Conducting an interview for an office intern differs from interviewing a regular status employee. Given the nature of internships and the kind of support they're designed to provide, you should conduct an interview from the perspective of mentor, counselor and recruiter. Use an internship interview to pull information from students about their schooling as well as their aspirations. Doing so will guarantee that you find the right intern company and that you educate students on the typical interview process, giving them a foundation they can use in job search efforts when they look for their first real job.
Instructions
1. Obtain information about the prospective office intern's academic course of study, academic performance and any previous work experience. Read the student's resume, career goals and summary of his academic achievements. Determine the area or department where his skills can be used, which should also be an area where he can continue to learn more about the field in which he intends to build a career.
2. Schedule a preliminary telephone interview with the intern candidate. Talk about the company, your position and describe available internships or the company's willingness to structure an internship that suits his career objectives. Determine the student's interest in a face-to-face interview, and provide information about the time, date, attire and the people he's likely to meet during his interview.
3. Welcome the prospective intern to your office. Introduce yourself and talk about how you came to be employed by the organization. If you have any experience as a past intern, share that with the prospective intern. Shift the conversation to engage the student in small talk about his recent semester in school and any academic-related activities he is excited about. Use this time to put the student at ease -- many student interns have limited interviewing experience and, understandably, may show signs of nervousness. Set a pleasant tone for the meeting so the student can comfortably talk about his studies and how he intends to benefit from the internship.
4. State the type of interviews you conduct for interns. Explain the interview process, the internships available, and whether the company can structure an individualized internship based on his specific academic coursework and career goals. Tell the prospective intern that it's appropriate to ask questions at any time during the interview.
5. Describe the duties an intern performs, how those duties relate to his coursework and how the company will evaluate his performance in relationship to requirements from his school counselor. Give him a copy of the job description for an intern. Explain what a typical day is like, including the work environment and the dress code for both employees and interns.
6. Explain additional aspects of the internship based on interest that you glean from his questions, nonverbal cues and any signs you detect that he has some unanswered questions. Interviews for internships usually are more informational than other job interviews, based on the intern's work experience and uncertainties surrounding what exactly the intern will be doing for the short time he's employed.
7. Ask about his coursework and other internships for which he's being considered. Depending on your company's process and how quickly you intend to put him to work, get details about his academic standing and the name of his professor or academic adviser. You need this information to establish communication with the school so that he will receive credit for the work experience.
8. Conclude your interview with a review of your process for hiring interns. Typically, internships are competitive and if you are considering several candidates, indicate that so the student understands he is among other contenders for the role. Encourage the prospective intern to call you or write with any follow-up questions. Again, many student interns aren't familiar with the process and they may appreciate the mentor-like role you take on during the interview and selection process.
