Hi! I just wanna ask how do you prepare for an interview? Specifically for college internship. And what's the difference between real job interview and internship interview? Ps. Thank you for answering my previous question, helped a lot!
Hi again! I’m so glad to hear that answer was helpful.
To start with this one, there’s not too much difference between regular and internship interviews. There are two main things I can think of:
1. Be sure to establish that the position is temporary. Give the potential employer your range of dates that you’ll be there, establishing a clear end date. Even if you may return to that position later on down the road (like after graduation), it’s important to acknowledge current time limits and boundaries from day 1 so no one is caught by surprise when all of a sudden it’s your last day and they’re like “but I need you to finish this project.” If that limit is established from the start, it gives everyone time to establish plans for after your position ends.
2. Job expectations. Naturally, someone who has just graduated or has some experience under their belt is going to be expected to be able to do more and need less training than an underclassman just going into their first internship. Chances are, if you’re applying specifically for internships, they’re going to already expect this, but it’s still good to manage expectations. Make sure you’re not getting into more you can handle.
Now, I’d say it’s okay to embellish your skills a little bit, but ONLY if it’s something you’re capable of figuring out in a few minutes with a Google search. For instance, if a position requires proficiency with Microsoft Office, and you haven’t touched Excel in close to a decade, but you could easily figure out how to do what you need to with a few Google searches, then you’re probably okay.
As far as preparing for an interview, it’s pretty much the same between internships and regular positions.
1. Be sure to dress professionally. Even if the office has a more casual everyday dress code, it’s still a good idea to show up well groomed and in your best business attire. It’s all about making a good first impression.
A caveat for video interviews since they’re more common right now: Be aware of your background. You can do everything possible to make yourself look nice, but if your background is showing your mile high laundry pile and unmade bed, you should either change locations or find a way to block that out.
2. Even if the interviewer probably has a digital copy of your resume and portfolio from your application, bring a printed copy of both with you. It shows foresight on your part, and bringing your own lets you control how it’s seen. Ideally, you’ve thought out your portfolio and resume’s colors, printing, and binding carefully, and the only way to ensure an employer gets to see that thought is to bring a hard copy with you. If they print a copy for the interview, it won’t be bound, and the colors and paper quality won’t be as good. You want to show your work in the best light possible.
3. Take a little time before the interview to learn about the firm. You don’t have to know their bottom line inside and out, but it’s a good idea to have an idea of the work they do and the mission statement at the least if it’s available. Just enough to show that you’re interested in the firm, and aren’t just applying for the sake of having a job. Also have an idea of what similar positions usually pay, even if it’s not with that firm specifically, because they’ll probably ask you what you’re looking for in terms of pay, and it’s good to have a range that isn’t selling yourself out, but also isn’t unreasonable high for that position and firm.
4. My biggest tip: prepare for the “so, tell us about yourself.” I always know it’s coming, and I never know what to say at the time. And know that this question is really searching for your professional interests, skills, compatibility with their office and workflow, not who your best friend is and what you do in your free time (unless it’s relevant to the position!)
One of my favorite quotes from Neil Gaiman is about working in freelance, but I think it applies to most positions. It’s this:
“People keep working, in a freelance world, and more and more of today’s world is freelance, because their work is good, and because they are easy to get along with, and because they deliver the work on time. And you don’t even need all three. Two out of three is fine. People will tolerate how unpleasant you are if your work is good and you deliver it on time. They’ll forgive the lateness of the work if it’s good, and if they like you. And you don’t have to be as good as the others if you’re on time and it’s always a pleasure to hear from you.”
Overall, be punctual, be prepared, do good work, and be kind. Good luck on your interviews, you got this!