Top 10 Tips for Intern Interviews (and any job interview for that matter)

Kristen Fuhs Wells is the director of communications and development for Indiana Humanities, a statewide nonprofit that encourages Hoosiers to think, read and talk. She has been interviewing, selecting and managing interns in this role and a previous position since 2007.

1. Make a good first impression. I can tell a lot within the first five minutes based on your timeliness, appearance, handshake and your first few statements. Smile, speak eloquently, shake hands firmly and dress professionally.
2. Show some personality. You’re competing with a lot of other top candidates – don’t just tell me what you think I want to hear. Give me a reason that I can’t NOT hire you. Tell me you’re the perfect candidate by connecting to our mission, explaining why you love Indiana or how your hobbies make you a more well-rounded person. I always start off asking candidates to tell me about themselves. We’re going to be spending a lot of time together, I really do want to learn about you!
3. Exude confidence, but don’t be cocky. This is a fine line, but it’s one that absolutely makes a difference. Too weak and I don’t think you’ll be able to make strong contributions; too cocky and I won’t want to deal with your attitude. For example, be proud of your accomplishments and abilities but show that you can roll up your sleeves and get down and dirty if you need to.
4. Have a good answer for “Why do you want this internship?” Or “Why should we hire you?” Even if you aren’t asked those specific questions, find a way to weave how you would answer those questions into your other responses. And please don’t just say you want to work for a nonprofit; that’s not going to set you apart. (Would you say you wanted to work for a “business” if you interviewed with a company? No. Or at least I hope not.) Be specific and authentic.
5. Do your research and weave it into the conversation. Look at our website before applying and definitely before interviewing. Those who make a strong impression can ask questions about things they learned on the site or can mention our programs in their responses and in their cover letter. (Even better: Follow us on Twitter and send us a tweet!)
6. Ask good, thoughtful questions. If I’m doing my job right, I’ll probably answer many of the questions you wrote down in advance (What’s a typical day like? When will you make a decision?). While I like to see that you came prepared, I’m also hoping you can think of questions on the spot. When I explain a program, maybe you could ask why we created it or targeted that specific audience. Did one of my answers surprise you? Ask for clarification. Knowing you can think on your feet and aren’t afraid of asking thoughtful questions is important.
7. Bring writing samples and a portfolio with you. If you’re a top candidate, I’ll ask to see writing and/or design samples as a follow-up. But if you bring them with you, you’ll have the chance to walk me through some of the projects you’ve completed. This gives you a great opportunity to explain what you learned, how you created something, and show off the final product.
8. Personalize your cover letter. This is a pre-interview step, but make sure you don’t send a generic cover letter. For example, we’re not a “company.” You can modify a template – there’s no need to re-create the wheel each time – but be sure you customize it for each recipient. To show that you’ve done that, drop in the name of the organization/company and include why you want to work for them by directly tying your interests or background to their services/mission.
9. Check your spelling and grammar before you hit send. Double and triple-check all written communication. It’s even better if you have a roommate or parent read over it. Sending me something with an error in it tells me you’re not detail-oriented, do things in a hurry or simply don’t care.
10. Email and hand-write a thank you. Yes, it’s the 21^st century and all communication can be taken care of via email. Everything except the personal thank you. Send an email thank you immediately – especially if you know they’ll be making a quick decision. But when you get home, hand-write a thank you card and drop it in the mail. Include something you learned in the interview and re-iterate why you want the position. Not everyone does this, but they should. That means it’s one more way to leave a lasting impression.

These tips will help you land the internship, but once you get it, be sure to make the most of it. If you hold up your end of the bargain, I promise to help you grow your skills, take you to meetings, encourage you to voice your opinion, introduce you to people, connect you to organizations and be a mentor for life. With a five-person staff we can’t really hire our interns, but that doesn’t mean I won’t bend over backwards to help a stellar intern get a job. Of the 20+ interns I’ve managed, they’ve gone on to work for places like Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Indiana, Yelp Indy, Indianapolis Downtown Inc., BSA LifeStructures, the City of Indianapolis and WFYI.