Internship Interview Questions: How to Prepare and Stand Out

Quick answer: To do well in an internship interview, research the company, prepare three or four short stories using the STAR method, practice your answers out loud, and have two or three good questions ready for the interviewer. Expect questions about why you want the role, what you can offer and how you work with others. Be clear, honest and specific, and send a thank-you note within 24 hours.

How to get the interview in the first place

Most interviews come from a clear, tailored application. Keep it simple:

• Tailor your CV. Put the skills and projects that match the listing near the top. One page is plenty.
• Write a short cover email. Say who you are, why this company, and what you can contribute. Three short paragraphs is enough. Then politely ask for an interview.
• Check the details. A misspelled email address or phone number means they cannot reach you.
• Make yourself easy to find. Employers often look you up, so a clear, up-to-date profile helps. See our guide to building a LinkedIn profile.
• Follow up once. If you hear nothing after about a week, send one short, polite reminder.

How to prepare for an internship interview

Research the company and the role

Read the website, the About page and recent posts. Know what the company does, who its customers are and who its competitors are. Re-read the job description and note which of your skills match each requirement. If you are not sure which skills employers look for, see our list of skills needed for an internship.

Learn the STAR method

Behavioral questions ("Tell me about a time when...") are easiest to answer with STAR:

• Situation: the context, in one or two sentences.
• Task: what you were responsible for.
• Action: what you did, personally. This is the longest part.
• Result: what happened and what you learned. Only use numbers if they are real.

Prepare your stories

You do not need a different story for every question. Pick three or four real examples from classes, group projects, part-time jobs, clubs or volunteering: one about teamwork, one about a problem you solved, one about a mistake you learned from, and one about something you started or led. Practice them out loud until they sound natural but not memorized. If you have no work experience, university projects count.

Know your goals

Interviewers want to know what you hope to get from the internship. Think this through before you walk in. Our guide to setting internship goals can help.

Sort the logistics

• Confirm the time, time zone, interviewer names and format.
• In person: plan your route, aim to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early, and bring copies of your CV.
• Video: test your camera, microphone and internet the day before. Use a quiet spot with light on your face, and close other apps. Keep your CV and notes open in one folder. Have a phone number to hand in case the call drops.

Common internship interview questions and what a good answer includes

1. Tell me about yourself. Give a short summary: what you study or do now, one or two relevant experiences, and why this internship. Aim for about a minute. Skip your life story.
2. Why do you want this internship? Name what you want to learn and how it fits your studies or plans. Be specific to the role.
3. Why this company? Show you did your research. Mention something real about its work, products or values that interests you.
4. What are your strengths? Choose two or three that matter for the role and give a quick example for each.
5. What is your biggest weakness? Be honest, pick something real and not critical to the job, and say what you are doing to improve it.
6. Tell me about a time you worked in a team. Use STAR. Explain your own role and how you handled disagreements or deadlines.
7. Tell me about a challenge you overcame. Pick a real, modest problem. The interviewer cares about how you think and what you changed afterwards.
8. Tell me about a mistake you made. Own it, explain the fix, and show what you do differently now. Do not blame others.
9. How do you handle pressure or tight deadlines? Describe how you prioritize, ask for help early and communicate when something might slip.
10. Tell me about a time you learned something quickly. Interns are hired to learn. Show how you find information, ask good questions and apply feedback.
11. What do you know about our industry or this role? Share two or three points from your research, then say what you want to find out.
12. Where do you see yourself in a few years? You do not need a perfect plan. Show direction and explain how this internship is a useful step.
13. Is there anything else you would like us to know? Use this to add one strong point you did not get to, or to confirm your interest and availability.

If you are applying in a technical field, expect a practical exercise or technical questions as well. Revise your core coursework, and if you are stuck, talk through your thinking out loud. Employers want to see how you approach a problem.

Short sample answers

Tell me about yourself. "I am in my third year of a business degree, focusing on marketing. Last semester I helped run social media for a student society, which taught me how to plan content and work with a small team. I am applying here because I want to see how a real marketing team works day to day."

What is your biggest weakness? "I used to take on too much and miss deadlines. Now I write a weekly plan, say when I am at capacity and ask for help sooner. It has made me more reliable."

These show structure only. Use your own experience, and never invent details.

Questions to ask the interviewer

Asking questions shows interest and helps you decide if the internship is right for you. Choose three or four:

• What would a typical day or week look like for an intern?
• What would you like me to have achieved by the end of the internship?
• Who would I work with, and who would be my supervisor?
• How do you give interns feedback?
• What are the next steps, and when can I expect to hear back?

Avoid asking things the website already answers.

On the day

In person

Dress one step smarter than the team probably does, and check the company's culture first. Be polite to everyone you meet. Shake hands if it feels natural, make eye contact, sit up straight and avoid fidgeting. Listen to the full question before you answer. It is fine to pause for a moment.

On video

Join a few minutes early. Look at the camera when you speak, not at your own face. Keep your background tidy, silence notifications, and keep a glass of water close. If the connection fails, calmly rejoin or call the number you saved.

After the interview

• Send a thank-you note within 24 hours. Keep it short: thank them, mention one specific thing from the conversation, and restate your interest.
• Follow up once. If they gave you a decision date and it passes, send one polite message a few days later. If they gave no date, wait about a week.
• If you get an offer, read our guide on how to accept an internship offer.

Interviewing for an internship abroad

Most overseas interviews happen by video. Check the time zone carefully and confirm it in writing, for example "10:00 am Bangkok time", so nothing is mixed up. Test your connection and have a backup plan. Speak clearly and a little slower than usual, avoid slang and idioms, and keep answers short so nothing gets lost in translation. Research local business etiquette: in many Asian workplaces, politeness, punctuality and respect for seniority are noticed. Be ready to explain why you want to work in that country and how you will handle living and working somewhere new.

The AIP angle

If you are applying for an internship through Asia Internship Program (AIP), the process has two stages. AIP starts with a free call with a career advisor. When your profile matches a host company, the company interviews you and decides whether to offer you the internship. If we accept you and can't place you, you get your full deposit back. You can read more on our how it works page, and everything above applies to your host-company interview.

FAQs

What are the most common internship interview questions?

Expect "Tell me about yourself", "Why do you want this internship?", "Why this company?", questions about your strengths and weaknesses, a teamwork or challenge question, and "Do you have any questions for us?". Prepare a short, honest answer to each.

How do I prepare for an internship interview?

Research the company and the role, write down three or four stories from study, work or projects, practice them out loud using the STAR method, prepare questions to ask, and test your tech and route before the day.

What should I wear to an internship interview?

Dress one step smarter than the team probably does day to day. If you are unsure, check the company's website and social media. Smart and tidy is almost always safe, on video too.

Should I send a thank-you email after an internship interview?

Yes. Send a short note within 24 hours. Thank them, mention one specific thing you enjoyed discussing, and restate your interest in the role. If you hear nothing by the date they gave you, follow up once, politely.

How does the AIP process work?

AIP starts with a free call with a career advisor. When your profile matches a host company, the company interviews you and decides whether to offer you the internship. If we accept you and can't place you, you get your full deposit back.

Want to see the full process from application to placement? Read how AIP works.