How to ace an internship interview

To ace an internship interview you need to research the organization, review the job listing, and prepare to answer interview questions. Here are some details on these steps and others you can take to ace an internship interview:

• Research the organization

help you understand its history, mission, goals, and values. Understanding this information can help inform the answers you will give during the course of the interview. You should also specifically research the internship program at the company.

• Review the job listing

Go over the job listing and job description several times. You must make sure that you fully comprehend the responsibilities and requirements of the internship role you are interviewing for. This also helps you plan to touch on your own key points during the interview, such as relevant experience, skills, and anecdotes that apply to and align with the internship role.

• Prepare to answer interview questions

Next, you should prepare for the interview questions you may receive. Search online to see if you can find anyone who has interviewed for this same role in the past or for similar internship positions. This can help you find sample questions that you can then practice answering.

However, you should not memorize your answers, just get used to answering the questions in different ways. You want your interview answers to come off as organic and authentic, not rehearsed and canned. Think about different aspects of your history that you can also infuse into the answers.

• Dress well

Even if your internship interview is going to be a video conference, you should still dress to impress. However, take into consideration the formality of the company itself, and the industry it is in. Some companies might have a strict suit and tie dress codes, while others can be less formal. Do some research on the organization's dress policies to find out what to wear.

• Be positive and enthusiastic

It is important to present a positive and enthusiastic attitude throughout your internship interview. This does not mean to go overboard, and fake it. Remember, authenticity is key in most interviews. You are likely very interested in the internship program, otherwise, you would not have applied, so make sure you exhibit this through your words and body language.

• Touch on your relevant experiences

Use specific examples and anecdotes from your academic (and professional, if applicable) experiences to outline your skills and qualifications for the internship role. Put particular emphasis on volunteer work, extracurricular activities, relevant coursework, and any specific achievements or accomplishments you have obtained up to this point.

• Follow up after the interview