Students, recent graduates, and sometimes even professionals switching careers pursue internship roles to help build their skills and experience. Internships can be part of your academic curriculum, an extra-curricular or summer activity, or a bridge to help you secure a full-time job after college. Whichever your case, if sending out your internship resume has started to bear fruits, it’s time to get ready to ace those internship interview questions.

Internships can be very competitive. And their application processes are becoming increasingly similar to those of full-time jobs. To help you navigate the interview phase with confidence, in this article you’ll learn what typical interview questions you might encounter and how to answer them, with real examples.

Common Internship Interview Questions

  1. Tell me about yourself.
  2. Why do you want to work for this company?
  3. Tell me about a time you had to learn something completely new.
  4. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  5. How will you deal with constructive criticism or feedback?
  6. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
  7. Why should we hire you?
  8. Do you have any questions for us?

Question #1: Tell Me About Yourself.

Predicting all the possible questions you might face during an interview is of course, impossible. However, “Tell me about yourself” is almost a given. Recruiters use this to open the interview on a friendly note and let candidates warm up.

However, this isn’t a simple breaking of the ice. Just like to other internship interview questions, you need to answer intentionally. Recruiters are not asking for just anything; they want to get a gauge of your career goals and communication skills.

  • Talk about your educational background, and how your experience and skills qualify you for the internship.
  • Describe your motivation for pursuing the internship with enthusiasm.
  • You can also use the past-presence-future formula to explain your learning and career journey up to that moment and where you hope to see yourself in the future.

How You Could Answer

“I recently graduated from MIT with a degree in Computer Science. I’m extremely passionate about innovation and technology and have a strong foundation in Java, Python, and data structures. I actively engage in coding competitions and workshops to improve my leadership and communication skills.

As an intern, I hope to gain practical experience in software development and machine learning. I’m adaptable, growth-oriented, and always looking for new challenges and opportunities to improve. I believe my educational background, passion, and dedication make me an excellent fit for this internship.”

Question #2: Why Do You Want to Work for This Company?

The objective of this internship interview question is to understand if you would be a good fit for the company. It’s crucial as it may determine your chances of turning your internship into a full-time position later.

  • They want to know if you did your research, so be ready to explain why their specific mission and values are important to you.
  • Talk about how your experiences and interests match the company culture.
  • If you wrote an internship cover letter you can reiterate the same concepts with more details.

How You Could Answer

“I am very enthusiastic about the prospect of being an intern at Company ABC, specifically because of your strong focus on emerging technologies. I’ve been following your research and projects for a while now. Your organization is leading the way for advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, which are two areas I’m very passionate about.

Company ABC’s dedication to leveraging technologies like Phyton and TensorFlow as well as natural language processing aligns perfectly with my academic background and my interests. I am eager to gain hands-on experience and contribute to projects that push the boundaries of innovation.”

Question #3: Tell Me About a Time You Had to Learn Something Completely New.

Internship interview questions that start with “Tell me about a time…” are behavioral questions, meaning they want to know how you behaved or would behave in certain situations. During an internship, you’ll learn a ton. Therefore, it makes sense that hiring managers want to hear how you would approach unknown tasks.

  • Recruiters essentially want to know what kind of situations you consider challenging and how you approach them. So, be careful when choosing your example.
  • Use the STAR Method to build your answer. Describe the situation, the task required, the actions you took, and the results to give a full picture.

How You Could Answer

“During my last summer job, I was assigned to work on the social media presence of a marketing campaign for a new product in sustainable fashion, an industry I had no experience or knowledge about. To tackle the challenge, I conducted extensive research by reading industry reports and engaging with online communities to understand the target audience’s needs and preferences.

I also attended workshops and conferences to learn from experts in the field. Once I gained this knowledge, I designed a social media content calendar that focused on highlighting the product sustainability features. The campaign was a success, leading to an increase in brand awareness and a significant boost in sales. Through this experience, I learned the importance of quickly grasping new concepts and adapting them to a professional setting.”

Question #4: What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?

Self-awareness is a very important skill in the workplace, hence why this is one of the internship interview questions to which recruiters always go back to.

  • Strategically pick one or two strengths that are essential to the role.
  • Choose weaknesses that don’t jeopardize your ability to perform the role and explain how you’re working on them.
  • Back up your claims with examples.

How You Could Answer

“One of my strengths is my strong attention to detail. In my previous internship, I was assigned to review and analyze a large dataset to identify certain patterns and trends. Thanks to my meticulous approach I was able to uncover valuable insights that contributed to improved decision-making for the company.

I’m also proud of my ability to adapt quickly to new situations. During a group project in college, our team faced an unexpected challenge. I took the initiative to research and propose a new strategy, ensuring our project stayed on track. Ultimately, we achieved success.

As far as weaknesses go, I tend to take on too many tasks simultaneously, as I did during a demanding academic semester. However, I have since worked on my prioritization and time management skills to ensure I efficiently complete my tasks. Additionally, I am working on developing my public speaking abilities to become a more confident and persuasive communicator.”

Question #5: How Do You Deal with Constructive Criticism or Feedback?

In other words, are you open to negative feedback, and do you use it to grow? Internship interview questions like this help recruiters understand better what working with you would be like and your attitude toward personal development.

  • Think about recent examples of how you handled criticism.
  • Focus the story on how you made the most of the feedback to improve.

How You Could Answer

“When it comes to constructive criticism, I approach it with an open and receptive mindset. For instance, last semester I received feedback on a group project at university. Initially, I felt defensive but quickly realized the importance of learning and growing.

I actively listened to the feedback, sought clarification, and identified the specific areas to improve. I took responsibility for my mistakes and developed an action plan to work on them.”

Question #6: Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?

If your first thought was “What do you mean? I don’t even know if I’m going to get an internship after college!”, take a deep breath and relax. In the context of internship interview questions, more than anything else hiring managers just want to know your career goals and if you’re driven.

  • The best answer you can give to interview questions for an internship like this is vague but realistic.
  • Tie your answer to the values that are important to you.

How You Could Answer

“In the next five years, I hope to build my skills and be in a position to contribute to driving meaningful impact within an organization. While the specific role might evolve over time, my objective is to consistently progress and assume greater responsibility. I aspire to be part of a company that values innovation and creativity and encourages a collaborative atmosphere.”

Question #7: Why Should We Choose You?

Why do hiring managers ask these types of internship interview questions? Easy – they want to assess your ability to articulate what sets you apart from other candidates. They usually present it at the end of the interview, so this is your opportunity to stick your landing and leave a lasting impression.

  • Keep it short but be specific.
  • Include reasons why you and the company are an ideal fit for each other.

How You Could Answer

“I believe I am a top candidate for this internship position because of my genuine passion for animal care. I have previous experience volunteering at animal shelters, and I have developed hands-on skills in handling and caring for various animals. I am detail-oriented and observant and I enjoy interacting with animals as much as with pet owners. My empathetic nature and ability to remain calm in stressful situations make me an asset in this role.”

Bonus, Question #8: Do You Have Any Questions for Us?

Our list of the most common internship interview questions closes with a seemingly innocent but crucial request. By the end of the interview, you might think you touched on everything and you’re happy about your performance, what more is there to ask? Not so fast!

  • Having questions is not only going to make you appear as a more serious and eager candidate but will also help you clarify any doubts you have so, don’t be shy.
  • To avoid being caught by surprise (or exhaustion!), prepare a few meaningful questions to ask recruiters in advance.
  • Asking about the company culture, the team you’d work with or the opportunities to grow within the firm are always safe bets.

How You Could Answer

“Yes, I do have a couple of questions. To start, could you please provide more insights into the typical day-to-day of this internship position? I’d like to understand how I would contribute and further develop my skills within the team.

…

As far as the work environment goes, how would you describe the atmosphere and the way the team members collaborate?”

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Elizabeth Muenzen Career Advice Writer

Elizabeth Muenzen is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches who empowers job seekers to take control of their career paths using Monster’s comprehensive job search and resume tools.

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