I’ve written before on interviewing for intern sites, but in this post I’ll go into a bit more depth about what kind of questions interns should ask future employers.
I’ve said it before but it’s worth saying it again: the correct answer to “do you have any questions for us?” is always: “Yes”:
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- How will you evaluate my performance? There are two very good reasons for asking this question. One is that you want to make sure that you WILL be evaluated at some point. Two is that it is beneficial to show employers that you are interested in performing well. It is also important for you to understand the criteria upon which you will be evaluated. So, pardon the corporate lingo, but this question is truly a “win-win”. And don’t be afraid to ask follow-up questions such as “What made past interns successful?”
- How long have you been using interns? You want to make sure that the agency has experience utilizing interns. If you are their first one, you may want to think twice about the internship because it is likely that they do not have procedures in place for managing interns, which could make your life difficult.
- How much interaction will I have with other counselors? Obviously, it is important to your learning to have interaction with other, more experienced counselors. You’ll want to get a good idea of what kind of opportunities there are for doing that. This is also a great way to get a feel for the agency culture. Look for red flags such as: “well, we really don’t have time to interact.” At a minimum, there should be some type of team meeting weekly.
- Can you tell me more about your agency’s _____? Be sure to ask a question that reflects your research of the company. In another words, Do NOT ask any questions that could be answered by their website or other publicly-available information. Instead, ask a more detailed question, or a follow-up question, perhaps one about theoretical orientation or treatment philosophy.
- How often do you hire interns for full-time positions? One of the obvious benefits of interning at an agency is a possible job offer. The agency has a chance to see your work, and interact with you; and you have the opportunity to see what it would be like seeing clients under the umbrella of their unique agency culture. Whereas being an intern is not a guarantee for a job offer, it is a well-worn path. If your agency never hires interns, then it would be good to know this up front so that you can make an informed choice about whether to intern there.
Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,
Dr. Barbara LoFrisco
P.S. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to take notes during your interview, and then sum them up and email to your interviewers. This could serve as a record of what you were told during the interview process. I know it might be hard to believe, but sometimes the actual working conditions may vary from what was described. Sometimes, rather radically. If this happens, it is in your benefit to have a written record of what you were told during the interview/hiring process. You don’t necessarily have to email them, but be sure to write down who told you what and keep it in a safe place.
* Adapted from “Interview questions interns should ask”, Tampa Bay Times, Sunday June 7, 2015.
