Interview Next Week? Here's How to Actually Prepare

Every Friday I talk to candidates who have an interview lined up and are already spiraling about what to wear or whether they should bring a printed resume. Those things matter, but they're not what separates the candidates who get offers from the ones who get a polite "we went another direction" email.

Here's what actually moves the needle, broken into four parts: mindset, research, appearance, and physical prep.

## 1. Mindset: Stop treating it like a test

An interview is not an exam where you're trying to guess the right answer. It's a business conversation between two parties figuring out if there's a fit. That reframe alone will calm most people down.

Before the interview, write down three things: - Why this role, specifically, not just "I need a job" - What you're good at that this company actually needs - One question you're genuinely curious about

If you can't answer the first one honestly, that's worth sitting with before Monday.

## 2. Research: Go past the "About Us" page

Most candidates read the job posting and the company website and call it done. That's table stakes. Here's what actually impresses hiring managers:

- Read the company's last two LinkedIn posts. Know what they're proud of right now. - Look up the person interviewing you. Not to stalk them, just to know their background and how long they've been there. - If it's a private company, check if there's recent news: funding, leadership changes, expansion, layoffs. Google "[Company name] news" and skim the last 90 days. - For finance and accounting roles specifically: understand the basics of what the company does and does not have in place. A controller candidate who asks "what's your current close process look like" sounds like someone who already works there.

Twenty minutes of real research beats two hours of generic interview prep videos.

## 3. Appearance: Match the room, don't guess

The old rule of "always wear a suit" is outdated and sometimes wrong. The better rule: dress one notch above what the team wears day to day. If you don't know, ask your recruiter, or look at employee photos on LinkedIn.

A few things that are never optional: - Clean, pressed clothes. Wrinkles read as "didn't prepare." - Good lighting and a clean background if it's virtual. Test your camera and audio beforehand, not five minutes before. - Minimal distractions in frame. Close other tabs. Silence your phone.

You don't need a new outfit. You need to not be the reason the conversation gets derailed by a bad Zoom connection.

## 4. Physical prep: The part everyone skips

This sounds unrelated to interviewing but it's not. Sleep and nerves are directly connected. Here's the simple version:

- Get a real night of sleep the night before, not a "I'll sleep when it's over" grind session. - Eat something before, even if you're nervous. Low blood sugar makes you foggy and short-tempered. - Do a 10-minute walk or some kind of movement the morning of. It burns off adrenaline so you're not sitting there vibrating with nervous energy. - Arrive or log in five minutes early, not thirty. Thirty minutes early just gives your brain more time to spiral.

None of this is complicated. It's just rarely done on purpose.

## The bottom line

Companies aren't looking for the most polished answer to "tell me about yourself." They're looking for someone who clearly did the work to show up prepared, calm, and genuinely interested. That's it. That's the whole game.

If you've got an interview coming up and want a second set of eyes on your prep, reach out. That's literally what we do all day.