Common Interview Questions & How to Answer Them

Your dream company for your internship abroad has expressed interest in you and invited you for an interview. It’s time to put your best foot forward in the interview and get that international internship! Interviews can be a bit stressful, so we have created this handy guide to make sure you are well prepared as you work towards your dream internship.

Firstly, securing an internship abroad means that the interview will most likely be a video call. To find out the best way to set up for the video call check out our latest post here. Once your setup is in place, it’s time to start looking at what you can use to your advantage.  

Prepare notes

Now, this is a tricky line to walk. You want to be prepared, however, it is still a conversation between you and the employer to find out who you are. Reading who you are off of a script would be a mistake. We recommend having a few (5 or 6) post-it notes to remind you of the topics you want to cover or points you are looking to hit.

You have skills and experience, and the best way to sell these assets is to formulate short but interesting stories that have a specific purpose. A story should display situations that your skills and experience led you to make a good decision or increase productivity. For you internships abroad, do your best to stay as relevant as possible to the position you are applying to. Demonstrating knowledge of the company and industry is imperative to impress your future employers! LinkedIn, CrunchBase, Facebook, and Google are all great places to start when doing research on the company.

Commonly asked interview questions and how to answer them

1. Tell me about yourself

You will need to have an answer for this ready to go. It is a very common question and can set the tone for the rest of the interview. Remember to hit key points that you have prepared and to keep it brief.

2. What are your strengths and weakness?

This is an industry-standard. It may come in many different forms, however, the answer is going to be similar. You are looking to provide truthful answers, a relevant example, and how you are improving or implementing these traits.

3. Why do you think you will be a good fit for this position?

This question is multifaceted and really important; the interviewer is looking to know how well you know the company, the position, and, of course, how you will fit. This is a good time to show you have done your research. Remember to answer all of the ‘questions’ that they have asked.

4. Tell me about your experience

Whether it’s an international internship or full-time job, you are not looking to just reread your resume. Capitalize on the accomplishments that you achieved while in those positions. The more you are able to quantify the information, the better(ie, exceeded sales quota by 25%, generated $1,000 in monthly sales, etc).

5. So do you have any questions?

Yes, yes you do. Prepare a few smart questions. This will show you have been paying attention and that you have done your research. A great finisher is always “what has been your best memory at ‘company’. You want to create the best first impression for you internships abroad!

Practice

Nobody expects you to be a pro on your first try, do as many mock interviews as you possibly can with a friend or family member. It won’t eliminate the nerves of the actual interview but you will have a better understanding of responding to frequently asked questions. As this will be an international interview, we suggest going through the entire process at least once, connecting via skype, checking your setup and answering all the question listed here as well as any surprise ones.

We are sure these steps will help you feel as prepared as possible to create an excellent impression! CareerUp makes securing an internship abroad super simple and we want to help you through this process as well. Our Placement team will be there to guide you through to the top internships abroad.