Applying to Internships - Continued

Page 3 of 3    Back

Interview:

If you are asked to give an interview, whether it is in-person or over the phone, prepare for the kinds of questions you can be sure you will be asked. For example, I guarantee you will be asked, "Why are you interested in completing an internship with us?" Have answers prepared for basic questions. Do some homework on the company or organization, not only to impress the interviewer with your knowledge, but to guide the conversation toward your particular interests. If you can leave your conversation with a sense of whether the organization is going to offer you the kind of work you are interested in, then you will have acquired valuable insight into whether you should accept the internship if it is offered.

Follow Through:

If you interview, particularly if your interview in person, send out a thank-you note right away. You don't need to be grandiloquent, but thank the interviewer for his or her time, mention something you learned in the interview, and confirm your interest in the internship. Candidates who express sincere interest and demonstrate the ability to follow through are the ones who succeed.