Worried about Interviewing? Here's How to Have a Great Interview.

A great interview isn’t about perfection—it’s about preparation, presence, and knowing your value.

TL;DR | How to Have a Great Interview

Are you worried about interviewing? These 6 practical steps will help you prepare confidently, communicate your value clearly, and evaluate whether the role and company align with your goals.

▍ A great interview starts with mindset and preparation, not just polished answers.

▍ Confidence, professionalism, and energy are top traits employers want to see.

▍ Practicing in advance helps reduce nerves and improve communication.

▍ Don’t just hope to be picked; assess if the company is right for you.

▍ These strategies help candidates across industries, including energy and chemicals, show up as their best selves.

Why the Interview Process Feels So High-Stakes

When you get invited to an interview, the company already believes you have the core skills. Of course, they will want to validate your skills, but they’re also focused on what’s harder to measure on paper: how you show up in the room.

Hiring teams want to know:

• Are you confident and prepared?

• Can you collaborate and communicate clearly?

• Will you fit into their team culture?

  
  

That’s why interviews often center on soft skills. Professionalism, energy, and confidence stand out more than a perfectly recited resume.

They’re also evaluating how you respond under pressure, how well you know your story, and whether your values align with theirs. You’re not just being assessed on what you say, you’re being evaluated on how you make people feel.

Knowing this can help you shift your mindset. Instead of trying to prove you’re perfect, focus on being clear, grounded, and curious. It’s about connection, not just performance.

How to Have a Great Interview: Start with the Right Mindset

The role of a job candidate is one you don’t play every day, so it’s normal for interviews to feel unfamiliar. That’s why the best interviews don’t start with your resume. They begin with preparation, presence, and mindset.

Most interviews last between one and six hours, depending on the structure. That’s a short window to introduce yourself, evaluate if the company fits your goals, and ideally receive a job offer.

You’ve likely heard the standard advice:

• Dress professionally

• Shake hands firmly

• Come prepared with thoughtful questions

• Follow up with a thank-you note

  
  

Those are important. But they’re not the whole picture.

To have a great interview, you need to approach the conversation with clarity, confidence, and intention. That means evaluating the company just as much as they’re evaluating you and showing that you’re not just qualified, but aligned.

As a recruiter, I’ve worked with candidates across every career stage, from those casually exploring new roles to those reentering the workforce after a layoff. These next steps will help you feel prepared and empowered no matter where you're coming from.

What Employers Are Really Evaluating in an Interview

Here are a few things to remember, no matter where you are in your job search:

If you’ve been invited to interview, the company already believes you have the right skills. Your resume did its job.

Now, they want to validate those skills in conversation and, just as importantly, assess how you’ll fit with the team. Fit doesn’t mean being just like everyone else. It means bringing strengths that complement the team’s dynamic, communicating well under pressure, and aligning with the company’s values and goals.

Across industries, three qualities consistently rise to the top:

• Professionalism

• High energy and enthusiasm

• Confidence

  
  

These traits go beyond qualifications. They reflect how you show up, how you interact, and how you might lead or collaborate on the job.

The good news? You can intentionally demonstrate all three. The following steps will help you do exactly that and set the stage for a great interview.

How to Show Confidence, Energy, and Professionalism in Your Interview

These six steps will help you stand out for the right reasons and avoid common interview mistakes that can undermine your presence.

1. Start strong with your body language

As soon as you enter the room, extend your hand with confidence. Shake hands with every hiring team member and make eye contact. This signals professionalism and a readiness to engage from the first moment.

2. Dress for confidence, not just style

Wear something that feels professional and comfortable. If you feel confident in what you're wearing, it will show. Confidence is often less about what you wear and more about how you carry yourself in it.

3. Do your homework

Research every person you’re scheduled to meet. Learn about the company’s mission, recent news, and especially the division you’d be joining. This preparation builds confidence and gives you a better lens to assess company culture and how your strengths align.

While you’re preparing for the interview, it’s also smart to update your LinkedIn profile. Hiring managers and recruiters often review it alongside your resume. Make sure it reflects your strengths, accomplishments, and professional brand.

👉 Not sure what to include? Check out LinkedIn Essentials to ensure that your profile reflects your strengths, accomplishments, and professional brand.

4. Practice answering and asking questions

Start this practice the moment you decide to explore a new role, not two days before an interview. That way, you're not rushing to prepare under pressure—you’re building confidence early.

Interview yourself. Prepare for the questions you think you’ll be asked and visualize how the interview might unfold.

Ask yourself real questions and answer them out loud, just like you would in an interview. Do this in front of a mirror. It may feel unnatural at first, but so does an interview. Practicing this way creates a simulated environment that builds muscle memory and comfort.

Repeat this until you feel confident and prepared. The more you practice speaking your answers, the more natural you’ll sound, and the more relaxed you’ll feel when it’s go time.

5. Tune in to your mindset

Ask yourself: What excites me about this role? Why am I interested in this company?

If doubts creep in and your self-talk sounds like “Why would they hire me?” or “Someone else is probably more qualified”—pause and challenge those thoughts. That inner dialogue can shape how you show up. If it’s filled with doubt, it may come through in ways you don’t realize.

Combat that by writing down what excites you about the job, what you bring to the table, and how this role aligns with your goals.

6. Own what you bring to the table, even if it’s not everything on the list

You don’t need to match every requirement in the job description to be the right person for the role. Focus on what you bring. That mindset shift will help you show up more confidently and communicate your value clearly.

Start by making a list of your key strengths, past wins, and transferable skills. Think about the problems you’ve solved, the results you’ve driven, and the experiences that make your perspective valuable.

Then, connect the dots for the interviewer. Give clear examples that show how your experience prepares you to succeed, even if your path is nontraditional. For example:

• “While I haven’t used X system, I led a similar implementation that required learning new tools quickly and training a team of 20.”

• “I haven’t worked in this exact industry, but I’ve managed high-stakes projects in complex environments where accuracy and collaboration were essential.”

  
  

Hiring managers aren’t just looking for someone who checks boxes. They want someone who will contribute, grow, and solve real problems. Show them you’re that person.

The Real Secret to a Great Interview

A great interview isn’t about having all the perfect answers. It’s about being prepared, confident, and clear on what you bring to the table.

When you show up with that clarity—backed by research, self-awareness, and real stories—you make it easier for hiring teams to see how you’ll contribute. You also make it easier for yourself to spot whether this is truly a place where you want to grow.

Interviews go both ways. And when you treat them as a two-way conversation, not just a test, you have your best shot at finding the right fit for both you and the company.  

Common Questions About Having a Great Interview

What’s the most important thing to do before a job interview?

The most important thing is to prepare early. Start researching the company, the team, and the role as soon as you decide to apply, not just when you’re invited to interview. Preparation gives you confidence, clarity, and the ability to connect your story to the company's needs.

Do I need to meet every qualification listed in the job description?

No. Most job descriptions are wish lists. If you meet most of the requirements and can clearly show how you’ll contribute, it’s worth pursuing. Focus on what you do bring, and be ready to explain how your strengths translate to impact. As a side note, don't apply to something you know you can't accomplish.

How do I talk about gaps or career changes without sounding negative?

Own your story with confidence. Frame transitions or gaps around what you learned, how you grew, or how they prepared you for this opportunity. Keep it honest and forward-focused.

What should I ask at the end of the interview?

Ask questions that show you’re invested in the company’s goals and curious about how you can contribute. Try: “What does success look like in this role after six months?” or “How does this team measure performance and growth?” or “What’s one challenge the team is navigating right now?”

What if I get nervous and blank out during the interview?

It happens. Take a breath, acknowledge the moment, and ask for a second to gather your thoughts. Most hiring managers appreciate honesty over perfection. Practicing your answers ahead of time can reduce the chances of freezing up. Another tip: If you are composed, you can say, "That was a great question, and I have never been asked that." It gives you a second to compose your answer without skipping a beat.

What if I don't get the job?

Rejection is never easy, but it’s also not the end of your story. Sometimes the role isn’t the right fit, or the timing isn’t right. What matters is how you respond.

Use this moment to reflect on your learning, refine your approach, and keep your momentum. The right opportunity may be just ahead.

👉 For tips on how to bounce back confidently, read our post on handling job rejection gracefully.

Share Your Background with TLR Search

At TLR Search, we’re energy recruiters and chemical recruiters who work with companies to align the right talent with critical roles.

If you’re exploring new opportunities, you’re welcome to share your information through our candidate portal. We carefully review each submission, but we will only reach out if we have an active opportunity that aligns with your background and experience.

👉 [Enter Your Information in the Candidate Portal]

This post is part of our job search series for energy and chemical professionals—see the full guide for practical strategies that align with where you want to go next.