Top 30 Most Common Interview Questions To Ask An Intern You Should Prepare For
Written by
James Miller, Career Coach
Landing an internship is a significant step towards building your career. A crucial part of this journey is the interview process. Interviewers use tailored interview questions to ask an intern to assess your skills, potential, and cultural fit. Preparing thoughtful answers to common interview questions to ask an intern can significantly boost your confidence and performance. This guide covers the 30 most frequently asked interview questions for interns, providing insights into why they are asked and how to formulate effective responses using proven techniques like the STAR method. Mastering these interview questions to ask an intern is key to making a strong impression and securing your desired position.
What Are interview questions to ask an intern?
interview questions to ask an intern are specifically designed to evaluate candidates who typically have limited professional experience. Instead of focusing heavily on past job performance, these interview questions to ask an intern probe academic projects, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and personal experiences. The goal is to understand your foundational skills, work ethic, problem-solving abilities, teamwork capacity, and motivation. These interview questions to ask an intern help interviewers gauge your potential to learn, adapt, and contribute to the company culture and its objectives during the internship period. Preparing for these specific interview questions to ask an intern is vital.
Why Do Interviewers Ask interview questions to ask an intern?
Interviewers ask interview questions to ask an intern for several key reasons. Firstly, they want to understand your motivation for applying and your genuine interest in the specific role and company. Secondly, they assess your soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, leadership potential, and problem-solving, which are crucial for success in any workplace. Thirdly, these interview questions to ask an intern help evaluate how you handle challenges and learn from experiences, providing insight into your resilience and growth mindset. Ultimately, interview questions to ask an intern serve as a predictive tool to determine if you possess the foundational qualities and enthusiasm needed to thrive in the internship environment and potentially become a valuable future employee.
Preview List
Tell me about yourself.
Why are you interested in this internship?
What attracted you to our company?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Tell me about a challenging project or assignment you completed recently.
Tell me about a time when you worked with a difficult team member.
Tell me about a time when you successfully led a team.
Tell me about the biggest challenge you’ve had to face.
Tell me about a tough decision you’ve had to make.
Why did you choose your major?
What motivates you to achieve your goals?
What do you know about this company?
What’s your biggest achievement?
What are your strengths?
What’s your greatest weakness?
How do you prioritize your tasks?
What are you passionate about?
What are the most important elements of successful teamwork?
Why did you apply for this internship?
Do you work better independently or as part of a team?
Describe a time you faced a difficult situation.
Tell me about your industry experience so far.
What does your ideal team look like?
Tell me about a time you took on a leadership role.
What new skill have you learned in the last year?
Tell me about a time when you received negative feedback on your work.
Tell me about a time you worked with a difficult team member.
Are you a planner or do you prefer to work under pressure?
How soon can you start?
Do you have any questions for us?
1. Tell me about yourself.
Why you might get asked this:
This common opening helps interviewers get to know you personally and professionally. It's your chance to make a concise, relevant first impression.
How to answer:
Give a brief overview of your education, relevant experience (like projects or past internships), and interests that align with the role. Keep it focused and enthusiastic.
Example answer:
I'm currently studying Computer Science at XYZ University, focusing on AI. I've worked on several projects building machine learning models, and I'm excited about applying classroom knowledge to real-world problems, especially in AI safety, which drew me to this internship.
2. Why are you interested in this internship?
Why you might get asked this:
Interviewers want to gauge your genuine interest and whether you've thought about how this specific role fits your goals.
How to answer:
Connect your learning objectives and career aspirations to what the internship offers. Mention specific skills you hope to develop or projects you find exciting.
Example answer:
I'm interested because it aligns perfectly with my goal to gain hands-on experience in data analysis. Your company's use of large datasets and focus on sustainable practices excites me, and I believe I can contribute while learning valuable skills.
3. What attracted you to our company?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses if you've done your research and understand the company's mission, values, or work.
How to answer:
Show you researched their products, mission, culture, or recent news. Explain why these elements resonate with your values or career path.
Example answer:
I've followed [Company Name]'s innovative work in [Industry Area] for some time. Your commitment to [Specific Value, e.g., sustainability or community] and the collaborative culture I've read about really attracted me.
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Why you might get asked this:
Interviewers assess your ambition, career planning, and whether your long-term goals align with opportunities at the company.
How to answer:
Discuss your desire to gain experience and grow within your field. Show that you have career aspirations but are also flexible and eager to learn.
Example answer:
In 5 years, I hope to be in a role where I can contribute meaningfully to complex projects and mentor others. I aim to deepen my expertise in [Your Field] and potentially take on more responsibility.
5. Tell me about a challenging project or assignment you completed recently.
Why you might get asked this:
This behavioral question (use STAR) evaluates your problem-solving skills, resilience, and how you handle difficulties.
How to answer:
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Describe the challenge, what you needed to do, the steps you took, and the successful outcome.
Example answer:
During a university group project, our initial approach failed late in the semester (Situation). My task was to propose a viable alternative under a tight deadline (Task). I quickly researched options, presented a new plan to the team, and helped reorganize our efforts (Action). We completed the project successfully and received an A (Result).
6. Tell me about a time when you worked with a difficult team member.
Why you might get asked this:
This assesses your interpersonal skills, ability to handle conflict, and teamwork in challenging dynamics.
How to answer:
Focus on your actions to improve communication and collaboration. Avoid blaming. Highlight your effort to find common ground and achieve the goal.
Example answer:
In a group project, one member consistently missed deadlines (Situation). My task was to ensure everyone contributed to finish on time (Task). I spoke with them privately to understand their challenges and helped break down their tasks, offering support where needed (Action). They improved, and we finished the project together successfully (Result).
7. Tell me about a time when you successfully led a team.
Why you might get asked this:
Evaluates your leadership potential, ability to motivate others, and organizational skills.
How to answer:
Use the STAR method. Describe the situation where you took a leadership role, your responsibilities, how you guided the team, and the positive result.
Example answer:
I led a student club initiative to organize a charity drive (Situation). My task was to coordinate members, assign roles, and ensure we met our fundraising goal (Task). I held regular meetings, facilitated communication, and motivated the team through challenges (Action). We exceeded our goal by 20% (Result).
8. Tell me about the biggest challenge you’ve had to face.
Why you might get asked this:
Assesses your resilience, problem-solving skills, and what you learn from difficult experiences.
How to answer:
Pick a significant challenge (academic, personal, or work-related). Explain the situation, your approach to overcoming it, and the key takeaway or growth achieved.
Example answer:
Academically, my biggest challenge was adapting to advanced Calculus (Situation). My task was to pass the course (Task). I sought help from my professor, formed a study group, and dedicated extra hours to practice problems daily (Action). I successfully passed the course and gained better study habits (Result).
9. Tell me about a tough decision you’ve had to make.
Why you might get asked this:
Evaluates your decision-making process, judgment, and ability to consider consequences.
How to answer:
Describe the situation requiring a difficult choice. Explain the options you considered, the factors you weighed, the decision you made, and the outcome or lesson learned.
Example answer:
I had to decide whether to commit to two demanding extracurriculars or focus on one to improve my grades (Situation). My task was to prioritize my commitments (Task). I weighed the value of each activity against my academic goals and decided to focus on one, allocating more time to studies (Action). My grades improved significantly that semester (Result).
10. Why did you choose your major?
Why you might get asked this:
Interviewers want to understand your interests, motivations, and whether your academic path aligns with the internship's field.
How to answer:
Share your genuine interest in the subject, relevant experiences that solidified your choice, and how it connects to your future career goals.
Example answer:
I chose Marketing because I'm fascinated by consumer behavior and communication strategy. A class project involving market analysis sparked my passion, and I enjoy combining creativity with analytical thinking.
11. What motivates you to achieve your goals?
Why you might get asked this:
Assesses your drive, work ethic, and what pushes you to succeed.
How to answer:
Discuss intrinsic motivators like a passion for learning, the desire to make an impact, or the satisfaction of overcoming challenges. Provide examples if possible.
Example answer:
I'm primarily motivated by the desire to learn and grow. I enjoy tackling new problems and gaining skills. The satisfaction of seeing hard work lead to tangible results, like completing a complex project, is also a strong motivator.
12. What do you know about this company?
Why you might get asked this:
Tests how well you researched the company and your genuine interest in working there.
How to answer:
Share specific details about their products/services, mission, recent achievements, or values. Show that you understand what they do and why you want to be part of it.
Example answer:
I know [Company Name] is a leader in [Industry Area], particularly innovative in [Specific Product/Service]. I'm impressed by your recent initiative in [Recent News/Project] and your stated commitment to [Company Value].
13. What’s your biggest achievement?
Why you might get asked this:
Provides insight into what you value, your capabilities, and how you define success.
How to answer:
Choose an accomplishment you are genuinely proud of that demonstrates relevant skills (problem-solving, leadership, perseverance). Describe the context and your specific contribution.
Example answer:
My biggest achievement was developing a mobile app prototype for a course project. It required learning a new programming language independently (Task). I dedicated extra hours outside class, overcoming technical hurdles through online resources and testing (Action). I successfully built a functional prototype that received top marks (Result).
14. What are your strengths?
Why you might get asked this:
Allows you to highlight skills relevant to the internship and demonstrate self-awareness.
How to answer:
Choose 2-3 strengths that are applicable to the role. Provide brief examples or context to support each strength.
Example answer:
I'm a highly organized and detail-oriented person. For instance, I managed the schedule and logistics for a large club event, ensuring everything ran smoothly and on time. I'm also a quick learner, rapidly picking up new software for projects.
15. What’s your greatest weakness?
Why you might get asked this:
Assesses your self-awareness and willingness to improve.
How to answer:
Choose a genuine weakness that isn't essential for the internship role. Frame it positively by explaining the steps you are taking to overcome it.
Example answer:
Sometimes I can be hesitant to ask for help, trying to figure everything out myself first. I've been actively working on this by setting reminders to check in with team members and asking clarifying questions sooner when I'm unsure.
16. How do you prioritize your tasks?
Why you might get asked this:
Evaluates your organizational skills, time management, and ability to meet deadlines.
How to answer:
Describe your method (e.g., to-do lists, calendars, Eisenhower Matrix) and explain how you handle multiple tasks and deadlines, focusing on efficiency and quality.
Example answer:
I typically list all my tasks and then prioritize them based on deadlines and importance. I use a digital calendar and a task management app to stay organized and break down larger assignments into smaller, manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
17. What are you passionate about?
Why you might get asked this:
Interviewers want to see your enthusiasm and if your passions align with the company culture or industry.
How to answer:
Discuss a passion (academic, professional, or personal) that reveals positive traits like curiosity, dedication, or creativity. Connect it to the role or company if possible.
Example answer:
I'm passionate about solving complex problems, particularly in [Your Field]. I enjoy the process of breaking down an issue, researching solutions, and building something new. This is why I'm drawn to [Company Name]'s work in [Area].
18. What are the most important elements of successful teamwork?
Why you might get asked this:
Evaluates your understanding of collaborative dynamics and your potential to be a good team member.
How to answer:
Highlight key aspects like clear communication, mutual respect, trust, active listening, shared goals, and constructive feedback. Use a brief example.
Example answer:
I believe successful teamwork relies on clear communication, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to the goal. In my project team, we succeeded because we communicated openly, respected differing opinions, and supported each other to meet deadlines.
19. Why did you apply for this internship?
Why you might get asked this:
Similar to question 2, but allows for slightly more detail about your specific skills/interests fitting the role.
How to answer:
Reiterate your interest, linking your relevant skills, academic knowledge, and career goals directly to the internship description and the company's work.
Example answer:
I applied because the [Internship Title] role specifically focuses on [Specific Area], which aligns perfectly with my coursework and projects in [Your Field]. I'm eager to apply my skills in [Skill 1] and [Skill 2] and gain practical experience in this area at a leading company like yours.
20. Do you work better independently or as part of a team?
Why you might get asked this:
Assesses your adaptability and understanding of different work environments.
How to answer:
Show flexibility. Mention you can thrive in both settings and understand the benefits of each. Provide examples demonstrating success in both independent and team tasks.
Example answer:
I enjoy both independent work, which allows me to focus deeply on tasks, and teamwork, where collaboration sparks creativity and diverse perspectives. I adapt based on the project needs; I've successfully completed individual research papers and contributed effectively to group coding projects.
21. Describe a time you faced a difficult situation.
Why you might get asked this:
Evaluates your problem-solving skills, composure under pressure, and resilience.
How to answer:
Use the STAR method. Describe the situation, the challenge it presented, your actions to address it, and the outcome or what you learned.
Example answer:
During a volunteer event I helped organize, a key vendor cancelled last minute (Situation). My task was to find a replacement quickly to ensure the event's success (Task). I immediately contacted alternative vendors and leveraged my network, staying calm under pressure (Action). I secured a new vendor within two hours, and the event proceeded as planned (Result).
22. Tell me about your industry experience so far.
Why you might get asked this:
Assesses your exposure to the field and relevant practical skills.
How to answer:
Include any relevant internships, part-time jobs, major academic projects, volunteer roles, or even extensive personal projects that relate to the industry.
Example answer:
While I haven't had a formal internship yet, I've gained experience through significant academic projects. In one, I analyzed market trends for a local business (applying business principles), and I'm currently volunteering at a non-profit managing their social media presence (relevant to marketing/communications).
23. What does your ideal team look like?
Why you might get asked this:
Gauges your expectations for team dynamics and your compatibility with the company's team structures.
How to answer:
Describe characteristics like open communication, mutual support, diverse perspectives, clear roles, and a shared commitment to goals.
Example answer:
My ideal team is collaborative and communicative. Members feel comfortable sharing ideas and constructive feedback, support each other in achieving shared goals, and leverage each other's strengths and diverse backgrounds.
24. Tell me about a time you took on a leadership role.
Why you might get asked this:
Evaluates your initiative and ability to guide others.
How to answer:
Use the STAR method. Describe the situation where you stepped up, the responsibilities you took on, how you motivated and directed others, and the positive results achieved.
Example answer:
During a class project where no one was taking charge (Situation), I volunteered to coordinate our efforts (Task). I scheduled meetings, assigned tasks based on team members' strengths, and facilitated our discussions (Action). We completed the project efficiently and earned a good grade (Result).
25. What new skill have you learned in the last year?
Why you might get asked this:
Assesses your initiative, curiosity, and commitment to continuous learning.
How to answer:
Name a specific skill (technical or soft skill). Explain how you learned it (online course, project, etc.) and ideally, how you've applied it.
Example answer:
In the last year, I taught myself Python for data analysis through online tutorials and a university workshop. I've since applied this skill in several coursework projects to clean, analyze, and visualize datasets, which has been incredibly valuable.
26. Tell me about a time when you received negative feedback on your work.
Why you might get asked this:
Evaluates your openness to feedback, humility, and ability to learn from mistakes.
How to answer:
Describe the situation and the feedback received. Focus on how you reacted constructively, what steps you took to improve, and the positive outcome or lesson learned.
Example answer:
On an essay, my professor gave feedback that my argument wasn't clearly structured (Situation). It was my task to improve (Task). While initially disappointed, I reread the feedback carefully, met with the professor for clarification, and revised the essay focusing on strengthening topic sentences and transitions (Action). My revised grade improved, and I learned the importance of clear structure (Result).
27. Tell me about a time you worked with a difficult team member.
Why you might get asked this:
Reiterates assessment of your interpersonal skills and conflict resolution abilities. (Often asked in slightly different phrasing).
How to answer:
Focus on your professional approach. Describe the challenge, your efforts to communicate and collaborate constructively, and the outcome for the team's productivity.
Example answer:
(Using STAR) We had a team member who was unresponsive to messages (Situation). My task was to ensure their participation for the project deadline (Task). I started initiating brief daily check-ins via video call instead of relying solely on text, which improved communication flow significantly (Action). We successfully completed our project on time by ensuring everyone was aligned (Result).
28. Are you a planner or do you prefer to work under pressure?
Why you might get asked this:
Assesses your work style and how you manage deadlines and tasks.
How to answer:
Show that you are adaptable, but mention a preference that highlights positive traits (like being organized if you're a planner, or calm/focused if you thrive under pressure). Provide examples.
Example answer:
I am primarily a planner; I prefer breaking down tasks and setting milestones to avoid last-minute rushing. However, I understand that unexpected situations arise, and I can stay focused and productive to meet tight deadlines when necessary, using my organizational skills to quickly reprioritize.
29. How soon can you start?
Why you might get asked this:
Determines your availability and aligns with the internship's start date.
How to answer:
Be clear and honest about your availability, considering your current academic schedule or other commitments.
Example answer:
I am available to start on the designated start date for the internship program. I have no conflicting commitments during the summer term.
30. Do you have any questions for us?
Why you might get asked this:
Shows your engagement, interest, and allows you to gather more information. Crucial for making a good final impression.
How to answer:
Always have prepared questions. Ask about team culture, typical projects for interns, opportunities for learning, or next steps in the process. Avoid questions easily answered by the website.
Example answer:
Yes, thank you. I was curious about the typical onboarding process for interns and what resources are available to help us get up to speed quickly on internal tools and workflows. Also, what opportunities are there for interns to interact with teams outside of their immediate project group?
Other Tips to Prepare for a interview questions to ask an intern
Preparing effectively for interview questions to ask an intern involves more than just memorizing answers. Practice delivering your responses clearly and concisely. As career coach, Jane Smith, advises, "Know your stories cold, but don't sound rehearsed. Authenticity is key." Tailor your answers to the specific company and role; demonstrating genuine interest and research sets you apart. Utilize the STAR method for behavioral interview questions to ask an intern to structure your examples logically. Consider using tools like the Verve AI Interview Copilot (https://vervecopilot.com) to practice mock interviews and get instant feedback on your delivery, timing, and content. Another tip from hiring manager, John Doe, is, "Come with insightful questions about the role and company – it shows you're genuinely interested." The Verve AI Interview Copilot can help you craft and practice answers to common and specific interview questions to ask an intern, building confidence before the big day. Practicing your answers out loud, ideally using a tool like Verve AI Interview Copilot, helps refine your delivery and reduces nerves. Remember to send a thank-you note after the interview, reiterating your interest and mentioning something specific you discussed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How long should my answers be?
A1: Aim for concise answers, typically 1-2 minutes for most questions, slightly longer for behavioral ones using STAR.
Q2: Should I use the STAR method for every question?
A2: No, primarily for behavioral questions asking about past experiences like challenges, teamwork, or leadership.
Q3: Is it okay to say I don't have experience for some interview questions to ask an intern?
A3: Yes, but relate your transferable skills from academics or projects.
Q4: How important is researching the company for interview questions to ask an intern?
A4: Crucial. It shows genuine interest and helps you tailor your answers effectively.
Q5: What if I'm asked a question not on this list?
A5: Stay calm, take a moment to think, and draw upon your experiences and skills to answer thoughtfully.
Q6: Should I practice my answers out loud for interview questions to ask an intern?
A6: Absolutely. Practicing improves fluency and helps you refine your phrasing and timing.
