Essential Equipment for Job Seekers

Anyone who’s ever looked for a job knows that the #1 item required for a job search is a well written, up-to-date resume. Without a good resume, you might as well not even apply for a professional job. But there are several other items related to job searches that are absolutely essential for ensuring that you’re ready to succeed and get the job of your dreams. When you’re called for an interview, you don’t want to be scrambling at the last minute to get ready.

1. A dependable computer and Internet access

In today’s ‘information age,’ the Internet is the fastest and most thorough way to search for jobs. Online job sites abound on the Internet, and many companies—especially corporations with branches across the country or around the world—advertise job openings only on the Internet. If you’re depending on newspaper classifieds and employment agencies to find you a job, then you’re accessing only a small percentage of the opportunities you may be qualified for.

Equally important, a computer is extremely useful for preparing for an interview. You may want to learn more about the company, the products or services they produce or provide, general information about the business they do and/or the clients they serve, or even biographies of the principals in the company. If the job will necessitate relocating, you may want to look into information about the area.

Internet access is also important after an interview, because e-mail is an excellent non-confrontational way to follow up with recruiters or hiring managers without seeming pushy. You can also use e-mail to send thank-you messages to everyone involved in your interview.

2. At least one professional ‘interview outfit’

No matter what job you are applying for, you can never go wrong with a suit if you want to impress a potential employer or hiring manager. Wearing an outfit that is too flamboyant, too casual, or unclean is an easy way to kill a job prospect. The color should be tasteful and neutral, and the fabric should suit the weather so you’ll be comfortable during the interview. You should have at least one outfit that you reserve solely for interviews, and that outfit should be kept in pristine condition.

When you wear your interview outfit to an interview, you should have it cleaned and pressed immediately upon your return from the interview. If you’re waiting for that magic phone call that will invite you to an interview, you should be ready to go at a moment’s notice with your interview outfit clean, pressed, and ready to wear.

3. A professional portfolio or writing pad

Whether or not you have published articles, samples, or other documents to take to the interview, you should have with you a nice portfolio containing a pad, a pen, and any information you want to leave with the interviewer. In most cases, a briefcase is not appropriate for an interview, and may only serve to make you seem amateurish. All you need is a neat, slim portfolio pad with a couple of interior pockets and a place for a pen. A portfolio will not only give you a place to put things to take to the interview, it will also make it easy for you to bring home any paperwork the interviewer gives you.

When you go to an interview, you should always take extra copies of your resume with you in case you interview with more than one person or with someone who doesn’t have your resume, and you should take a list of references if you have one available. Without some kind of pad or binder to carry them in, you’ll be relegated to walking in with a manila folder or, worse, just carrying them in your hand. A nice portfolio writing pad looks much more professional and keeps everything neat and intact.

4. A cell phone, or at least a good answering machine

A cell phone may not seem essential, but if you are serious about your job search you don’t want to miss any important calls. Having a cell phone gives you another way for prospective employers to reach you when you aren’t home. If you don’t have a cell phone or don’t want to invest in one, you should at least invest in a reliable answering machine that you can access remotely, so that you can listen to your messages wherever you are.

Returning a phone call as quickly as possible could mean the difference between being invited to an interview and being told that someone beat you to the punch.

5. A reliable alarm clock

It may seem silly, but this may be the most essential tool of all! You don’t want to show up late for an interview, or miss it entirely, because you overslept. Hopefully you will have prepared yourself well by going to bed early to get a good night’s sleep. But whether or not you did, you’ll still have to rely on your alarm to get you up in the morning, so you’d better be sure it works.

If you are serious about your job search being a successful one, these five items can help ensure that success, and you should consider them essential equipment.