140 Questions to Ask Interns About Their Experience

Embarking on an internship is often one of the first steps in a young professional’s career—a rite of passage that blends learning with real-world experience. It’s a period ripe with opportunities for growth, development, and valuable insights.

As a mentor or supervisor, understanding an intern’s journey is pivotal. By asking the right questions, you can gauge an intern’s experience, extract meaningful feedback, and tailor programs to foster an environment where future talent can flourish.

In this article, I bring you a comprehensive list of questions designed to help you dive deep into an intern’s perspective, ensuring their voice contributes to the ongoing enhancement of internship offerings.

Learning and Development Experience

  1. Can you describe a specific skill you’ve learned during your internship?
  2. How have your academic studies been reinforced or contrasted by your hands-on experience?
  3. What was the most valuable piece of knowledge you gained?
  4. Were there any workshops or training sessions that particularly benefitted you?
  5. Did you feel challenged by the tasks you were given?
  6. How did this internship affect your understanding of the industry?
  7. What have you learned about working in a team setting?
  8. Could you share an example of a problem you solved during your internship?
  9. How have your problem-solving skills evolved throughout your experience?
  10. Did your internship provide you with a clear understanding of the daily tasks and responsibilities in your field of interest?
  11. In what areas do you feel you made the most progress?
  12. Did you have the chance to lead a project or a team? What did that teach you?
  13. How did the internship help in developing your professional work ethic?
  14. Were there any tasks you found particularly motivating?
  15. Did you receive any training that you found unnecessary or not helpful?
  16. What did you learn about the company that you didn’t expect?
  17. How has this experience shaped your approach to learning?
  18. Was there an opportunity to learn about different departments within the company?
  19. What skills do you wish you had been able to spend more time developing during the internship?
  20. Looking back, what learning moment stands out to you the most?

Work Environment Adaptation

  1. How would you describe your adjustment to the company’s culture?
  2. Were there aspects of our work environment that took you by surprise?
  3. What support mechanisms were the most helpful in settling into your role?
  4. How did you adapt to the new software or tools required for your internship?
  5. Did you feel comfortable asking your colleagues for help?
  6. How did you manage your time and prioritize tasks in the workplace?
  7. Can you describe a situation where you had to adapt quickly to changes?
  8. In what ways did the team dynamics facilitate your adaptation process?
  9. Were you able to balance learning with contributing to the team?
  10. How did you overcome any initial challenges you faced in the workplace?
  11. What aspects of the work environment helped you be productive?
  12. Did you feel that your input was valued in team discussions?
  13. What strategies did you use to integrate with other interns and staff?
  14. How did working in a professional environment compare with your expectations?
  15. What would you suggest to improve the onboarding process for future interns?
  16. Did you find it easy to navigate the physical and virtual office spaces?
  17. How comfortable did you feel providing feedback to your peers and superiors?
  18. Were there any company events or initiatives that helped you acclimate?
  19. What would you change about the work environment to better assist interns?
  20. Did you ever feel overwhelmed in the new environment, and how did you deal with that?

Project Management and Responsibilities

  1. Can you walk me through a project you worked on and your role in it?
  2. How did you approach the planning and execution phases of your responsibilities?
  3. Were your project deadlines reasonable, and how did you manage them?
  4. Did you have the opportunity to see a project through from inception to completion?
  5. What tools or methods did you learn to manage your tasks efficiently?
  6. How did your supervisors assist you in project management?
  7. Were you given a level of autonomy over your tasks, and how did you handle it?
  8. How did you ensure you understood the expectations and objectives of a new project?
  9. Can you provide an example of how you overcame a hurdle in your assigned project?
  10. What was your biggest takeaway from managing or being part of a project team?
  11. Can you describe a time when you had to coordinate with different departments for a project?
  12. How did you track and measure the success of your projects?
  13. Did you ever have to adjust project goals or methods midway? How did that process go?
  14. How did you handle feedback or criticism of your project work?
  15. What was the greatest challenge in managing your responsibilities?
  16. Did you ever miss a deadline, and what was the learning from that experience?
  17. How detailed were the project guidelines, and were they sufficient?
  18. What part of managing a project did you find most daunting?
  19. How did managing projects during your internship differ from your prior experience?
  20. Can you identify a project’s success and what you believe led to that outcome?

Skills Application and Growth

  1. Which of your pre-existing skills were you able to enhance during your internship?
  2. Can you give an example where you effectively applied your skills to a real-world situation?
  3. How did you adapt your academic knowledge to meet the practical demands of your tasks?
  4. Were there any skills you had to learn from scratch during your internship?
  5. How did the mentorship within the company help you apply your skills more effectively?
  6. In what ways were you encouraged to stretch beyond your current skill set?
  7. Did you discover any hidden talents or interests during the course of your tasks?
  8. How were you able to provide value to the company with the skills you contributed?
  9. Which skill do you believe made the biggest impact on your performance?
  10. How did you track your progress or improvement in certain areas of skill?
  11. What resources were provided to you to help with skill development?
  12. How did you balance refining old skills while learning new ones?
  13. Can you share a specific example where a new skill you learned made a difference in your work?
  14. How well did the supervisory staff recognize and utilize your skill set?
  15. What methods were most effective for learning new skills on the job?
  16. Did the company offer opportunities to showcase your skills, such as in a presentation or project lead role?
  17. How did facing new challenges help you grow professionally?
  18. Were you given the chance to work cross-functionally, applying your skills to different areas of the business?
  19. What skill do you want to continue developing after your internship experience?
  20. How did the internship facilitate your transition from theoretical knowledge to practical application?

Mentorship and Support

  1. How effective was the mentorship provided to you in your professional development?
  2. Can you describe a moment where a mentor’s guidance significantly influenced your internship experience?
  3. Were you able to establish a rapport with your mentor or supervisor? How did that relationship evolve?
  4. How did the feedback from your mentors help you in your daily responsibilities?
  5. In what ways did mentorship play a role in your overall learning experience?
  6. What could have been done to improve the mentorship aspect of your internship?
  7. How often did you meet with your mentors, and was it sufficient?
  8. Did you feel supported in terms of accessing resources and people who could assist you?
  9. How has the mentorship influenced your thinking about your career path?
  10. Were there specific mentorship programs or initiatives that you found particularly helpful?
  11. What was the most valuable advice you received from a mentor?
  12. How comfortable did you feel approaching mentors with challenges or ideas?
  13. Did your mentors provide opportunities for networking within the industry?
  14. How well did the support from your mentors align with the goals you had for your internship?
  15. Did you feel empowered to take the initiative due to the mentorship you received?
  16. Were there any unexpected benefits from your relationship with your mentors?
  17. Could you explain how a mentor intervened to enhance your internship experience?
  18. What aspects of the mentorship would you like to emulate in your future career?
  19. How did mentorship sessions help you in reflecting on and evaluating your performance?
  20. Looking back, what would have made the mentorship experience even more impactful for you?

Feedback and Suggestions

  1. How comfortable did you feel providing honest feedback about your internship experience?
  2. What suggestions do you have to improve the internship program?
  3. Was there a formal process for providing your feedback, and was it efficient?
  4. What aspects of the internship would you keep the same?
  5. Can you describe a change implemented due to intern feedback that positively affected you?
  6. How often were you asked for your input, and in what areas?
  7. How can the company better align internship roles with academic learning?
  8. Were you able to evaluate your performance and set improvement plans?
  9. How did the company address any concerns or suggestions you had?
  10. What feedback mechanisms did you find most comfortable using (e.g., surveys, face-to-face meetings)?
  11. How transparent was the company in addressing intern feedback and making changes?
  12. What would you emphasize in an exit interview regarding your experience?
  13. How well do you think your feedback was received and valued?
  14. Do you have any suggestions for better integration of interns into company projects?
  15. What resources or tools do you wish you had during your internship that could have enhanced your experience?
  16. Did you feel that the program’s structure allowed for enough two-way communication?
  17. Is there anything that could have been done to make you feel more listened to as an intern?
  18. How might future interns provide more valuable feedback throughout their experience?
  19. What procedures do you think would help interns voice concerns more freely?
  20. Do you believe your feedback will lead to concrete improvements in the internship program?

Career Development and Future Goals

  1. How has the internship influenced your career aspirations?
  2. Did your experience align with what you envisage for your future career?
  3. What did you learn about your strengths and weaknesses related to your career path?
  4. Were there any opportunities for job shadowing that helped clarify your career interests?
  5. How has this internship prepared you for your next professional steps?
  6. What kinds of career advice did you receive during your internship?
  7. Did the internship provide a clear perspective on potential job roles within the industry?
  8. How have your career goals evolved since starting your internship?
  9. In what ways did the company support your professional growth and networking?
  10. Were you able to identify any gaps in your knowledge or skills in preparation for your desired career?
  11. How would you describe the career trajectory within the company based on your experience?
  12. Did you get a sense of what long-term career opportunities might look like, within or outside the company?
  13. Can you pinpoint specific experiences that confirmed or redirected your future career plans?
  14. How do you envision applying the experience from this internship in your future work?
  15. Did the internship include career planning or professional development sessions?
  16. How valuable was the exposure to industry professionals for your own career networking?
  17. Did the internship provide you with a competitive edge for your future job search?
  18. How do you feel about entering the job market with the experience you’ve gained?
  19. Did you feel the company took an interest in where you wanted your career to go?
  20. What are the key takeaways from this internship that you’ll carry into your career?

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are internships important for students?

Internships are important to students because they give them the opportunity to gain practical experience in their field of study. This experience can help students decide if they are passionate about the area they are studying and give them a head start in their job search after graduation. Internships can also help students develop valuable skills that they can use in their professional life.

How can I use the feedback collected from interns?

Intern feedback can be used to:

  • Improve the structure and content of internship programs
  • Adjust training and mentorship approaches
  • Enhance the integration and support of future interns
  • Make informed decisions about long-term hiring and talent development.

How often should I check in with interns to ask about their experience?

It’s beneficial to check in with interns regularly, such as bi-weekly or monthly, to ensure they have ongoing support and to quickly address any issues. This also allows for real-time feedback rather than waiting until the end of the internship.

What should I avoid when asking interns about their experience?

Avoid leading questions that suggest a desired answer and yes/no questions that don’t allow for depth. Ensure the environment is open and supportive so the intern feels comfortable sharing honest feedback.

How can I ensure confidentiality and comfort when interns provide feedback?

Let interns know their feedback is confidential and will be used constructively to improve the internship program. Offer a private setting for discussions and reassure them that their honesty will not negatively affect their assessment.

Final Thoughts

By exploring various facets of their journey—from the practical application of their skills to the mentorship they received—we gain critical feedback that can refine and enrich the trajectory of their developing careers.

This list offers a guide to fostering constructive conversations, ensuring that the legacy of an internship program is one of mutual growth and sustained improvement.

Remember, the right questions reveal an intern’s experience and pave the way for the next wave of enthusiastic learners and future industry leaders.

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Robby is a multimedia editor at Enlightio with a journalism and communications background. When she's not working, Robby transforms into an introverted art lover who indulges in her love for sports, learning new things, and sipping her favorite soda. She also enjoys unwinding with feel-good movies, books, and video games. She's also a proud pet parent to her beloved dog, Dustin.