Documents That Kenyan Employers Want To See In An Interview

By Selipha Kihagi

Ever been to a job interview where you forgot to carry an important document that was required? You will be surprised how often that happens. A job seeker walks into a job interview only to go blank when the interviewer asks for certain documents. Or you carry what you think will be needed only to realize that they wanted something totally different. Are you a victim of this? If you are, or are scheduled for a job interview soon but not sure what to carry, this article is here to act as a reminder of what will be required.

As part of your interview preparation,  know that employers and recruiters always look forward to see certain documents in the interview. If you are a smart job seeker and you did everything to get ready for the interview, you probably carried the right ones. But if you were in a hurry to prepare or did not really pay attention, you may find yourself with all the wrong papers. Below are the documents that employers want to see in an interview.

Documents that Employers Want to See in an Interview

1. Copies of your CV
Just because you sent in your CV in the application does not mean you go to the interview without it, no. While the employer or recruiter may already have your CV in their database or even in hardcopy, it is always advised that you carry a few copies of your CV. And by copies I mean printed out documents, not the one saved on your phone.

Most interviewers will ask for a copy of your CV as soon as you enter the interview room. Sometimes you may meet an interview panel where every individual needs a copy of your CV in hand as the interview progresses. It would be embarrassing if you were to not have enough for everyone. So always remember to make copies as part of your interview preparation.

2. Relevant original certificates
See what I did there? I used the words relevant and original to describe the certificates that are required in the job interview. Employers and recruiters want to see your original certificates that are relevant to the job in question. These will include the one for your degree, diploma or any relevant training you may have gone through as part of your education qualification.

Also if you did any short courses relevant to your profession  and the job you are applying for; make sure you carry those certificates to the interview. They act as a confirmation that you are indeed as qualified as your CV says you are and takes away any doubt that the employer may have about your honesty.

3. Recommendation letters
Are you the job seeker who never asks for a recommendation letter as soon as you leave an organization? I ask this because most people just resign and do not think it important to ask for recommendation from previous employers. You pack up and start looking forward to the next job, not paying attention to the fact that potential employers will need to know what kind of employee you are. And what better way to know than hear it from your previous employer?

While you may be convincing in your interview, a letter of recommendation is more convincing to potential employers. So if you don’t have any recommendation letter with you, make it a priority to get one. Recommendation letters play an important role in your job search and carrying it to the job interview may be impactful than you think. Of course not every employer will ask for the recommendation during the interview, but it will not hurt to carry just in case.

4. Your payslips
Yes you will need to carry your payslips to the interview, especially if the job advert mentioned that you indicate your current or previous salary. This is probably the last thing you would think an employer would want to see, right? Well, employers want to make sure that the salary you quoted is indeed what you were earning and not fabricated. It also helps to confirm that you were indeed employed and paid for your hard work.

So if you are getting ready for an upcoming interview, ready your recent payslips any other document that proves you were or currently are a paid employee. And while not all organizations will ask for this, recruitment firms in Kenya are keen on this.

5. Any other requested document
In addition to the four documents mentioned above, employers and recruiters may ask you to carry particular documents. If the job requires you to travel to another country for instance, employers may want to see proof that you are allowed to travel. They could ask for your passport. Other positions may be keen on your citizenship and ask that you carry an identification card. Depending on the job you are applying for, employers may also ask that you carry a certificate of good conduct.

So the key here is to pay attention to what recruiters and employers say when they are inviting you to the interview. Most of them will send you an email with details on what to carry, so always remember to check your emails after that phone call. You never know what you will find.

Job interviews are usually a step closer to getting the job. If you do the interview right, you never have to worry if you are going to get the job or not. But if you do it wrong, you will always wonder why you never get the job thereafter. Do you experience difficulties in job interviews? Consult an interview coach today and learn how to ace every interview you go to.