Internship Interview Questions
1. What led you to apply for this internship?
The interviewer knows that you have applied for an internship to gain work experience. You may have applied for this role independently, or someone in your network may have given you a lead. Explain why you applied for the role with factual information. If someone from your network recommended the role, acknowledge it and let the interviewer know.
Example: “I am fascinated by the way your company uses social media to attract target groups. I am currently doing my master’s in marketing and communications. Working with you in the marketing team can help me build my skills and add value to my resume as I would have worked in one of the top 50 companies which use social media extensively for marketing.”
2. Why do you believe that you are the most qualified candidate to fill this role?
Internship roles are in demand, as they may be part of academic requirements. Many take up an internship to gain work experience. You may face a lot of competition if you have applied for an open internship role. Research the requirements of the role and the company’s background and work culture to answer the question in three to four sentences highlighting each aspect.
Example: Through my experience, I have learned your company is known for its innovative social media marketing. I have gained good experience in targeted social media campaigns from my classroom and extra-curricular experience. I have contributed and learned considerably in my previous marketing internship roles, and have helped my previous employers to the best of my capacity. For example, I helped my former employer, a startup, improve their social media engagement by 25%. I have work experience that matches your job requirements and I can transfer my experiences to this role.”
3. Describe your knowledge about the organisation and its industry.
An interviewer may expect you to perform research and prepare for an interview. Go through the company website and other competitor websites while preparing for an interview. Look for news articles referencing the company or its work, and mention them during the interview to indicate that you have made an effort to learn about the company.
Example: “This company is one of the top 20 public relations companies in the country. Public relations have evolved in the last two decades with increased competition, customer awareness and availability of multiple platforms for campaigns. You have also won awards for the best PR agency five times for innovative strategies. Your positive, powerful and elegant campaigns have helped build credible and healthy brand images for many of your clients. As a part of our case study in my master’s in communication, I choose to pursue an internship at this company. I hope this internship role helps me understand the nuances of public relations in greater detail.”
4. Describe how you would work with a team and employ your interpersonal skills during your internship experience.
As an intern, you may be the youngest or the newest team member in an organisation. An interviewer may test your interest and willingness to be a team player, rather than as an individual contributor. Answer without hesitation and with enthusiasm.
Example: “During my previous internships, I completed two individual projects and three group projects. I also worked as an intern in a startup and a charity for fundraising activities. I have greatly enjoyed every role and gained valuable insights from these experiences.
As a leader, I gained confidence to listen actively, take initiatives, give feedback, practice patience, motivate team members and make informed decisions. As a member, I learned to adhere to schedules and collaborate and communicate effectively with the team members. I am willing to multi-task and also help other team members with their duties as and when required.”
5. Describe your coursework and in which ways it correlates with this role.
Interviewers may ask this question if this is your first internship role. They may test your understanding of theories and concepts. Answer with relevant points that connect your syllabus to the company and the role.
Example: “Three courses that helped me understand marketing include business-to-business marketing, public relations and marketing research. I learned that marketing has multiple components, all of which are instrumental for business development. This knowledge can help me succeed in this internship and can be of assistance while working with multiple departments. I can also be empathetic and get a better understanding of the relevance of everyone’s work here.”
6. What attracted you to your chosen field?
Example: “I was initially attracted to my major, statistics, because I’ve long had a talent for math. However, statistics allows me to take that further. I can use mathematics to understand various aspects of the world around me, which I find fascinating. It’s a way to reveal patterns that aren’t always clear to the casual observer, allowing me to use math to make insightful recommendations or champion change that can make a real difference.”
7. How do you think an internship will help you academically? What about professionally?
Example: “Academically, I believe an internship will give me a deeper understanding of how to apply the knowledge I gather to real-world scenarios. It’ll help me see the difference between the classroom experience and what it’s like to engage as a member of the workforce and Professionally, an internship lets me build a strong foundation. I’ll acquire new capabilities that will serve me well moving forward. Plus, it’ll help me keep realistic expectations while teaching me how to provide an employer with exceptional value, both of which can help me launch a successful career.”
8. What one word do you think describes you best?
Example: “If I had to pick one word, I believe ‘responsible’ is the best fit. I’m a meticulous and organized person who is diligent about meeting my commitments. I understand the importance of accountability, particularly when it comes to meeting the expectations of others who are impacted by my work. As a result, I’ve always aimed to be responsible, not just as a student, but as a person.”
9. What are you most proud of?
Example: “One thing that I’m particularly proud of was being selected as the valedictorian for my high school. I worked hard to achieve my grades, and I think that diligence will continue to serve me well throughout my life. I learned the value of hard work, discipline, and planning. Plus, it was only possible not only through my efforts but learning to work effectively on a team for group assignments, which I think was a critical lesson that will help me thrive in the workforce.”
10. Tell me about a time when you stepped up.
Example: “During a team project in one of my classes, one of the group members had a family emergency that pulled them away from their studies. Since we divided the work equally among the team members, that meant there was a portion that suddenly wasn’t being handled. I decided to find the solution to our problem. I reached out to other group members to assess where we all stood with our own portion of the work. Then, I helped distribute the remaining tasks, including assigning the largest segment to myself. While it meant doing more work, it was worthwhile, as we ultimately scored a 98 out of 100 on the assignment.”
Also See: Part-Time Job Interview Questions
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