Common Internship Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
Internship interviews are usually less about what you already know than about whether you'd be reliable and easy to teach. A little preparation goes a long way, and most of it can be done in an evening.
"Tell me about yourself"
This isn't a request for your life story. Spend about a minute on what you're studying, one thing you've done that relates to the role, and why you applied. Practise it out loud, but don't memorise it word for word.
"Why do you want to intern here?"
Look at the company's website before the interview and mention something specific, such as a product, a client type or a recent project. Then link it to what you want to learn. Saying that you need an internship for your course is honest, but it shouldn't be your whole answer.
"Tell me about a project you worked on"
Pick one project you know thoroughly, and describe it in four steps:
- What the goal was
- What you personally did
- What went wrong or was difficult
- What the result was, and what you learned
"What are your weaknesses?"
Give a real but manageable example, and say what you're doing about it. For instance: "I used to leave assignments until the last moment, so I now break them into smaller tasks with my own deadlines." Avoid disguised boasts like "I work too hard".
"How many hours can you commit?"
Bring your timetable and exam dates, and give an honest number. Employers can usually plan around exams if they know early. It causes far more trouble if they find out after you've started.
"Do you have any questions for us?"
Always have two or three ready. These also help you decide whether the internship is any good:
- What would I work on in my first month?
- Who would I report to, and how often would we meet?
- What have past interns gone on to do here?
- Could you confirm the stipend and payment schedule?
Before the interview
Test your camera, microphone and internet connection if it's online, or check your route if it's in person. Keep your resume nearby and be ready to talk about anything on it. Afterwards, send a short thank-you message. If an interviewer asks you for money or bank details at this stage, read our guide to internship scams before doing anything else.