The Internship Interview Prep Checklist

Interviews feel a lot less stressful when you've done the work ahead of time. Use this checklist in the days before your interview, and come back to it before every new one.

A few days before

Research the company

• Read their website, especially the About page and recent projects or news.
• Scroll their social channels to see what they've been working on lately.
• Know what they make: shows, films, artists, campaigns, products, or tools.
• Note one or two things you genuinely find interesting so you can mention them.
• If you know who's interviewing you, look up their roles.

Understand the role

• Reread the internship posting and highlight the key responsibilities.
• Match each responsibility to an example from your own experience.
• Note any tools you haven't used yet and how you'd get up to speed.

Prepare your stories

• Write a short answer to "Tell me about yourself" that covers who you are now, what you've done, and why this role.
• Prepare three to five short stories using the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
• Have a story ready for each of these: a project you're proud of, a mistake you learned from, a time you worked on a team, and a time you handled a tight deadline.
• Prepare an answer to "Why this company?" that uses your research.
• Practice out loud, either with a friend or by recording yourself.

Prepare your questions

Have three to five questions ready to ask them, such as:

• What does a typical week look like for an intern on this team?
• What would success look like at the end of this internship?
• What kinds of projects have past interns worked on?
• How does the team share feedback?
• What are the next steps in the process?

The day before

• Confirm the date, time, time zone, and format (phone, video, or in person).
• Save the interviewer's name and contact info somewhere you can find quickly.
• For video: test your camera, microphone, internet connection, and the meeting link.
• For video: pick a quiet spot with a simple background and light in front of you.
• For in person: plan your route and aim to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early.
• Choose your outfit. When in doubt, go one step more polished than what the team likely wears day to day.
• Have your resume, portfolio link, and a copy of the posting ready.
• Set out a notepad, a pen, and a water bottle.
• Get a good night's sleep.

The day of

• Review your notes and stories for about 15 minutes, then stop cramming.
• Eat something beforehand.
• Silence your phone and close extra tabs and notifications.
• Join a video call a few minutes early, or check in at the front desk when you arrive.
• Keep your portfolio open in a browser tab in case they ask to see something.

During the interview

• Smile, introduce yourself, and make eye contact. On video, look at the camera.
• Listen to the whole question before answering. It's fine to pause and think.
• Keep answers focused, usually a minute or two each.
• Use specific examples instead of general claims about yourself.
• If you don't know something, say so honestly and explain how you'd find out.
• Jot down names and details you'll want for your thank-you email.
• Ask your prepared questions, plus any that came up naturally.
• Before you wrap up, ask about next steps and timing.

After the interview

• Send a short thank-you email within 24 hours to each person you met.
• Mention one specific thing you talked about in each note.
• Write down what went well and what you'd improve while it's fresh.
• If you haven't heard back by the timeline they gave, send one polite follow-up.
• Keep applying elsewhere while you wait.

Tip: Treat every interview as practice. Even the ones that don't lead to an offer make you sharper for the next.

Next step

Need help with your thank-you note? Find the guide to professional emails and follow-ups in the Skill Hub, then browse internships to line up your next interview.