Why You Should Never Walk Into a Job Interview Empty-Handed

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By Chrissy Scivicque

First impressions matter. A job interview is indeed your first opportunity to impress upon a prospective employer just how amazing you are. And yet many people make one really simple, easy-to-fix mistake that sets the tone for the entire thing: They walk in empty-handed.

I know what you're thinking: What the heck should I take with me? They already have my résumé and cover letter. They didn't request anything additional! What else do they need?

Well, before we get to that, let's talk about why you want to bring anything at all. And, to be clear, a purse or a briefcase storing your everyday things – keys, cellphone and so on – doesn't count, and neither does an application or background check agreement form the employer requested.