Using MacBook Pro with broken monitor with TV

Greetings

I have a Macbook Pro that sustained damage to the monitor. When I turn it on, I can hear the start up chime, but the screen no longer works. If I want to use it (so that I can delete everything and give it away), is it as simple as attaching an HDMI cable with a USB-C plug and connecting it to my TV? Is there a trick to getting it to work, particularly if I can't see anything on the screen? I know it can be done because I took it to the store and had all of the data removed and they were able to attach it to a monitor at the store, though we didn't wipe it at that time (which is what I want to do now).

I don't recall which generation MBP it is, but it's probably about 4-6 years old. It's the one that has four USB-C (or is it Thunderbolt?) ports and one headphone jack.