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Internship interviews can be tricky, especially when you’re just starting out in your career. Employers know most students don’t have years of professional experience, but they still want to see how you think, communicate, and approach opportunities for growth. Below are common internship interview questions taken straight from Vault’s latest Internship Survey, along with sample answers to help you get started. For more common internship interview questions and answers, check out part one of this series.
“How would your faculty/friends/coworkers describe you?”
This question gives employers insight into how you see yourself and how you might fit into their team’s culture. They’re not just evaluating your personality; they’re assessing your self-awareness and interpersonal skills. Here is an example of a bad answer to this question:
“They’d probably say I’m the funny one. I like to keep things light.”
While humor and positivity can be great traits, this answer doesn’t show much about your work ethic or what you’d bring to a professional environment. Instead, try something like this:
“My professors and classmates would describe me as dependable and curious. I’m often the one asking follow-up questions during group projects to make sure we fully understand the assignment, and I’m known for always hitting deadlines. I think that curiosity and reliability are qualities I’d bring to this internship.”
A response like the one above gives the interviewer something tangible—they can picture how you interact with others and what kind of teammate you’d be.
“Why did you choose your major?”
Employers want to understand what motivated your academic choices. Your answer to this question tells them what you value, how you think, and where your professional interests might lead. First, an example of a bad answer:
“I wasn’t sure what to pick, and my advisor said marketing had good job prospects.”
It’s okay if practicality played a role in deciding your major, but you want to show thoughtfulness and genuine engagement with the subject. Try something like this:
“I chose marketing because I’ve always been interested in what influences people’s decisions. After taking a consumer behavior course, I realized I enjoy analyzing data and using insights to solve real-world problems. It’s a field that lets me combine creativity and strategy.”
This answer shows intellectual curiosity and a clear link between your academic work and future career direction.
“What is something you learned during the past six months?”
This question gauges your commitment to personal growth and continuous learning. Employers love candidates who take initiative in learning; whether it’s through formal education, work experience, or on their own personal time. Check out this example of a bad answer to this question:
“Honestly, not much. This semester’s been pretty busy.”
An answer like the one above is one way to irreparably damage your candidacy. It suggests a lack of reflection and initiative, even if you genuinely did have a packed schedule. Instead, try an answer like this:
“Over the past six months, I’ve learned to be more proactive about time management. Balancing a full course load and a part-time job taught me how to plan ahead and prioritize. I also started learning basic SQL through an online course because I wanted to strengthen my data analysis skills.”
This answer demonstrates self-awareness, initiative, and motivation, which are all key traits of a strong intern.
“What are the most important qualities for a successful team?”
Internships often involve collaboration, and employers want to know that you understand what makes a team work. Your answer shows whether you value communication, accountability, and mutual respect—essential to workplace success. As always here is an example of a bad answer first:
“Everyone should just do their part and not get in anyone else’s way.”
Needless to say, an answer like this won’t win you any points with the hiring manager. It downplays the importance of collaboration and the shared goals of a team. Check out this example of a good answer:
“I think the most successful teams communicate openly, trust one another, and are willing to adapt. In my experience, when everyone feels comfortable sharing ideas and feedback, projects move faster and the final product is stronger.”
An answer like the one above is great because it highlights soft skills like communication, while also showing that you understand team dynamics and how people collaborate effectively.
“Tell me about your leadership experience.”
Employers will ask this question to see how you handle responsibility, how you motivate others, and how you respond when things don’t go according to plan. Here is an example of a bad answer to this question:
“I haven’t had many leadership roles, but I guess one time I was assigned as the group leader for a class project. Everyone kind of did their own thing, so I just made sure we turned it in on time.”
This kind of answer misses the point entirely. It’s not specific, doesn’t show initiative, and portrays leadership as a passive assignment rather than an active effort. Try something like this instead:
“As the project lead for my business strategy class, I organized a five-person team to develop a market entry plan. Our group struggled with conflicting ideas, so I suggested we hold short weekly meetings to keep everyone aligned. I also created a shared document to track tasks and deadlines. That structure helped us collaborate more efficiently, and we earned one of the highest grades in the class.”
A response like this is effective because it shows initiative, highlights soft skills like communication and teamwork, and demonstrates problem-solving abilities.
“What are you most proud of?”
Hiring managers will ask this question to learn about what you value and how you define success. Here, they’re not just looking for a list of accomplishments, but also your mindset and sense of purpose. Let’s get the bad answer out of the way:
“Probably my GPA. It took a lot of effort.”
On the surface, an answer like this seems somewhat appropriate, but it misses a chance to highlight personal growth or showcase any leadership qualities. Instead, try something like this:
“I’m most proud of helping relaunch our campus mental health awareness campaign. As part of the student committee, I organized a speaker series and coordinated outreach across departments. Seeing more students attend events and start conversations about mental health was incredibly rewarding and reminded my how communication can drive change.”
An answer like this shows initiative, empathy, and leadership qualities, which are all strong traits that can help set you apart from other candidates.
Remember, employers aren’t expecting you to have it all figured out. What they’re really looking for is potential—the kind of candidate who listens, learns, and approaches every challenge with enthusiasm. If you can show potential employers you’re that candidate, you’ll stand out in every interview.
Rob Porter is an editor at Vault.
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