6 Things To Remember For An Internship Interview

Every company can utilize interns and every college student should take advantage of internship opportunities. Big Marlin Group has had multiple interns and a few of our employees participated in internships throughout college. Here are some personal insights as to how to interview for an internship position.

As always, any college will have the resources for you to not only receive guidance on your resume, but also help you with a mock interview and give you pointers on how to improve. These tips will help you prepare for any interview you have in the future.

1. Know the Company

No matter what type of position you are applying for, it is important that you know the company. Take a look at their website, know what products or services they sell as well as who their customers are. Research their social media efforts, how long they’ve been in business and what their strengths and weaknesses are that you can see from the outside looking in.

2. Arrive on Time or Earlier

One of the first things you will always hear from anyone is to always be on time or even show up 10-15 minutes earlier than your expected interview time. Employers usually have paperwork for you to fill out and that could take you some time. Obviously, there may be times where you will be late. If this occurs, contact the person you are supposed to interview with and inform them that you will either be late or schedule for another time.

3. Dress Code

No matter what industry you are looking to get an internship in, every dress code for work is going to be different. Be prepared for any type of dress code. This is your first in-person meeting with the company, so you’ll want to dress to impress. No matter if you know if the company has a business casual code, you’ll want to make sure that you are making a lasting impression with them.

4. Have Multiple Copies of Your Resume

You’ll never really know how many people are going to be in your interview from the company, it is always important to have multiple copies of your resume. You should also know your resume front to back. If a question is asked about a a particular skill or job, you should be able to answer it without looking for it on your resume.

5. Come with Your Own Questions to Ask

One thing that will impress the company that your interviewing at is the type of questions you are asking them. This tells us that you are not only prepared, but that you’ve taken an interest in the position. If you’re worried about your questions being answered before you have a chance to ask them, come up with questions that could possibly not be discussed. Try questions pertaining to the people who are interviewing you – “What do you like more about your job/this company?”

6. Say Thank You

It’s always important to end the interview with a firm handshake and a sincere thank you. Ending your interview with this means a lot and could even set you apart from the other applicants. Another gesture you should consider after an interview is to send a thank you email or card to thank them for taking the time to speak with you about the position you applied and interviewed for. Express your feelings on the company and position and that you’ll wait to hear back from them on the status of the position.

When applying for an interview, you will usually only have to send in a resume and cover letter. However, any material that you send over should be reviewed and make sure it is your best work! Look for grammatical and format errors. Your potential employer will see even the smallest of errors in your work.

The best thing to remember is to be you. Interviews can make people very nervous, but this is a time to shine and make your voice heard with the company.