How to Prepare for an Internship Interview as a High Schooler — 8 Tips

If you’re looking to get some hands-on work experience before committing to a college major, then an internship might be the right move. An internship experience in high school can help you explore a potential career path, acquire professional skills, build a strong work ethic, and learn beyond the classroom. That’s not all. Some internship opportunities come with a stipend, so you can start working toward financially supporting yourself, considering that you will be in charge of your finances while at university. You can also save, invest, or set the money aside for the future. If this is what you’re looking for, check out this list of paid internships.

Once you find an internship you like, you need to start building a strong application that sets you apart from other candidates and be considered for the role. A key part of the application process for most high school internship programs is the interview, based on which the decision to hire applicants is made. The internship interview is typically scheduled after your application form is reviewed and you are shortlisted. 

Acing the interview is the key to landing the internship you want, and good prep can get you there! So, here’s how to prepare for an internship as a high schooler:

1. Do your research

While applying for an internship, you should look up the institute, organization, or government department/agency offering the internship. Start your research by visiting the employer’s website and spending some time learning about the organization’s history, its mission, and ongoing projects or initiatives. Also, pay attention to its products or services, customers, and competitors. This step can help you answer questions during the interview, prepare the right questions, and show interest in the organization. Using this information, you can discuss how the organization’s mission aligns with your goals during the interview. You can also mention specific projects you would like to be involved in as an intern. If you have the name of the interviewer, you can also find out more about them before the interview.

2. Be ready to discuss your skills and interests

Before the internship interview, you should review your resume and refamiliarize yourself with it. An interviewer will likely ask you to share something about yourself and what makes you a good fit for the organization. This is when you can highlight the skills you listed in your resume and discuss previous work experience, including volunteer work and extracurricular activities. You can also mention any awards or accolades you have received, such as being on the honor roll. Highlighting skills that are relevant to the position also helps the interviewer see you as a good fit for the role. Additionally, some opportunities are meant for high school students with an interest or experience in a particular subject or field. You should be ready with samples, assignments, courses, or projects that demonstrate your interest in the field.

Bonus tips: 

• Spend some time creating and refining your professional and personal digital presence. Your professional digital presence would consist of your LinkedIn or Indeed profiles, which should have your updated resume, a network of peers and professionals, and appropriate pictures and posts highlighting your achievements. Your personal profiles on social media platforms do not have to be as carefully curated. But, potential employers can look at candidates’ social media profiles, so it is best to keep them as professional as possible.

• For an in-person interview, you should carry a copy of your resume for the interviewer, just in case they don’t have it on hand.

3. Prepare answers for common interview questions

You can practice for the interview with a friend or family member, making them ask questions and answering. These mock interviews will help you get the tone right and feel more prepared. Start by looking up frequently asked interview questions and think of suitable answers for them. To help you get started, here are a few common questions interviewers ask:

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

• Which college and major are you considering?

• What makes you a good fit for this internship?

• Why are you interested in this organization?

• What interests you about this role?

• What are you passionate about?

Interviewers can also ask behavioral questions like:

• Can you tell me about a time you faced a difficult problem at work or school? How did you solve this problem?

• Share your experience about a mistake you made in the past. How did you handle it?

• Describe a time when you were under a lot of pressure. How did you react?

• Share an example of a time you had to make a difficult decision. What did you do?

You can use the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method to answer such behavioral questions. You begin by sharing an example of a situation and giving the interviewer some context, then describe your responsibility or role (task) in the situation, explain how you overcame the challenge or dealt with the situation, and finally, share the outcome of your efforts. Preparing for such questions using the STAR technique can help you structure your answers and demonstrate how you used your skills to solve problems.

You do not need to memorize the answers to these questions; instead, make a note of the main ideas ahead of the interview. This will help you give clear and concise responses if similar questions come up. 

4. Make a list of your own questions

You should treat the interview as a valuable conversation. Not only is it an opportunity for the interviewer to see your value, but it is also a chance for you to see if this is indeed a worthwhile opportunity for you. So, listen carefully and ask questions as and when required. Don’t hesitate to get more details about the internship and the work environment. For instance, you can ask questions like:

• What’s the office environment/company culture like?

• Could you share more details about the role?

• What are your company’s goals for interns?

• Could you tell me more about the team I would work with if selected?

• What’s your favorite part about working in this company?

Being prepared with and asking thoughtful questions also demonstrates your curiosity, initiative, and engagement.

5. Determine your goals

In the interview, discussing what you want out of an internship can help both you and the organization work toward that goal. So, before the interview, you should have a clear idea of what the internship should offer. For instance, you may want the internship to help you choose or confirm your choice of a college major, provide some hands-on research experience in a field of choice, or develop or hone key skills that will help you professionally. To know for sure if the opportunity you are considering can help meet one or more of your goals, you should review the intern duties shared on the program page or by the recruiter. During the interview, you should try to get a clear idea of what a typical day for an intern looks like. For instance, when applying for a research internship that aims to offer hands-on experience, during the interview, get some insight into what the work involves. If your goal is to work on an independent research project with one-on-one mentorship, then ensure you mention it in the interview. Being straightforward here will ensure you do not settle for an opportunity that does not work for you.

6. Dress appropriately 

Irrespective of the interview format, you should consider dressing professionally to make a good first impression. You may get dress code instructions ahead of the interview. Alternatively, you can look up the company dress code online or ask your point of contact about it. In any case, it is best to avoid wearing anything too casual or flashy. You may not have to opt for a complete formal attire; business casual usually works. Start thinking about what you will wear and set aside an outfit before the interview to save some time on the day of.

7. Be organized and punctual

When the interview has been scheduled, you can ask your point of contact for details like the format, any additional documents needed for the interview, and if there is any reading material you need to go through. For a virtual interview, set up your device and check your earphones and mic before the meeting starts. You should also have the necessary documents—application form, resume, and internship program page—open on your device just in case you need to refer to them during the interview. For an in-person interview, arrive a little early to find the interview location and figure out parking.

Bonus tip: For a virtual interview, choose a quiet space with decent lighting to avoid any interruptions.

8. Follow up

Be prepared to send a follow-up mail about 24 hours after the interview. Here, you can thank the interviewer for their time and consideration. This is a great way to express your appreciation and interest in the role. A thank-you note can also remind the employer of your interview, prompting a response. It can also be a chance to add something you may have forgotten to mention during the interview.

If you are still looking for the right internship opportunity, check out the wide variety of options here to determine which type of internship would work for you. You will be able to find internships offered by institutions, universities, government departments and agencies, and independent organizations. You can also choose from online, in-person, or hybrid internships. You could narrow your search further by setting your ideal internship timeline: summer, fall, winter, spring, or even year-round! Then, you can determine your interests, beginning with broader fields like arts, STEM, business, and media, and then choosing a specific field you like.

Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!

Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!

Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard College graduate.