Answering Angela’s question, yes it is appropriate to take a notepad/portfolio into the interview, with a couple of caveats:
1) You shouldn’t have a list of notes that you read from when answering interview questions, but you could (should?) have questions you’re going to ask the employer written down; and
2) A notepad/portfolio does not mean purses, backpacks or other types of bags. We can keep those for you in the CDO office.