r/interviews • u/Own-Style-9879 • 1d ago
Virtual Interview Etiquette: notes?
Traditionally, I’ve always taken my notes on a pen and paper.
Slowly but surely I’ve made my way to the digital note taking era for my professional and personal life.
Is it ok to mention to the interviewer I’ll be taking notes on the computer or does that look distracting?
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u/revarta 1d ago
Honestly, it's totally fine to use your computer for note-taking during an interview, especially in a virtual setting. Just give the interviewer a quick heads up that you'll be taking digital notes so they understand and know why you're glancing away occasionally. As long as it's not taking away from the conversation, it should be no issue.
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u/backnarkle48 1d ago
If you use a video recorder like Fathom, Notta or Otter, its use will be visible on the video screen to all parties. To be courteous, I would ask whether the interviewer is okay with your recording the interview. Also offer to send a copy, for extra points
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u/Feeling-Royal7290 1d ago
Oof, I don't think HR will allow recorded interviews. That gets into legal stuff that an applicant could use against the company if things don't go their way or their could distribute to others as a prep for interviewing with that company. Just asking shows a lack of awareness about these things.
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u/backnarkle48 1d ago
I just had an interview last week. My interviewer and I both recorded the video call
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u/Feeling-Royal7290 1d ago
Then it depends. My company does not allow this and I have friends in HR in different companies and they don't either. It opens the door to liability.
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u/NatKingSwole19 1d ago
I take notes with pen and paper, just so it doesn't give any sense that I may be using AI answer questions at all. I'll give them a "sorry, just taking some notes on paper" heads up, especially since they'll see that I'm looking down from the camera.