You’ve just received an email about your follow-up internship interview. Congrats! But it’s still too soon to celebrate! Now is the time to craft your answers to some questions asked for an internship interview. Going into a job interview unprepared is like running through a forest blindfolded.
My sample answers below will be your compass to guide you through that “forest”!
In this article:
1. Why are you interested in this company/internship?
Why this question
As a recruiter myself, I love to ask this question at the beginning of interviews. It helps me understand your level of interest in the position and the company, which can be a good indicator of your potential work ethic.
Tips to answer
It’s best to showcase your genuine enthusiasm and passion for the position. Make sure you research the company in advance. Don’t just say you are interested in the business; instead, bring up some details that make the company your desirable workplace.
You should focus on what you think you can learn from this internship, too. Thanks to this, the recruiter can determine if your goals align with what the company can offer.
Example
“Since my first day at university, I’ve been on the path to becoming an excellent marketer, and I can see a lot of opportunities for personal and professional growth at your company. Working at a leading firm like yours would expose me to diverse audiences and various marketing channels. I was impressed by your LG marketing campaign, and I am eager to learn how you put your ideas into reality that always resonate with users. I am excited to be part of your team.”
2. What do you expect from this internship?
Why this question
With this query, internship interviewers want to delve deeper into your goals or career paths as an intern in their company. This helps them gauge if you are a good fit for mutual benefits.
Tips to answer
When discussing your expectations for the internship, focus on development and contribution. For example, highlight the hard and soft skills you want to develop or improve during the internship. What values you can bring to the table are also equally important, as the company seeks interns who can both learn and contribute, fostering a mutually beneficial experience.
Example
“I expect the internship at this company to provide me with invaluable hands-on experience in marketing. In my marketing courses, I’ve honed my skills in content creation, social media analytics, and audience engagement. I’m particularly interested in learning how you leverage different social media platforms to reach target audiences and build brand loyalty.
I’m also eager to contribute my strengths to your team. As a data enthusiast, I’m confident I can analyze social media data to provide valuable insights for future campaigns.”
3. Tell me about yourself
Why this question
The classic warm-up question in any interview! Don’t take it lightly, though. Your answer gives the hiring manager a glimpse into your educational background and future career goals. They can also take a snapshot of your communication skills from your response.
Tips to answer
Don’t go too far with your personal hobbies and habits. Base your answer on your education, such as your current program, area of study, and future plans. You can also highlight your strengths in your answer. All in all, keep your response relevant to the internship.
Example
“I’m pursuing a Computer Science degree at ABC University, and I’ve always been fascinated by software development. Throughout my studies, I’ve delved into a diverse range of topics, including algorithms, data structures, machine learning, and software engineering.
Beyond the classroom, I actively seek opportunities to put my knowledge into practice. For example, I’ve worked on a team to develop a simple mobile app for video editing. I believe my strong foundation in computer science, combined with my eagerness to learn, would make me a valuable asset to your team.”
4. What makes you a good fit for this internship?
Why this question
This is one of the most common questions for internship interviews. The purpose of this query is quite explicit: to discover your skill set and qualifications. By understanding your abilities, the interviewer can assess how you might contribute to the company. It’s also a way for them to identify standout candidates for the internship.
Tips to answer
The first step to nail this interview question is to go over the job description and see what the company expects and requires from an intern. Then, highlight the abilities and qualifications that align well with the JD in your response. Pay attention to communication, collaboration, and technical skills.
The company culture is also worth your attention. Try to describe yourself as a nice cultural fit, demonstrating that you can quickly adapt to a new, dynamic environment.
Example
“I’m truly enthusiastic about this internship opportunity at ABC company. Based on my skills and previous experience, I believe I’d be a strong match for the graphic design team.
First, my skill set aligns well with the requirements of the role. With a solid foundation in graphic design principles cultivated through my education in Visual Communications, I bring proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, a strong understanding of typography, and a keen eye for detail.
I’m also a highly adaptable individual who is adept at quickly understanding and aligning with the values and dynamics of a new team. I thrive on collaborating with others to understand their design needs and translate them into impactful visuals.What excites me most about this internship is the chance to merge my passion for design with your company’s unique culture and challenges.”
5. Do you prefer working solo or as part of a team? Describe your best team
Why this question
This question can come in many forms. Regardless, the hiring manager wants to evaluate your teamwork skills and how you can fit in a new workplace. Your answer helps them envision how productively you will perform in a team or solo.
Tips to answer
Honestly, I believe the best answer should state “both” to showcase your flexibility. Working alone allows you to develop your independence, self-confidence, time management, and problem-solving skills, while teamwork helps you hone your communication, collaboration, and even leadership skills. Both cases make you an all-rounded internship candidate.
Demonstrating your abilities with your relevant experiences, such as class experiences, part-time jobs, volunteer work, and extracurriculars, adds more weight to your response.
Example
“I thrive in both independent and collaborative environments. In a sales role, I believe this ability to work independently while also being a strong team player is crucial. I can manage my own workload and leads, but I’m also eager to learn from experienced sales agents and collaborate on strategies to achieve shared goals.
When working solo, I’ve found that I can dive deep into tasks, leveraging my creativity and problem-solving skills to find innovative solutions. For instance, during my coursework, I often took on individual projects that allowed me to explore ideas independently and showcase my capabilities.
On the other hand, teamwork proved effective during my time as a volunteer coordinator for a local charity event. I was tasked with leading a team of volunteers to ensure the smooth execution of the event. Through clear communication, delegation of tasks based on each individual’s strengths, and fostering a supportive atmosphere, we exceeded our goals and delivered a successful event that left a positive impact on the community.
In terms of my ideal team, I believe the best teams are those that are diverse yet cohesive, where each member feels valued and empowered to contribute their unique strengths. Effective communication, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to the team’s goals are essential components of a successful team dynamic.”
6. Tell me about a project you have completed from end to end
Why this question
This simple question can draw an overall picture of your skills and qualifications that extend beyond your resume. In particular, the interviewer is trying to assess your problem-solving, project management, communication, technical skills, and learning ability. They can see how you apply your knowledge in a real-world setting, how you overcome challenges, and how you learn and grow.
Tips to answer
Contrary to popular belief, your response isn’t necessarily related to work but can be a volunteer program, a research project, a class project, or simply an assignment at university. What matters is to explain clearly how you conducted the project and what you learned from it.
Example
“In my role as a student writer for ABC University, I spearheaded the creation of a blog series on mental health issues among college students. Initially, I conducted extensive research to understand the prevalent mental health challenges students face and to identify effective messaging strategies. This involved analyzing existing data, conducting surveys, and interviewing both students and mental health professionals. Then, I identified key themes and pain points and developed a content calendar outlining the topics for each blog post.
For each post, I conducted in-depth research, interviewed students and professors, and drafted engaging and informative content. I ensured the writing adhered to the publication’s style guide. I also collaborated with my friends to craft social media graphics, videos, and email newsletters to engage and educate our audience.
This project allowed me to showcase my entire content creation process, from initial brainstorming to final publication. I learned the importance of audience research, keyword optimization, and collaboration with editors to produce high-quality content.”
7. What do you do to overcome a challenge?
Why this question
Since you have just taken the first steps in your career, mistakes, failures, challenges, and other stressful situations are inevitable. The interviewer wants to understand how you deal with these cases, thereby evaluating your ability to work in a high-pressure environment.
Tips to answer
This is one of the most popular behavioral interview questions, so I suggest you apply the STAR method:
- Situation: Mention any challenge you encountered that has taught you some valuable life lessons; it doesn’t need to be a huge problem or a life-changing event.
- Task: State clearly what you need to do.
- Action: Go into details, explaining how you deal with the situation.
- Result: Highlight what you learn from that challenge.
Example
“One of the biggest challenges I faced during the last semester at university was juggling multiple deadlines for different courses, including a major research paper, a final presentation, and a group project.
To tackle this situation, I started by creating a detailed schedule on my calendar. I listed all the deadlines, broke each project into smaller, manageable daily and weekly tasks, and assigned realistic deadlines for each step. Setting achievable milestones allowed me to track my progress and ensure I remained on target to meet each deadline.
During that time, I found effective communication played a vital role in managing multiple deadlines successfully. I maintained regular contact with professors and other members of the project/team to provide updates on my progress, discuss any challenges or concerns, and collaborate on finding solutions collaboratively.
I also prioritized time management and self-discipline. I created a daily routine with dedicated study blocks for each project and applied the Pomodoro Technique to stay focused and avoid procrastination.
Despite the demanding workload, I ultimately met all deadlines and achieved successful outcomes across my courses and projects.”
8. What is the achievement you’re most proud of?
Why this question
This question examines your motivations, drives, and work ethic, assisting the hiring manager in assessing whether you’re a good fit for the company culture. Your accomplishments also speak volumes about your problem-solving skills.
Tips to answer
It’s time to show off a bit about yourself! But link your achievement to the skills or professional experience required for that internship position, or at least say something you think will put a smile on the interviewer’s face. Don’t bring up something too personal! For example, you can tell about your first part-time job, a volunteer trip, or simply an improvement in a subject.
Example
“Until now, what makes me most proud is the summer volunteer trip to the ABC location. During this trip, I worked with a local nonprofit organization to teach ethnic minority children for a month.
Being aware that the kids came from diverse backgrounds, I dedicated my time and energy to creating engaging lesson plans tailored to their needs, ensuring that they not only learned but also felt inspired and empowered. I also used creative teaching methods like games, songs, and visual aids to make learning engaging and accessible.
One of the most fulfilling moments was witnessing the transformation in the children’s confidence and enthusiasm for learning. The once shy and silent students were then confident enough to raise their hands and actively join class activities. This experience not only allowed me to develop my patience and communication skills but also showed me the power of cultural sensitivity and adaptability in teaching.”
9. How do you react to negative feedback?
Why this question
Constructive criticism is an integral part of the workplace, fostering personal and professional growth among employees. So, recruiters like me are always curious about how candidates deal with negative feedback. Will they dwell on it and fall behind or take it as an opportunity to learn more?
Tips to answer
Calm down! The interviewer doesn’t mean to dig into your past mistakes! A strong response to this question should revolve around how you absorb, learn, and grow from that feedback. As always, honesty is the key to your answer.
Example
“I believe that constructive criticism is essential for personal and professional development. I always strive to handle it with a positive and open mindset and view it as an opportunity for growth and improvement rather than a setback.
For example, during a recent group project in my Marketing class, we received feedback from our peers that our presentation lacked a clear structure and some visuals weren’t engaging enough. They also pointed out some areas that lacked solid proof. At first, I felt a bit of disappointment, as I had put a lot of effort into the project. However, I still thanked my peers for their input and asked for specific details on what aspects they felt needed improvement.
I soon gathered the team and discussed the feedback. We then divided the tasks: I focused on restructuring the presentation to improve the flow, while another team member offered to revamp the visuals using a more dynamic design software.
By working together and implementing the feedback, we significantly improved the presentation and even strengthened our team dynamic. This academic experience further supported my belief that when approached with the right attitude, negative feedback can be a catalyst for personal and professional growth.”
10. Tell me about one of your opportunities to learn something new
Why this question
When asking this question, the recruiter can gauge your eagerness to learn new things. This ability is paramount for an intern since this is your golden chance to grow professionally.
Tips to answer
Your answer should showcase your willingness to step outside your comfort zone and embrace entirely new challenges. Highlighting the drive behind your decision and how you learn something completely new demonstrates your curiosity and adaptability.
Example
“One significant opportunity for learning something new occurred when I decided to enroll in a coding class despite having a background in literature. I recognized that coding skills were becoming increasingly valuable in today’s digital age, with applications across various industries.
So, I embraced the opportunity to broaden my skill set and explore a vastly different field from my academic background.
I spent extra time practicing the concepts, attending workshops, and collaborating with classmates on coding projects. By the end of the semester, I had gained a foundational understanding of coding principles. This experience not only equipped me with valuable technical skills but also fostered a growth mindset and a passion for lifelong learning.”
20 Other Popular Internship Interview Questions
Besides the 10 most common interview questions for internship above, here are some others that you might encounter during the interview process:
- Why are you interested in your major?
- What are your strengths/weaknesses?
- What skills can you bring to our business?
- What are your career goals?
- Tell me a time when you worked as a leader.
- What do you know about our company?
- Tell me about one of your biggest mistakes.
- How do you navigate tension at work?
- How do you organize and prioritize your tasks?
- Describe your dream job.
- Where do you see yourself in the next 3/5 years?
- What makes you a unique candidate?
- What are your hobbies outside of class or work?
- How do you deal with disagreements and conflicts at work?
- What are you passionate about most?
- What environment do you want to work in?
- What do you plan to do after graduation?
- How do others describe you?
- How do you deal with tight deadlines?
- Do you have any questions for us?
Conclusion
I hope you are now more confident when walking into the interview room. These intern interview questions are just some popular ones, and my sample answers are for reference only. Pre-draft your responses for more inquiries, and tailor them to the internship position you are applying for. Contact me if you still have something in mind!
