The 10 Best Interview Questions to Ask Interns

When you're interviewing potential interns, you're doing more than filling a temporary role. You have an opportunity to guide someone at the start of their career. Asking insightful internship questions can help you look beyond a candidate’s resume to identify their potential and willingness to learn. Let’s dive into the importance of intentional interview questions for interns and explore which ones can help you determine the right candidate.

Why Asking the Right Internship Questions Matters

The internship interview questions you ask reflect your company’s values and the kind of environment interns can expect to join. Practical questions reveal how interns solve problems and what type of support they might need. Skipping this step or asking only surface-level questions can make it harder to find an intern who truly aligns with your company.

The 10 Best Intern Interview Questions to Ask

During an interview, you’re evaluating the applicants' potential, not just their professional and educational experience. Your questions should go beyond the candidate’s education level. Here is a list of internship interview questions that can help you dig deeper:

1. Can you tell me about a time you had to learn something quickly?

This question helps you understand how the intern thinks through challenges and the steps they might take when faced with something unfamiliar. It's essential in an internship when much of the job is new. Look for resourcefulness and a growth mindset.

2. What drew you to this internship or industry?

Genuine curiosity and intentionality go a long way. The candidate's response can give insight into their level of initiative and what drives them.

3. How would you like to receive feedback?

Internships are about learning the ropes of your business, and feedback plays a significant role. This question helps you assess the candidate's openness to feedback and their strategies for encouraging employee development.

4. Tell me about a time you worked on a team project. What role did you play?

Although this is one of the common internship interview questions, it remains an effective one. Interns often collaborate across departments or with peers. Their response can reveal their communication abilities and consideration amongst others. It can also show how well they perform in team environments.

5. What do you do when you’re unsure how to start something?

This question highlights the intern's approach to problem-solving. For example, the candidate may explain how they'd conduct research or present questions. Others may approach their task through trial and error. The answer gives insight into how they take initiative and when they choose to ask for support.

6. What’s something you’re proud of that’s not on your resume?

This question allows the candidate’s character and values to shine through. It also provides an opportunity for them to show their hidden strengths. It’s an excellent way to identify creativity and perseverance that a traditional resume might not reveal.

7. How do you prioritize when you have multiple deadlines or tasks?

Time management is crucial in business, especially for interns who often juggle classes and a part-time job. Listen for practical and creative strategies beyond a to-do list. This question allows you to determine the intern's current level of urgency and whether there can be room for improvement.

8. What kind of work energizes you, and what drains you?

This question helps you understand the candidate’s natural strengths and potential fit. You’ll learn what tasks they enjoy and which ones burn them out, giving you insight into their unique workflows. It can also inform how to build employee engagement strategies that resonate with them, ensuring a better match between their work preferences and the role.

9. Can you share a time you received constructive criticism, and what you took away from it?

Gauge the intern's ability to accept and act on feedback with this question. Look for candidates who can reflect with openness and a willingness to grow.

10. What do you hope to learn during this internship?

The most successful internships benefit both sides. A thoughtful response demonstrates that the candidate has researched your company. It can also help you shape a more meaningful experience for your intern.

How to Evaluate Internship Candidates

Assessing candidates through internship questions requires a different perspective than interviewing someone who is an expert in their field. Since most interns won’t have extensive experience, you must focus less on credentials and more on core qualities that indicate future success. Here are some examples:

• Curiosity and Initiative: Look for candidates who ask thoughtful questions and demonstrate a desire to learn beyond the classroom.

• Coach-ability: Pay attention to how potential interns respond to feedback. Candidates who seem reflective and eager to improve might develop their skills more quickly.

• Communication Skills: Notice how clearly they express themselves, both in conversation and in written follow-ups. Strong communicators often integrate more smoothly into teams, and communication can always be improved later on.

• Adaptability: Interns may not always have a structured or predictable work environment. Look for signs that they can stay calm under pressure, adapt to change, and take initiative when facing something unfamiliar.

• Fresh Perspective: Look for candidates who not only align with your values but also bring a fresh perspective or unique experiences that can enrich your team.

To ensure a fair decision, consider using a rubric or scorecard for evaluation. Defining the most valuable qualities for your business can help you remain consistent in your selection process.

How Justworks Can Assist You in the Interview Process

By asking the best intern interview questions, you can set the stage for a rewarding experience for everyone. With an effective applicant tracking system, the process can run even more smoothly. Justworks' Professional Employer Organization (PEO) offers an all-in-one solution for payroll, HR, benefits, and compliance support, allowing you to stay focused on developing great talent. Get started with Justworks today.