A:
Congratulations. This is a great question. I am guessing that this interview will take place outside of your town and that train or plane travel will be involved.

I can remember showing up for an important interview after 36 hours on the road because of plane delays. In the end, I had to interview in my travel gear. My luggage had been misplaced in transit after serial re-bookings. I did get an offer. However, this experience taught me to book my hotel based on its access to basic shopping and amenities. That way, I can quickly get set for the meetings if luggage goes astray. Also, I try to fly the day before an interview to give myself at least 6 hours to get prepared and to manage unexpected events. Routinely, I pack enough for one formal interview and one outing, accompanied by interviewers, in my carry-on kit.

For all work-related trips, including interviews, you may want to carry along basic materials and first aid/repair solutions:

• Basic Interview Accessories
• Copies of Resume on high-grade paper
• Business cards (one for each meeting and a few spares for networking)
• Notebook (it can be cumbersome to tote around your laptop)
• Writing Sample, proof-read and on high-grade paper
• Links to any websites or publications you might want to highlight during the interview process
• Batteries, chargers, and transformers if needed
• Tissues
• Washcloths
• Spare pair of eyeglasses – just in case contact lens has problems
• Sewing Kit
• First Aid Kit
• Travel Size Toiletries – so you can look and feel your very best
• Sample Sizes of hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, and Witch Hazel
• Pain-Management medication of choice: Tylenol, Aspirin, Ibuprofen
• Epipen or antihistamine, such as Benadryl
• Imodium, Milk of Magnesia
• Any medication you take daily, including vitamins

Wardrobe That Works
What you select to wear will depend on the organization’s culture and the recreational events that you will attend. If you have an agenda ahead of time, you can refine this list further.
You will be prepared for most situations if you pack:

• 2 Formal Interview Outfits
• 3 Business Casual Outfits
• 1 Evening Dinner Outfit
• 1 Fall/Winter Coat/Summer Jacket with coordinating business accessories
• Umbrella, briefcase, leather tote, raincoat, if needed

Formal Organization
If the organization you interview with is very formal, you will probably need two formal business outfits and other outfits to wear in case you are invited to dinner or to a social event after hours. This way, you will not be relying on hotel dry-cleaning to prepare for the second day’s meetings. You will have everything that you need on hand.

Informal Organization
If you show up in a formal interview outfit on the first day, this will merely be interpreted as an indication of your positive intentions and high interest. No-one will hold it against you. You can then switch up and use a fresh, business casual outfit for the second day. Also, you will have choices if you are invited out after hours.

Before packing, it makes sense to visit a professional clothing store, such as Nordstrom’s, Jos Banks, Brooks Brothers, Macy*s, Lord & Taylor to chat with a sales person about winning combinations, colors that flatter, etc. You might also want to confirm their locations near to where you will interview. That way, in an emergency you can replace lost items with ease.

• Other Things to Remember
• Check your credit card limits to confirm that you can handle unexpected events;
• Inform your bank/credit card holders that you will be traveling so they will approve your out-of-town transactions;
• Check on your health insurance coverage and on the providers available to you when you travel;
• Put your Smartphone on “silent” before you start your interviews; and
• Leave an auto-reply message, informing clients that you will be temporarily unavailable due to business travel.

Please let us know how you enjoy your upcoming interview. We look forward to hearing your interview stories and suggestions as well.  You can submit them to KarenA@ExecSearches.com.

Karen Alphonse is ExecSearches.com’s Search Solution Leader and Executive Coach. Learn more about our resume writing and executive coaching services.

Last updated on March 15th, 2019 at 12:20 pm