10 Internship interview questions & how to answer them

An internship can give you valuable real-world experience—but first you need to make it through the interview. Preparing for an internship interview can give you the confidence you need to land the role. 

In this article, we will explore 10 common internship interview questions and answers to help you prepare. 

Common internship interview questions & answers

We’ll start by going through the following most common internship interview questions that you will likely encounter:

1. Can you tell me about yourself?

2. Why do you want this internship?

3. Why did you choose your major?

4. What are your career goals?

5. How do you handle stressful situations?

6. Describe a problem you’ve overcome. What approach did you take?

7. What’s an accomplishment you’re proud of, and how did you achieve it?

8. How do you work as part of a team?

9. How do you handle getting constructive feedback?

10. Do you have any questions for us?

Let’s dive into each of these internship interview questions and explore examples of how you might answer them.

1. Can you tell me about yourself?

Expect this question (or a similar one) to begin your internship interview. Instead of repeating what’s on your resume, use your response to provide some context about your skills and education. Mention what you’re studying and some relevant coursework or projects you’ve completed. Explain how the internship fits into your long-term goals.

Example: “I’m currently a junior at the University of Arkansas, majoring in marketing. I’ve taken courses in digital marketing and analytics. Last semester, I created a social media campaign for a local business, where I leveraged data and insights to create engaging content. I’m hoping to specialize in social media marketing after I graduate, which is why I was excited to apply for this internship.”

2. Why do you want this internship?

An interviewer wants to know what you hope to gain from the internship. They also want to make sure that you’re genuinely interested in the role. When answering this question, focus on specific details that show you’ve done your research into the internship and company. Be enthusiastic when sharing what you want to learn.

Example: “As a business analytics major, I’m interested in applying my skills in data analysis and market research in a professional environment. I admire this company’s approach to using consumer insights to develop customer-focused products. I’d love to be part of a team that does this type of meaningful work. This internship would allow me to learn from industry professionals while expanding my analytical skills.”

3. Why did you choose your major?

With this question, an interviewer wants to learn more about your interests and passions. Explain what led you to become interested in your field of study. Share a personal anecdote or experience if you have one.

Example: “I’ve always loved solving problems and working with technology. In high school, I took a coding class that opened my eyes to all of the possibilities that technology offers. That class convinced me that I wanted to build programs that could solve problems for everyday people. I declared my major in computer science shortly after enrolling at California State University, and it’s been a fantastic experience so far.”

4. What are your career goals?

As a student, you probably don’t have your entire career planned out yet—and that’s fine. But your answer should show that you’ve thought about how the internship fits into your post-graduation career goals. Explain how you plan to use the skills and knowledge you gain from the internship in the future.

Example: “My long-term goal is to become a political correspondent with a major television news station. I have a strong interest in investigative journalism, and I want to dig deep into political issues to keep the public informed. Through this internship, I believe that I can strengthen my skills in research and reporting, which will help me as I begin my journalism career.”

5. How do you handle stressful situations?

Every job and internship comes with its share of challenges. A hiring manager asks this question to learn how you might manage stress in the role. Show self-awareness in your answer by demonstrating that you’ve dealt with stress before. Provide an example of a time when you successfully overcame a challenging situation.

Example: “I usually handle stress by staying organized and planning my time. Last semester, I volunteered to coordinate a campus donation drive that took place the same week I had a major project due for a class.

To manage the stress, I created a two-week schedule that included all of the tasks I needed to complete. I used a time-blocking strategy to make sure that I devoted enough time to each task. This approach worked incredibly well. The event went off without a hitch, and I earned an A on the project.”

6. Describe a problem you’ve overcome. What approach did you take?

This question tells the interviewer how you may handle problems that come up during the internship. Describe a problem you’ve encountered in school, on a project, or at a job. Explain the steps you took to solve the problem successfully. Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to frame your response.

Example: “During a group project in my chemistry class, one member stopped contributing without an explanation. We couldn’t move forward with the project until we received their work, so I took the initiative to reach out to the group member directly. I learned that they were having a difficult time keeping up with the workload.

Once I knew this, I worked with the rest of the group to redistribute the tasks more evenly. The approach worked, and we received excellent feedback on the project. The experience taught me the importance of communicating openly when working with others.” 

7. What’s an accomplishment you’re proud of, and how did you achieve it?

This question gives you an opportunity to discuss how you define success. Choose an achievement you’ve had in your academic or personal life. Explain how you accomplished it and why it’s meaningful to you. If you can, link the achievement to skills that are relevant to the internship.

Example: “I’m extremely proud of launching a successful fundraising campaign for my college’s environmental club. As the fundraising chair, I planned a community event that attracted over 100 people to campus, raising over $7,000 toward our goal. I achieved this outcome by leading a team of five people, delegating tasks, and coordinating volunteers. It was a wonderful experience that deepened my passion for community outreach and event planning.”

8. How do you work as part of a team?

Most interns work on teams, contributing to projects or helping others with specific tasks. As you answer this question, stress your teamwork skills. Show the hiring manager that you know how to work well with others and collaborate on teams.

Example: “I believe teams work best when everyone supports each other. When I’m on a team, I do my best to communicate clearly and listen to different perspectives.

For example, during a group project last semester, one team member offered an idea that initially seemed too complicated. I asked a few follow-up questions to better understand their suggestion and, as a group, we came up with a similar idea that was more doable. By asking questions and communicating clearly, everyone on the team felt valued and respected, which led to a great collaborative process.”

9. How do you handle getting constructive feedback?

When you intern with a company, you’re there to learn. You should feel comfortable getting feedback that can help you improve. In your answer, explain that you view feedback as an opportunity to grow. If possible, provide an example of a time when you applied constructive feedback to better yourself.

Example: “I genuinely value feedback because I know it can help me to improve. In my previous internship, my manager suggested that I streamline my weekly analytics reports to focus only on key insights. With this feedback, I was able to create more structured reports in less time. I was grateful for my manager’s feedback because it helped me do my work more efficiently.”

10. Do you have any questions for us?

At the end of the internship interview, an employer usually asks if you have questions for them. Come prepared with a few questions you can ask about the internship, company, or team. Asking questions shows that you’re enthusiastic about the internship, and also allows you to learn more about the role.

What questions to ask in an internship interview

Here are some good internship interview questions to ask a hiring manager:

• What are some projects I might work on during this internship?

• How have interns fit into the team in the past?

• What’s the company culture like?

• How do you measure success in this internship?

• What qualities or skills can an intern bring to this team?

• What do you enjoy about working here?

What questions not to ask in an internship interview

You’re welcome to ask questions in your internship interview. However, there are some you should avoid asking, including any that make you seem unprepared or uninterested in the internship.

In general, don’t ask these questions during an internship interview:

• What does the company do?

• Do interns get paid vacation days?

• Will I have to work long hours as an intern?

• Can I work remotely?

• Do interns get to work in other departments too?

Want to do well at your internship interview? Practice makes perfect! Check out career.io’s Interview Prep to complete a mock interview and get feedback to ace your interview.

Key takeaways

1. Common internship interview questions focus on your skills, passions, and career goals.

2. Do your research to show an interviewer why you want the internship and why you’d be a good intern.

3. Have some questions prepared to ask the hiring manager at the end of the internship interview.