The Truth About Interviews: Why You Don’t Need Luck—Just Preparation

It’s internship season! As students prepare for upcoming job and internship interviews, many express feeling nervous about the process. They ask me for advice, worried about how to make the right impression or land that perfect role. While I understand the nerves, I always remind them of one thing: you don’t need luck when you’re prepared.

Preparation for an interview starts before you even get the interview—before you hit the apply button. Interviews can feel like high-pressure situations. You want the company to like you, and you want to ensure you meet their expectations. However, something often gets overlooked: the interview is not just about them deciding if they want you. It’s just as much about you deciding if you want to work for them. The door swings both ways.

The traditional power dynamic in interviews often places candidates in a position of uncertainty. Remember this: you are also evaluating them. You will spend many hours at that job, working with those people. The interview is your opportunity to determine whether this is a place where you will thrive. The company may assess your skills and qualifications, but it is equally important for you to decide if this is the right environment for your growth and happiness.

Once you think of it this way, the pressure shifts. It’s no longer just “Will they choose me?”—it becomes “Is this the right fit for both of us?” This mindset can help ease the stress of interviews.

Now, let’s focus on what truly matters: preparation. This is the key to a successful interview, and it begins with research. Know the company you’re interviewing for—understand their mission, values, and how your role fits into their goals.

Practice is also essential. One of the most overlooked questions—yet the one that everyone will ask—is: “Tell me about yourself.” It may sound simple, but how you answer this question sets the tone for the entire interview. Mastering this response gives you the confidence to tackle everything else.

In fields like health informatics, where the work can vary, it’s crucial to prepare examples that highlight leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Be ready to share stories that demonstrate these qualities, as you will likely be asked to showcase them.

Teamwork is highly valued, and most interviewers will want to know how well you collaborate with others. Having examples ready that show how you communicate and contribute to a team effort is important.

The interview is not just about answering questions. How you present yourself matters greatly, and this includes your resume. Review it carefully before you submit it. Does it align with the role you’re applying for? Tailor your resume to the specific job and company to show you’re thoughtful and prepared for the opportunity.

Does your resume look like you took the time to carefully craft it? Does it highlight the qualities listed in the job posting? Before submitting your resume ensure it reflects both your effort and how well you align with the position. A well-tailored resume shows you're serious about the opportunity and can make a lasting first impression.

Think about this: your resume is a piece of paper that’s telling them why you’re a good fit and what you’ve accomplished. If it’s vague, they aren’t going to guess what you mean. Quantify what you've done—there’s a big difference between saying "Coordinated activities and volunteer opportunities for sorority members" and "Organized and led 20+ chapter events, including fundraising initiatives and community outreach, coordinating volunteers, managing budgets, and ensuring smooth execution while fostering member engagement."

Leverage the skills you do have! For students who feel they don’t have a lot of experience yet, there are always transferable skills to highlight. For example, were you a swim coach in high school? Think about how that role translates into a health informatics profession: Did you assess each swimmer’s abilities and tailor your instruction to improve their performance? That demonstrates your ability to analyze data, customize strategies, and optimize outcomes—skills directly transferable to health informatics, where assessing needs and implementing tailored solutions is critical. Don’t get discouraged if you feel you lack experience—focus on the skills you do have and make them work for you.

Bring a copy of your polished tailored resume with you to the interview. This simple action shows you are organized and ready. It speaks volumes about your professionalism and attention to detail.

Following the interview, always send a thank-you note to the person who met with you. Mention something specific they said during your conversation. This shows you were engaged and genuinely interested. Simple gestures, like addressing individuals respectfully (e.g., Mr., Mrs., Dr.) and following up, can make a lasting impression.

Here’s a well-kept secret: stop putting so much pressure on yourself to find the perfect job or internship. The reality is you won’t truly know if you like something until you actually do it. You may think you know, but you won’t fully understand until you’ve experienced it. Learning what you don’t want to do is just as valuable, if not more so, than knowing exactly what you want to do.

All experiences are valuable. In fact, you’ll learn more from the things you do wrong than the things you do right. Don’t pressure yourself to find the “perfect” role because it often takes years to discover what you truly want to do.

For example, it wasn’t until my time in the Health Informatics program at the University of Pittsburgh that I realized I wanted to be like the faculty who inspired me. Their passion for the field and unwavering support sparked something in me that I hadn’t fully recognized before: a desire to give back and to make an impact in the lives of others. I wanted to do for someone else what they had done for me—nurture their growth, help them discover their potential, and guide them toward success. However, I didn’t know that right away. It only became clear after I was immersed in the program and later spent time as an instructor, seeing firsthand the transformative power of the right mentorship and teaching. It fueled a deeper passion within me to be a mentor and an advocate for future health informatics professionals.

You don’t always know what you want until you try it—and that’s okay.

So, here’s my advice to all of you preparing for internships or job interviews: Be prepared, be pleasant, and be professional. When you walk into that room knowing you’ve put in the work, you won’t need luck—you’ll be ready to succeed. Luck may get you in the door, but preparation is what will truly set you apart.

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge a few outstanding professors who have played a pivotal role in my journey. Their guidance and expertise are invaluable, and anyone would be fortunate to learn from them Dilhari DeAlmeida, Ph.D., RHIA, FAHIMA , Kimberly Peterson , Valerie Watzlaf , Patti Anania-Firouzan , Yanshan Wang, PhD, FAMIA , Leming Zhou, PhD, FAMIA . Furthermore, every professor in the University of Pittsburgh's Health Informatics program brings their unique strengths and insights to the table, creating a supportive and enriching environment that fosters growth and collaboration. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such an amazing community and work along side of these amazing individuals.

If you enjoyed this article and want more content like this, please like and share! If there's something specific you'd like to hear about, let me know in the comments—I'd love to connect with fellow professionals in the field.

#InternshipSeason #HealthInformatics #CareerSuccess #PreparationOverLuck #Tailoryourjourney