Interviewing for an internship is a little different than interviewing for a permanent job. One thing is the same, however: You’ll probably be invited to ask your prospective employer questions at some point — and you should be prepared to ask good ones.
Here are eight vital questions:
1. How will you evaluate my performance? Expressing your interest in feedback will show you’re interested in learning, focused on professional growth and willing to be taught, says Kate McKeon, CEO of Prepwise. Ask what tasks or skills you may be evaluated on, and who will be performing your evaluations.
2. How long have you been offering internships? University Research and Review founder Joe Schmoke recommends asking how long the organization has used interns. For some interns, it may not be a good fit to work with an company lacking established procedures and rules.
3. How have you managed interns in the past? Asking this can determine what’s expected from you. Jennifer Brown, CEO of PeopleTactics, suggests asking what made past interns successful and how you could best make a valuable contribution, if hired.
“The questions will not only show that you view the internship as way to develop your skills, but to also help the company,” she says. The answers will show if the company sees the internship helping you to develop your skills, or simply a way to bring in help for menial tasks.
4. What will a typical workday be like? This will help you learn about scheduling expectations, such as your office hours and breaks. Knowing from the start whether overtime or late nights at the office are expected can help prospective interns find an environment that fits their schedule and fosters professional growth, says Donna Ledbetter, author of “Graduate School for Working Adults.”
5. Who will I be working with? In some organizations, interns are assigned to work for a specific person or department, while in others they’re pooled together, Schmoke says. In a pool situation, interns may not have a chance to establish a relationship with a mentor, or may only get a high-level view of the organization rather than a deeper dive.
6. How much interaction will I have with other employees? Interns should take full advantage of being in a professional environment, says Adrienne McNally, associate director of experiential education at New York Institute of Technology‘s Office of Career Services. Try asking “What opportunities will there be for me to talk to and interact with people outside of my department?”
7. Could you tell me more about the company’s…? Internship candidates should ask questions that demonstrate their knowledge of the company by inquiring about news items related to the organization or requesting more details on information they found on the company’s website, McNally says. “Students can also demonstrate their interest by asking about how the organization contributes to its industry and community, and how an intern (works) towards these causes.”
8. How often do you hire interns for full-time jobs? It’s never too early to find out whether the company considers interns as potential employees.
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