Interviewing for jobs, internships, and SLPs can be intimidating. You’re walking into a room to speak with a high-ranking professional, whom you may not be familiar with. Avoid letting your nerves get the better of you by preparing ahead of time—throughout the semester, not just the night before.

Deloitte has a great set of interview tips on their website, from preparation to follow-up. You may have heard most of these before, but a refresher never hurts.

Don’t walk in an interview blind. Do your homework. Researching the firm or company you’re interviewing with doesn’t have to be an hour long endeavor. Spend some time clicking around their website (note things like culture qualities or awards, subsidiaries, or brands the company owns), and get familiar with the industry in which they operate. Ask intelligent questions, about the company and/or your interviewer’s experience. They’re interviewing you, but you’re also interviewing them. If you don’t ask your interviewer any questions at the end, it’s considered a red flag.

Make a good first impression. Wear business professional (that means a suit), and make sure it’s clean and pressed. Look good, feel good. Be aware of your body language. Don’t shift your eyes around the room, avoid fidgeting in your chair. Sit up straight, and don’t be afraid to smile! Engage with your interviewer and practice active listening.

Be confident, but not overly so. Think about the skills and personal qualities that you bring to the table before the interview, and answer questions confidently! Work to strike the proper balance between confidence and humility—no one likes the candidate who thinks they’re the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Follow-up within 24 hours. Shoot your interviewer an email in the day following the meeting. Write concisely, thank them for their time, reiterate your interest in the firm or company, and highlight a detail about your conversation to jog the interviewer’s memory: they met with a lot of people—they may not remember you based solely on your name!

There are many things about the interview process you can’t control, so don’t slack on the things you can.

Remember, the Office of Professional Career Development (OPCD) in Lowder 101 does mock interviews—take advantage of it!