Most of us have gone through the arduous task of going through an interview. Whether for your first job, getting into your dream institution, or conducting an interview yourself; we have at one point, or another had to go through the process of an interview. Interviews are one of the most important factors in whether you will get that dream job or not.

Working in sports is no different. Depending on the role and the process, you may be speaking with as little as one person, or you may be speaking with 15  or more different individuals spread throughout an organization.

Interviews can be a daunting process, and there always isn’t a way to accurately prepare for a scenario with unknown variables. However, especially in sports communication, you should leverage your best skillsets.

For any interview, I go into whether in sports or a job away from the industry, I print out several pieces of information that I can on hand no matter if the interview is in person or virtually. My recommendation is to first print out a copy of the resume that was submitted for the job application. Most likely the interviewer will be looking at that same document when going through the process. Having the ability to look down at an experience point will help you navigate potential questions about your experience.

Additionally, you should always print out a copy of the job description of the job that you applied to. During the interview, you could receive specific questions on job roles and requirements, and having the ability to see those specific facts will provide you with an excellent opportunity to accurately answer those questions.

Dressing professionally can help you show your level of commitment to the job. Dressing the part will not necessarily be a convincing argument in helping you obtain the sports communications role, however not dressing the part could raise questions about your commitment and desire to work for said organization. My recommendation for any interview in-person is to dress formally. Depending on the organization, dressing formally could be standard attire for a normal sporting event. Dressing to impress is never a negative approach to take especially in the initial interview stage.

The little trick that I believe has helped me stand out compared to other candidates is to both write a personal thank you card sent via mail and compose an email thank you. This may be a small gesture, but it shows a level of gratitude and your willingness to make the extra effort. It should be a requirement in any scenario to write a follow-up email to thank your interviewer for their time.

Interviews can be an intensive process and create stress unknown prior to entering that space. Sports people understand the challenge of earning a role. Being yourself and showing off your expertise is a key component for moving forward in your career.