July 7, 2024
A Note About Taking Notes
When starting a new job, many people still rely on the tried and true method of writing notes to keep themselves organized. Even though virtually everything can be done these days...well, virtually, there is just something about recording your thoughts and ideas the old school way with paper and pen. I haven't thoroughly researched this, but I know that in my own experience, writing down notes helps me connect, remember and learn things in an effective way. I've had many people tell me that they experience this as well.
So it's no surprise that one of the first things that many individuals do when they accept that job offer is purchase a fresh notebook for themselves. With tons of options available, you may be overwhelmed or unsure of which notebook will be best for you. In this blog, I'll share which ones in my opinion are top shelf and noteworthy! (See what I did there? 😉)
A good quality notebook can help you stay organized, focused and as a result more productive. Consider factors such as the size, outer cover material (hard or soft, leather, feaux leather or cloth, etc), and binding (spiral, stitched, etc) for durability and portability. Page weight and quality is important for the look, feel and functionality of your writing and writing utensils of choice. And finally page layout and structure (lined, blank, dotted) is important to select depending on your notetaking style and preferences. These were top of mind for me as I evaluated the best notebooks to reach for when starting a new job.
So let's get into it and start with number five on this list and work our way to the top.
5. Moleskine
Moleskine Classic Notebook, Hard Cover
5"x8.25" / 192 pages 70gsm paper / ruled (lined)
$24.95
Pros -
- Widely available
- Lots of color options
- Pocket in back
- Lay flat design
Cons -
- Paper is only 70gsm (thin with significant ink bleed through and feathering)
- Weak elastic strap
- Lower quality feel for the cost
I've tried Moleskine in the past, and although it gets the job done, I was not thoroughly impressed with the quality. If you need a decent blank notebook, then this fits the bill. There are better options for your money though!
4. Field Notes
6"x9" / 80 pages of 70# "Bright White" paper / Gregg ruled
$12.95
Pros -
- Double-O wiring spiral ensure pages always lay flat
- Top ring design gives nostalgic, reporter-esque vibe
- Heavy duty chipboard cover for sturdier on-the-go notetaking
- Inside cover provides range of information (e.g. temperature conversions, planetary distances)
Cons -
- Overpriced for the number of pages provided and level of quality given
- Gregg ruled paper only helpful if using stenography or shorthand notation
I've used your run of the mill steno pad from Office Max, but I've heard this one is a great option for those that like this style of notepad. I like that it optimizes the inside cover space by providing reference information but it's generic and not particularly helpful for everyday application and most certainly not for starting a new job (unless you happen to be an astronomer and need a quick reference of average planetary distances from the sun). It also has a really low number of pages so you may need to buy two or three to equal what you'd get from other notebooks.
3. Clever Fox
Clever Fox Dotted Notebook, Faux Leather Hard Cover
5" x 8.25" / 127 page 120 gsm paper / dot grid
$16.99
Pros -
- Cute branding
- Lots of color and cover design options
- Includes stickers, pocket, elastic band, pen loop & 3 bookmarks
- Quality paper (120 gsm)
- Lay flat design
Cons -
- Less pages than many other notebooks out there (although this may be because the paper weight/quality is better)
- Grid is slightly smaller than most other A5 notebooks used for bullet journaling
- The included stickers are bit of a waste to me as I don't use them
Clever Fox is a great alternative to the notebook I have at the number two spot on this list. It has some great features like its back pocket and 3 bookmarks. The page quality is very nice and doesn't have much bleeding or feathering with the pens I've used. The thing I don't like is that it doesn't quite have as many pages as other notebooks.
2. Leuchtturm1917
Special Edition Leuchtturm1917, Medium Hardcover A5
5.75" x 8.25" / 203 pages 120 gsm / dot grid
$27.50
Pros -
- Widely available
- Lots of color options
- Includes numbered pages, blank table of contents, pocket, elastic band & 2 bookmarks
- Bullet journaling standard
- Lay flat design
Cons -
- Cost
- Ink takes just a bit longer to dry
The German word leuchtturm (pronounced "loysh torm") means "lighthouse" and this German-based company has certainly been a beacon for years to those in search of a higher-end notebook. I prefer the heftier paper, so the Leuchtturm1917 on my list is the special edition 120 gsm notebook. It has slightly less pages but ends up being a little thicker than the more common 80 gsm Leuchtturm1917 variety. It is a couple of dollars more than the standard Leuchtturm1917 notebook, making it definitely on the steep end for a blank notebook. But if a high quality blank notebook is what you're after, you won't find much better than this.
And drumroll please...
All the notebooks I've noted above are fantastic options for your standard blank notebook. But let's remember the main reason I put this list together - to find a notebook that would be great to use when starting a new job! With all else being equal, the thing is that these are still just blank notebooks at the end of the day. Blank notebooks can't help with providing guidance for what you SHOULD be writing in them - what information will help you effectively and efficiently get acclimated in your new job?
With all this in mind, my number one notebook to use for a new job is:
1. New Job Notebook: Onboarding & Onwards!
Onboarding & Onwards! by New Job Notebook LLC
5.8" x 8.3" / 185 pages 120 gsm / templated pages + dot grid
$29.99
Pros -
- Specifically designed for starting a new job
- Thoughtfully designed flow and structure
- High quality and professional look & feel
- Includes guided prompts & blank pages, elastic band & 1 bookmark
- Includes full colored pages & color edge index
- Lay flat design
Cons -
- Only available for purchase online
- Only 1 color option available
Following the I-OTRA Model for individual-centered onboarding, Onboarding & Onwards is the premiere and stand-alone accessory when starting a new job. There is a to-do list for ORGANIZATION, prompts for working together under TEAM, a place to list and describe the duties and responsibilities for your ROLE, and a section to reflect on your career development under AMBITION. From there you get a few more glimpses of what's inside including short term and long term goal setting, extra blank dot-grid pages for your freestyle note taking needs, and a straightforward layout to capture key information about your new company. And this is just the tip of the iceberg! I designed this notebook specifically for a new employee perspective and backed by my twenty years of professional experience assisting thousands of new employees onboard into their new companies.
Bottom line, there are plenty of options to choose from if you want a blank notebook. However, if you want something that goes beyond empty pages; to have an effective tool that will help you stay organized and give you confidence as you start a new job, then there is one option that is truly a BETTER WAY TO START YOUR NEW JOB - New Job Notebook: Onboarding & Onwards!
Are you a business that wants to level up your resources for your new employees?
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Who Am I?
Jessica Rivera is the Founder and CEO of New Job Notebook LLC. She is a workplace Learning & Development professional with over 20 years of employee onboarding experience across multiple industries for companies including AdventHealth, Baylor Scott & White Health and Disney Cruise Line. She is currently the People & Organization Development Lead at Wise overseeing their global onboarding program. To learn more about Jessica, click here.
If you know someone that's about to start a new job or would benefit from this information, please share this with them! Sharing is caring after all. ♥