Arthur Ashe once said, “One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.” Interviews, whether virtual or in-person, can be overwhelming. This five-step process will help in preparing for a successful interview.

The question of what to wear can be daunting. Be sure to invest in a suit that fits you and gives you confidence. Having a suit dedicated to interviews is like putting on a costume – you are dressing the part! Not only will you look good and feel your best, you can spend more time on the second part of preparing for the interview.

There is nothing worse than being under prepared, especially for an interview. Combat this by doing your research. If they share the name of the interviewer, check their LinkedIn. Review the job posting you applied for. List the skills they’re looking for with direct examples of how you’ve successfully used those skills in prior roles. Lastly, research the company’s mission statement and values to help you align yourself to their organization. Has the company been in the news recently? This will prove to the interviewer you are interested in their company – which transitions us to the next step.

In any relationship, it is nothing without trust. Trust between an interviewer and the interviewee is extremely important. You may be asking, “How can I build trust with an interviewer?” Start an interview with a question or statement that proves you did your research. Instead of asking an interviewer how they’re doing, begin with a question or statement that you would only bring up if you did research. For example: “I’ve been doing some research, and I saw you recently got promoted. Congratulations!” Make sure to find commonalities between you and the interviewer as the conversation plays out. 

“Do you have any questions?” Metaphorically, this is the final play of the game, and you have the ball. In your own variation, ask the interviewer if there is something specific they’re looking for in a candidate that you may not have touched on. This opens up the opportunity to sell yourself for the position in a way that could’ve otherwise eliminated you from consideration. Conclude by asking what the next steps are. This will prevent any post-interview nerves by understanding their follow-up process. 

Just like after a meeting with a client, your job is not over. Always email the interviewer to thank them for their time with a summary of the selling points on your candidacy. If you forgot a question, this is the time to ask. Assume the close by signing off with “I look forward to hearing back from you!”

As Tom Herman said, “Pressure is self-doubt when you’re unprepared.” Interviews can be intimidating, but they don’t have to be. Dress the part, be armed with research, build trust, ask good questions, and always follow up.

For those of you in the process of interviewing, I hope this helped, and I wish you the best of luck!