down so you can address them.
- Practical or skills test. Whatever tools or materials the employer said to bring, and nothing they said not to.
- Portfolio roles. A small selection of your best relevant work, printed or on a device, that you can talk through briefly.
What to leave at home
| Item | Why | Instead |
|---|---|---|
| A large bag of shopping or gym kit | It is awkward to manage in a small room | Leave it in the car or at home |
| Coffee or food | Hard to handle and can spill | Water, if you need it |
| Notes you read from | Reading answers sounds rehearsed | A short list of prompts you glance at |
| A phone on loud | Interruptions break the flow | Silent, out of sight |
| Confidential material from your current job | It raises questions about discretion | Describe the work instead of showing it |
Illustrative answers to adapt
Illustrative: these answers were written by TryHired to show structure. They are not real candidates' answers and were not given in any real interview. Every name, employer, number and result is fictional or a bracketed placeholder: replace each bracket with your own true details, and never claim an achievement you did not have.
Night-before checklist
When to use: Copy, then tick off.
[ ] Resume copies: [how many] [ ] Questions to ask: [your list] [ ] Notebook and pen [ ] Address, entrance and contact: [details] [ ] Requested items: [identification, portfolio or documents they asked for] [ ] Outfit ready and checked [ ] Route and travel time: [plan]
“Do you have any questions for us?” (weak)
What it shows: Arriving with nothing prepared.
No, I think you've covered everything. I can't think of anything right now.
“Do you have any questions for us?” (stronger)
What it shows: Using the list you brought.
Yes, I wrote a couple down. What would you want the person in this role to have finished in the first few months? And how does the team decide which [projects or requests] come first? I'd also like to understand how [a duty from the posting] works day to day.
Why the stronger answer works: Arriving with nothing to ask at the end suggests limited interest. A short list you brought with you solves that, and the questions in the stronger answer are about the work itself. The answers are illustrative.
Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Every sample on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Mistakes to avoid
- Bringing one resume when you meet several people.
- Forgetting something the invitation asked for.
- Packing on the morning of the interview.
- Reading prepared answers from paper.
- Leaving your phone where it can ring or buzz.
Prepare with your own facts
Questions people ask
What should I bring to a job interview?
Should I bring a resume to an interview?
What should I bring to a video interview?
Can I bring notes to an interview?
How this page is built
Written by Maid Dizdarevic, a career coach and 8x LinkedIn Top Voice. Advice is labelled as advice. Every sample answer was written by TryHired to show structure: none is a real candidate's answer, and every employer, number and result is a bracketed placeholder for your own true details. Question lists are general practice, not a prediction of what any employer will ask.
- What a specific employer will ask: no one can know that in advance, so read the posting and prepare your own evidence.
- Your results: we never invent numbers, and you should never claim a result you did not achieve.
- Outcomes: no guide, answer or program can promise an interview or a job offer.
- TryHired editorial guidance by Maid Dizdarevic, career coach, Nov 4, 2026.