7 Internship Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Practice for your next internship interview with these questions and learn how to frame your answers to convey the best information possible.

[Featured Image] A person wearing glasses, a grey jacket, and a white blouse sits across a desk talking to a person wearing a blue blouse and glasses.

Key takeaways

Many internships require candidates to complete an interview process similar to a full-time job.

  • Internship interview questions may cover topics such as your interest in the position, your career goals, and the skills you've developed to fulfill any key responsibilities.

  • In addition to practicing your answers, researching the company so you can address why you're interested in interning there will also be important prep work.

  • You should also come prepared to ask a handful of questions at the end of your interview.

Explore the following list of potential internship interview questions and suggestions for how to respond. If you’re ready to prepare for an upcoming interview, enroll in the Interviewing and Resume Writing in English Specialization.

7 common internship interview questions

Internships usually have a similar application and interview process as a job opening, though there may be fewer steps involved at this level. You'll likely be asked a range of technical interview questions to understand your particular experience and skill set, as well as more general interview questions to get a sense of your goals and interest in the opportunity.

Let's review some of the common questions you may be asked.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself

The hiring manager will likely ask you to tell them about yourself as a warm-up question. Don't treat it as an opportunity to chronologically convey your life story. Instead, hone your answer to your current degree program, year in school, and the career you plan to pursue. 

The majority of this response should focus on your education and future plans. However, you could add a detail or two about your hobbies and interests at the end of your answer to give them a sense of your personality.

2. Why are you interested in this internship? 

To answer this question, consider what goals you expect to achieve during the internship. Using those goals, explain what skills you want to learn and how this opportunity can help you grow your career while helping the community or the industry. 

Include company-specific information here that you've researched in advance, like how your personality and values will fit perfectly with the corporate culture, or discuss a recent award the company won and how you’d like to learn the award-winning skills.

3. What are your career goals?

State a career goal that you plan to achieve after you graduate. Include a series of small steps leading to your ultimate long-term goal. Conclude your response by explaining why the goal is important to you and how the internship is the first step toward achieving it. 

4. What skills do you have that make you a good fit for this internship?

During an internship interview, you’ll likely be asked to discuss your skills and how they align with the internship. To prepare for this question, review the job description. You will find a list of ideal skills for the internship. Highlight the skills that you have and support your statements with specific examples from your coursework, a part-time job you've held, or any volunteering you've done.  

Be sure to mention your technical skills, which can be tied to your classwork, and your workplace skills, such as communication, collaboration, and ambition.

5. Tell us about a time when you worked well as part of a team.

When recruiters ask this, they want to know that you can work effortlessly with others. You could mention working on a team project for a class, a previous job, or how you collaborate when you volunteer. Explain the projects or situations and their positive outcomes. 

6. Tell us about a challenge that you faced and overcame.

To answer this question, state the problem you faced and avoid blaming anyone for causing it. This question is meant to assess your ability to adapt. The challenge can be small or big if you explain your actions to overcome it and improve the situation. Ideally, the challenge will include others instead of an individual challenge you overcame. 

7. Have you ever held a position of leadership?

The hiring team wants to hear that you’re an intern with drive. If you have firsthand leadership experience, such as leading a class project or a school club, mention that and provide details about what you accomplished. Go over the actions you took to lead the project or group to success.

Best questions to ask during an internship interview

When asked if you have any questions, always have a few in mind to ask so they can see your genuine interest in learning more about the company, the position, and your future coworkers. Check out the questions below for inspiration:

  • Are there opportunities for full-time work upon successful completion of this role?

  • What are the day-to-day responsibilities of this internship role?

  • How would you describe the company culture?

  • What does your onboarding process look like? 

  • How is this position evaluated?

What do employers look for in an intern?

When reviewing the internship interview questions, try to understand what the employers want in an intern. Below are some preferred qualities you can discuss during your interview. 

Team players.  

Teamwork is a requirement in today’s workforce. Try to weave in examples that exemplify your collaboration skills during your internship interview. 

Initiative.

Hiring managers want to see that you can take the lead. Being a leader is about setting a positive example, suggesting improvements, and taking on work when you’re not asked to.

Problem-solving.

Employers want interns who take the initiative. If there’s a pending task or problem, be sure to help without being asked. 

Self-motivation and ambition.

Ask your manager for additional work or suggest a task you’d like to take on when you’re ready for another assignment. This will show your employer that you have ambition. 

What are good internship exit interview questions?

During your internship, you might want to think about the following questions, so you can provide quality answers when undergoing your exit interview. Consider these internship exit interview questions:

• How did you feel about your internship experience?

• What challenges did you face during your internship, and can you think of methods for mitigating them?

• What did you think about the training and mentoring you received?

• Describe some of the new skills you developed during your internship.

• Discuss your future career plans and how the organization can help you achieve them.

How to prepare for an internship interview

Before your interview, take these steps to walk into the interview prepared confidently.

Research the company.

Take some time to research the company. Review the company website and review the mission, values, and products. Explore its sustainability policy, outreach programs, and volunteer opportunities as well. Examine the company’s social media account and note posts that may offer insight into its culture or values. 

If you know someone who works at the company, consider meeting or chatting with them before the interview to learn about the company, its history, and the people who will conduct the interview. 

Prepare your answers.

Review the internship interview questions listed above and practice your responses. Jot down bullet points for each question on a notecard so that you can practice them repeatedly until you’re comfortable with your answers and delivery. Avoid sounding robotic or too rehearsed—let your answers flow naturally to demonstrate assurance. For each response, include substantial examples and thoughtful responses.

If you get stuck while preparing for the interview or during the interview, think of PIE, which stands for “passionate, interested, and engaged.” Craft a response around these attributes for an authentic answer to any question.

Practice.

Ask a friend or a parent to sit with you and do a mock interview. During this practice interview, wear the professional clothes you plan to wear in the interview, including the shoes, so you can be comfortable on the day of the actual event, or change your wardrobe if necessary. 

Go through the questions and ask your mock ‘interviewee’ to give you feedback. Were you sitting upright in the chair? Were there questions that you stumbled over? Did you exhibit any nervous habits? Ask them these questions and apply their feedback to improve your responses and presence for the actual interview. 

If you plan to rehearse alone, create flashcards or record yourself answering the interview questions, so you can review the videos and improve your responses. 

Explore our resources to prepare for an interview

Subscribe to our weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat, for industry updates, tips, and trends. Then, explore free resources to help you prepare for a future interview:

Accelerate your career growth with a Coursera Plus subscription. When you enroll in either the monthly or annual option, you’ll get access to over 10,000 courses. 

Updated on
Written by:

Editorial Team

Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.