Questions to Ask in an Internship Interview (and How to Research First)

Every internship interview ends the same way: "Do you have any questions for us?" Most students either say "No, I think you covered everything" or ask what a typical day looks like. Neither is wrong. Both are forgettable.

The students who stand out treat the interview like their first day on the team. They've done the homework, they come in with one idea, and the questions they ask sound like they already work there. Here's how to do that, starting the night before.

Step 1: research the company like it's your job

Give it 30 minutes. You're looking for five things:

• What they sell, and who buys it. One sentence you could say out loud.
• One thing they launched or announced recently. Check their news page, their LinkedIn and their recent posts.
• What the team you'd join actually does. The job posting usually tells you more than the About page.
• What's working on their site and socials, and what isn't. You're seeing it the way a customer would.
• One small thing you'd improve. This is the part almost nobody does.

Write it down. You'll use every line of it.

Step 2: walk in with one idea

Not a 20-page plan. One small, specific thing you'd start on if they hired you today. You can say it like this:

"I noticed [something you found]. If I started this week, I'd try [your idea], because [why it would help them grow]."

Keep it humble. You're offering an idea, not telling them what they're doing wrong. The point isn't that your idea is perfect. It's that you already think like someone on the team.

The questions they'll ask you

Most internship interviews come back to the same four. A simple shape for each:

• "Tell me about yourself." Now, then, next: what you're studying, one thing you've built or done, and why this role is the next step. Full guide with examples.
• "Why do you want to work here?" Your research pays off here. Name something specific they did, something you've done that connects to it, and how the two fit.
• "Tell me about a project." The problem, what you did, and what changed because of it.
• "What's your biggest weakness?" A real one, plus what you're doing about it.

If they ask about pay, here's how to answer the salary question.

12 questions to ask in an internship interview

Questions that show you're already thinking about the work

1. "What would you want your intern to have done by the end of the summer?"
2. "What's the team trying to grow most this year?"
3. "I noticed [something from your research]. Is that something an intern could help with?"
4. "What does a great first month look like in this role?"

Questions about the team

5. "Who would I work with most day to day?"
6. "How does the team share feedback on work in progress?"
7. "What's something a past intern did that really helped the team?"

Questions about learning

8. "What skills do the best interns on this team pick up fastest?"
9. "Is there a project an intern could own from start to finish?"

Questions to close with

10. "Is there anything about my background you'd like me to explain more?"
11. "What are the next steps, and when should I expect to hear back?"
12. "Is there anything you'd want me to read or try before starting?"

Pick three. One about the work, one about the team, and one to close. Asking twelve turns the interview into a survey.

Questions to skip in a first interview

• Anything a quick look at their website answers. It tells them you didn't research.
• "What does the company do?" Same problem, worse.
• Pay, perks and time off in round one, unless they bring it up first. They matter, but they fit better once there's interest on both sides.

Talk like a teammate, not a candidate

Small wording changes make a big difference. "If I get the job, I might…" sounds like you're asking for permission. "When the spring campaign launches, I'd want to…" sounds like you're already planning. Stay confident but not cocky: ask, don't assume, and let them picture you on the team on day one.

The short version

Research for 30 minutes. Bring one idea. Answer "Why us?" with something specific. Ask three questions a teammate would ask. That's the whole move.

First, you need the interview

UTern Birdee finds live internships that fit what you've actually done and gets each application ready, so you spend your time preparing for interviews, not filling out forms. You review it and press submit. It's free. Find internships that fit you.