An internship is a short-term work opportunity that allows students or recent graduates to gain real industry experience. Many employers use internships to find potential future employees. In fact, the process of getting an internship is quite similar to a job since you need to clear an interview to secure the position. However, the interview process is a bit different because it focuses less on long years of experience and more on your skills and learning attitude. In this blog, we share the top 50+ internship interview questions and answers to help you prepare.
Fun Fact: According to NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers), 91% of employers prefer candidates with internship experience when hiring.
Internship Interview Basics
Also Read - Internship Meaning for Students & Freshers: Application for Internship
Most Common Internship Interview Questions
Here are the most common internship interview questions and answers for freshers to help you understand what employers usually ask and how you can respond.
- Tell me about yourself.
How to answer: Focus on your education, current year, skills, and career interest. End with one personal detail.
Sample Answer:
I am in my final year of Computer Science, with strong skills in Python, Java, and SQL. I recently built a cloud-based note-taking app using Firebase. I enjoy solving coding challenges and exploring open-source projects in my free time.
- Why are you interested in this internship?
How to answer: Show excitement for the role, link your goals, and mention company-specific reasons.
Sample Answer:
I am excited about this internship because I want real-world experience in software development. I have studied algorithms and databases, but applying them to live projects will help me grow faster. I admire how your team works with modern cloud technologies, and I would love to contribute while learning.
- What skills make you a good fit for this role?
How to answer: Pick 2–3 skills from the job description. Back them up with examples.
Sample Answer:
I have good knowledge of Java and data structures, which I applied in a project to build an e-commerce backend. I also know Git for version control, and my problem-solving skills helped me debug complex code during hackathons. These skills can help me add value immediately.
- What are your career goals after graduation?
How to answer: Mention a short-term and long-term goal. Connect it with the internship.
Sample Answer:
My short-term goal is to gain practical experience in full-stack development. Long-term, I aim to specialize in scalable cloud systems. This internship will allow me to work on real projects, collaborate with senior developers, and strengthen my foundation for a future career in IT.
- Describe a time you worked well in a team.
How to answer: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Keep the example relevant.
Sample Answer:
During a group project, we built a job portal using React and Node.js. I handled the backend APIs while coordinating with the frontend team. We shared updates daily and solved bugs together. Our collaboration helped us complete the project ahead of time and achieve top marks.
- Tell me about a challenge you faced and how you handled it.
How to answer: Pick a real challenge. Explain what you did, the result, and what you learned.
Sample Answer:
While working on a machine learning project, I faced errors with model accuracy. After researching online forums and testing multiple approaches, I fine-tuned the dataset and improved accuracy by 15%. This taught me patience and the importance of structured problem-solving in tech projects.
- Give an example of when you took initiative or a leadership role.
How to answer: Share a project where you stepped up without being told. Show results.
Sample Answer:
In my coding club, juniors struggled with GitHub. I created a starter guide and organized a short workshop. This helped new members confidently contribute to open-source projects. Taking initiative not only solved the issue but also improved collaboration within the group.
- How do you stay organized when managing multiple tasks?
How to answer: Share your method – tools, planning style, or personal habits. Give a real example.
Sample Answer:
I use Trello and VS Code task extensions to manage projects. During finals, I balanced a web app project and assignments by breaking work into smaller parts. With reminders and deadlines, I finished tasks on time without stress.
- What is your greatest strength and weakness related to this internship?
How to answer: Pick one strength and one genuine weakness. For weakness, mention how you are improving.
Sample Answer:
My greatest strength is adaptability in learning new technologies. For example, I quickly learned Docker to containerize a project. My weakness is public speaking. I have started participating in tech meetups to practice presenting my projects with confidence.
- Why should we select you for this internship?
How to answer: Summarize your skills, interest, and enthusiasm. Keep it confident but humble.
Sample Answer:
I have strong coding skills, a passion for problem-solving, and eagerness to learn from real projects. I can contribute to development tasks while improving my technical knowledge. I am committed to making the most of this internship opportunity.
Also Read - Letter of Recommendation for Internship: Format & Examples
Internship Interview Questions by Career Field
These interview questions about internship will guide you in preparing for different roles across IT, HR, marketing, finance, and more.
Interview Questions for IT Interns
These are some important interview questions for IT interns that focus on technical knowledge.
- Can you explain a technical project you worked on recently?
- How do you debug a problem in code or software?
- Which programming languages or tools are you most comfortable with?
- Describe a time you solved a technical issue in a team setting.
- How do you keep your technical skills updated?
Human Resources Intern Interview Questions
Let’s go through human resource management internship interview questions that test your understanding of HR concepts.
- Why are you interested in a career in HR?
- How would you handle confidential employee information?
- Describe a time you helped resolve a conflict.
- What do you think are the key qualities of an HR professional?
- How would you support employee engagement in an organization?
Note: These HR intern interview questions and answers will help you practice effectively and feel more confident during your internship interview.
Marketing Intern Interview Questions
Here are the common internship interview questions and answers to help candidates prepare for marketing roles.
- What interests you most about marketing?
- Can you describe a campaign or brand you admire and why?
- How would you use social media to attract an audience?
- Tell me about a time you worked on a creative project.
- How would you measure the success of a marketing campaign?
Finance Internship Interview Questions
If you are looking for internship questions and answers, this section will guide you through the most common queries asked in finance internship interviews.
- Why do you want to work in finance?
- How do you stay updated on financial trends or markets?
- Can you explain a financial concept you studied that excites you?
- Tell me about a time you analyzed data to make a decision.
- How would you handle working under tight deadlines in finance?
Interview Questions for Sales Internship
These internship interview questions are often asked to candidates applying for sales roles.
- What makes you interested in sales as a career path?
- How would you convince someone to try a product or service?
- Can you give an example of when you met a target or goal?
- How do you deal with rejection or failure?
- What do you think is the most important skill for a sales intern?
Business Development Intern Interview Questions
Now, let’s cover internship interview questions that often appear in business development interviews.
- What excites you about business development?
- How would you approach reaching out to a new client?
- Describe a time you identified an opportunity for growth.
- How do you prioritize tasks when handling multiple prospects?
- What do you think makes a good business development strategy?
Digital Marketing Intern Interview Questions
Here are interview questions about internship that highlight your knowledge of SEO, social media, analytics, and creativity in digital marketing.
- What do you understand about SEO and why is it important?
- How would you create content to attract online traffic?
- Which digital marketing tools have you used or studied?
- Tell me about a successful campaign you researched or worked on.
- How would you track performance in digital marketing?
Social Media Intern Interview Questions
Here are interview questions for social media intern roles that focus on engagement strategies and knowledge of trending platforms.
- Which social media platform do you think is most effective for brands today?
- How would you increase engagement for a brand’s account?
- Describe a social media trend that impressed you.
- How do you deal with negative comments online?
- What metrics would you track to measure social media success?
Data Analyst Intern Interview Questions
These are common interview questions in internship that are often asked to data analyst interns.
- How do you clean and prepare data before analysis?
- Which tools or software do you prefer for analysing data?
- Can you explain a time when data changed your decision-making?
- How would you present complex data to a non-technical audience?
- What steps do you follow when working with large datasets?
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Internship Interview Questions Asked by Top Companies
Let’s go through internship interview questions that leading companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and others often ask during their hiring process.
Amazon Internship Questions
Here are the commonly asked amazon intern interview questions.
- Which of Amazon’s leadership principles do you relate to most?
- Describe how you optimized time and space complexity in a coding problem.
- How do you prioritize when working on multiple projects?
- Tell me about a group project you worked on and your specific role
- Tell me about a time you disagreed with someone and how you handled it.
Note: You can also go through real Amazon intern interview experience shared by candidates to understand the process better.
Google Internship Interview Questions
These interview questions in internship are asked by Google during its selection process.
- How many DSA problems have you solved? Which topic is your strongest?
- Why do you want to intern at Google?
- What do you know about our interview process or company culture?
- How do you approach learning something completely new?
- Tell me about a time you improved a process or idea.
Microsoft Internship Interview Questions
This section covers Microsoft intern interview questions that usually focus on technical expertise and teamwork skills.
- Why are you interested in Microsoft’s internship program?
- What is the difference between stack and queue?
- How do you balance academic projects with deadlines?
- Are there any teams at Microsoft that interest you and why?
- What’s your favorite technology or language and why?
Note: Reading about Microsoft internship interview experience from past candidates can give you valuable insights into the process and help you prepare better.
Accenture Internship Interview Questions
If you are applying for an internship at Accenture, these internship interview questions will guide you on what the company usually asks.
- Why do you want to intern at Accenture?
- How do you handle client-facing situations?
- Describe a time you adapted quickly to change.
- What do you know about Accenture’s services or industry focus?
- How do you manage problem-solving in group projects?
Cisco Internship Questions
Here are the common internship interview questions asked at Cisco.
- Why are you interested in networking and Cisco?
- What networking concepts (TCP/UDP, OSI model) are you familiar with?
- What do you know about Cisco’s role in technology today?
- How do you stay updated on IT and networking trends?
- Solve a data structure problem such as heap or binary tree implementation.
Goldman Sachs Intern Questions
- Why do you want to intern at Goldman Sachs, and in this specific division?
- Describe a recent financial event or transaction that interests you.
- How do you handle high-pressure situations?
- Describe a time when you worked on a team project with tight deadlines.
- What interests you most about investment banking or financial services?
Note: Checking out Goldman Sachs intern interview experience shared by previous candidates can give you a clear idea of the selection process and question patterns.
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Internship Viva Questions
Here are some internship interview questions that are often asked during viva sessions.
- What do you know about our company and this role?
I researched your company and learned that you focus on software solutions and cloud-based services. This role mainly involves assisting with development tasks, debugging, and testing software modules. I admire the innovative work culture here.
- Which programming languages or tools are you most comfortable with?
I am most comfortable with Python and Java. I also have experience with SQL for database queries. For tools, I use GitHub for version control and Postman for API testing.
- Can you explain a project you worked on during college?
In my third year, I worked on a web application for event management. I built the backend using Node.js and MongoDB. The app allowed students to register online, track events, and receive updates in real time. It was a good learning experience.
- How do you stay updated with the latest technologies?
I follow tech blogs, read documentation, and take online courses when possible. I also participate in coding platforms to practice problem-solving and learn new approaches.
- How would you explain a complex technical concept to a non-technical person?
I keep it simple with real-life examples. For instance, I once explained cloud storage by comparing it to storing files on Google Drive instead of a personal hard disk.
- What do you expect to learn from this internship?
I want to gain exposure to real-world software projects, improve my coding efficiency, and learn teamwork in an agile environment. This experience will prepare me for my IT career.
Also Read - Sample Resume for Internship with Template and Examples
What Are the Questions to Ask in an Internship Interview?
As an internship candidate, showing curiosity is important to create a good impression. So, if you have doubts, never hesitate to ask. Here are the common questions to ask during an internship interview.
- What will be my day-to-day responsibilities during this internship?
- Can you describe the team I will be working with?
- What skills do you expect me to learn in this role?
- Are there any training or mentorship opportunities for interns here?
- How do you usually measure the success of an intern?
- What are the main tools or technologies I will be using?
- Can interns contribute to real projects, or will it be more support tasks?
- How often do interns get feedback on their work?
- What qualities make an intern stand out in your company?
- Are there opportunities for a full-time role after this internship?
Note: Make sure you prepare a few intern interview questions to ask the recruiter, as it shows genuine interest and helps you understand the role better.
Also Read - 7 Tips to Write a Cover Letter for Internship with Examples
How to Prepare for Your Internship Interview?
Preparing well for your internship interview can increase your chances of getting selected. Here are some tips you can follow:
- Research the company: Learn about its services and culture. Check recent projects to connect answers better.
- Review internship interview questions: Practice common ones like strengths, weaknesses and project discussions to sound confident.
- Go through technical basics: Revise programming concepts, databases or tools mentioned in the job description.
- Practice behavioral answers: Be ready for teamwork, challenges and leadership scenarios. Use STAR method for clarity.
- Mock practice: Ask a friend to ask you interview for an internship questions to improve flow.
- Prepare questions to ask: Show curiosity about the role and learning opportunities.
- Work on communication skills: Keep answers short and natural. Avoid memorized lines.
- Plan logistics: Check internet, camera, or route in advance to avoid last-minute stress.
Also Read - Letter of Interest for Internship: Example & Samples
Wrapping Up
And that’s a wrap on the top 50+ internship interview questions and answers to help you prepare easily. Remember, practice is the key to performing well and leaving a strong impression.
Looking for IT internship opportunities? Visit Hirist, where you can find the best IT jobs including exciting internships in top tech firms.
FAQs
A good answer highlights your role, key tasks, and what you learned. Here is a sample answer.
“During my internship at a software firm, I worked on developing REST APIs using Java and Spring Boot. I collaborated with the frontend team to integrate features and also wrote unit tests to improve code quality. This experience improved my coding skills, taught me how agile sprints work, and gave me confidence in contributing to real projects.”
You can prepare smart questions from guides like this blog or career sites such as AmbitionBox. Ask about day-to-day tasks, team structure, learning opportunities, and chances of a full-time role.
Candidates usually face coding challenges, technical questions on data structures, and behavioral questions about teamwork. Some roles may also include Salesforce-specific problem-solving tasks. Most candidates report a mix of coding and HR rounds.
The process usually starts with an online aptitude or coding test. Shortlisted candidates then go through technical interviews, behavioral questions, and sometimes case studies. The focus is on problem-solving and ability to work under pressure.
Amazon’s process involves an online assessment on coding platforms, followed by technical interviews that include data structures, algorithms, and Amazon Leadership Principles. Candidates also face behavioral questions to test culture fit.
HackerRank is an online coding platform widely used by companies to test programming, problem-solving, and algorithmic skills of candidates. For software engineer intern roles, it often includes timed challenges in multiple areas.
Here are some common question types asked on HackerRank for interns:
Array problems (find the maximum subarray sum, rotate an array)
String problems check for anagrams, longest substring without repeating characters)
Dynamic programming (coin change problem, longest increasing subsequence)
Sorting and searching (binary search, quicksort variations)
SQL queries (join tables, find duplicates, aggregate functions)
Data structures (stack implementation, queue operations, binary tree traversal)
Practicing these categories under time constraints is the best way to prepare for HackerRank intern tests.
They mainly focus on communication, conflict resolution, people management skills, and understanding HR basics like recruitment or employee engagement. Questions may include handling confidential data or resolving workplace issues.
Yes, many interns are paid today, especially in IT and technology roles. According to AmbitionBox, the annual pay for interns with 0–3 years of experience ranges between ₹1 Lakh – ₹8 Lakhs, with an average salary of around ₹3.6 Lakhs per year.
This means the average monthly in-hand salary is around ₹14,000 – ₹15,000. However, stipends at top tech firms like Google, Amazon, or Microsoft can go much higher.
Intern Salary Overview (India, 2025)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual salary range | ₹1 Lakh – ₹8 Lakhs |
| Avg. annual salary | ₹3.6 Lakhs |
| Monthly in-hand salary | ₹14,000 – ₹15,000 |
| Experience range in data | 0 – 3 years |
Salary based on experience:
| Experience | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Fresher | ₹2.9 Lakhs per year |
| 1 year | ₹3.6 Lakhs per year |
| 2 years | ₹3.7 Lakhs per year |
| 3 years | ₹4.3 Lakhs per year |
Salary based on location:
| City | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Gurgaon | ₹4.2 Lakhs per year |
| Bangalore | ₹3.8 Lakhs per year |
| Ahmedabad | ₹3.7 Lakhs per year |
| Hyderabad | ₹3.7 Lakhs per year |
| Pune | ₹3.6 Lakhs per year |
Salary based on industry:
| Industry | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Hardware & Networking | ₹4.5 Lakhs per year |
| Software Product | ₹4.1 Lakhs per year |
| Internet | ₹4.1 Lakhs per year |
| Analytics & KPO | ₹4.0 Lakhs per year |
| Financial Services | ₹3.9 Lakhs per year |
Salary at top companies:
| Company | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. | ₹10.2 Lakhs per year |
| UBS | ₹6.7 Lakhs per year |
| PTC | ₹6.2 Lakhs per year |
| OpenText Technologies | ₹5.9 Lakhs per year |
| Cisco | ₹5.7 Lakhs per year |
Basic questions are usually simple and test your confidence, motivation, and clarity. Here are five common ones:
Tell me about yourself.
Why do you want this internship?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Can you explain a project you worked on?
Where do you see yourself after graduation?
Start with your name, degree, and current year. Mention your technical skills and a key project. End with a career interest. Here is a sample.
“I am a final-year computer science student skilled in Java and SQL. I recently built a task management app and want to grow in software development.”
