Most students do not have much experience to discuss. But when interviewing an intern, always remember to discuss these three issues:
– How are they now?
– Where do they hope to be in the future?
– How can the internship help them realize their future plans?
More importantly, the interview should help you decide if this intern has the skills, knowledge, and attitudes required in your business. The following interview questions can be useful when interviewing an intern:
Why did you choose XYZ field?
Information for you: What kind of environment does the intern you're interviewing with feel comfortable in or learn well.
What do you want to do with your college degree?
Information for you: Is this internship necessary and suitable for your company. If this student's goal is to succeed in an international corporate environment while your company is quite small, then this student should apply to a larger company.
Is this part of the curriculum?
Information for you: Will the candidate be held accountable after the internship? If a student participates in an internship not because of a request from the school, but because of a personal desire, then he/she is working voluntarily and not because of course requirements. Therefore, this student who is not under pressure will be assessed at the end of the internship.
What has benefited you from your internship? What do you expect to learn from this internship?
Information for you: Find out what the intern wants to learn from the internship and whether you're hiring the right people. If a student tells you that the last desire of the internship is to work for a long time at the company, but your company does not currently have a need to recruit more long-term positions, tell them about the situation at your company. Don't get upset because the interns' answers are just what they want.
Why do you want to do an internship at the position (or our company)?
Information for you: The question is used both when you are interviewing an intern or a short-term applicant. If you only mention a single factor, hear about their priorities.
What skills do you think will help you succeed in your internship, and how will you practice these skills?
Information for you: If a student can make the connection between study and real work, then he/she will be able to find a match between the essays and the business reality. This implies that this is the candidate you are looking for.
Have you been a member of any group (team) in which someone disliked you? How did you work with that person?
Information for you: This question shows how he/she will work with co-workers. The best answer will show that this student can handle the situation on his own and not the other speaker.
Tell me about a time or situation where you had to instruct a classmate or another person?
Information for you: If you are looking for an intern for a customer service position. The perfect answer would include patience, the ability to recognize a colleague's level without showing it immediately.
Do you feel comfortable in a work environment with strict discipline or with an open and friendly environment? Are you comfortable doing multiple things or do you prefer to do only one thing?
Information for you: This shows which environment the candidate's personality will fit into.
How do you handle things when things are messed up and does it upset you?
Information for you: Will he/she be able to get the job done without making a mess. Excellent candidates always know how to seize the opportunity to help them shine.
When the interns you're interviewing have to use technology or software, ask them to rate their own usability on a scale of 1 to 10.
Information for you: If the candidate has the skills you need and rates themselves at 9-10, keep asking to double-check the information. Ask them 3 types of projects they can complete: small projects, personal projects, and projects where they will benefit the business even after their internship is over.
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