By Kate Carpenter

Interviewing can be quite the overwhelming experience.

But, the rocky relationship you may have with interviewing doesn’t necessarily have to exist. Think of it this way: You have been invited to an interview because the employer saw something in you or on your resume that sparked his or her interest. The interview is only used to cement that you are indeed who the company has been looking for in an employee.

So prove that you have what it takes to be their future employee by following these simple steps.

Step one: Do your research. Show that you have taken some time to see what the company is all about. Throwing in a couple of facts in the interview from your research always proves to be a good thing. You are already showing initiative about your future.

Step two: Practice, practice, practice. This is often an overlooked area of interviewing. Get your friends or professors to ask you questions in an interview-like setting and see how you do. After it is through, your interviewer can tell you what you need to improve on. The Stuckert Career Center, located on Rose Street, actually offers practice interviews. Just call the center at 859-257-2746 to schedule an appointment.

Step three: Be on time and dress professionally. Arrive to the location of the interview about 15 minutes early. In terms of dress code, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Don’t go too trendy or too casual. Go with something conservative and something you’re comfortable in.

Lastly, just be yourself. You are the one who wants to get hired, not the person you are pretending to be. Being honest will pay off in the end. Also, sending a thank-you note after an interview is a good idea to establish a good rapport with the interviewer and keep you in his or her mind.

Good luck!