Avoid 5 Mistakes During Your Online Internship Interview

Hi! My name is Irene. I started my career as an intern, and now my job responsibility is to link other interns with companies and global internship opportunities. I am grateful to experience both sides of the fence because it has given me a brief insight in terms of what candidates want and what companies look for.

I thought it might be helpful for students applying for an online internship to put together a couple of instances for avoiding mistakes. These things aren’t uncommon nor are they revolutionary, but still seem to happen regularly.

Without further ado, below are some hard no-nos for internship interviews:

1. Turn on your camera for a virtual interview
2. Don’t ask “what is expected of me?”
3. Don’t assume your interviewer can read your mind
4. Send a thank-you email to your interviewer
5. Don’t forget about your LinkedIn profile

1. Turn on your camera for a virtual interview

This pandemic has forced us to adapt to online meetings. As a result, we are heavily reliant on video conferencing and virtual meeting tools for the foreseeable future. For remote working, you do need any special pieces of equipment to continue your work.

Why is it important to have your camera on?

The challenging part of communication is non-verbal. Having your camera turned on not only displays confidence and professionalism but also reminds us that during tough times when human contact is completely disrupted, we can still connect.

Furthermore, auditory recognition memory is inferior to visual recognition memory. In simple words, people remember visuals more than they hear.

Alternative — If you are facing any technical problems with your camera, let the interviewer know beforehand. However, prepare yourselves before the online internship to make sure you have the required facilities. Remember to turn off your video when the interviewer requests an audio interview.

2. Don’t ask “what is expected of me?”

Sometimes an interview can go south if not asked tactfully. Therefore the first alternative indicates a willingness to work hard towards a goal, and the second reveals curiosity. Both questions will lead you to a good representation of the nature of the role you are being interviewed for without sounding half hearted.

What’s wrong with asking “what is expected of me”? The question does just the opposite of showing that you are willing to work hard.

3. Don’t assume your interviewer can read your mind

There was one scene where a candidate was typing on his laptop throughout the interview. Later the interviewer presumed that the candidate was doing something else but in reality, the candidate was taking notes without informing the interviewer. However, the interviewer got the impression that the student was completely disinterested and preoccupied.

Afterward, the candidate got rejected and the interviewer did not proceed further.

Firstly, there is no need to take notes if the interview is informative. If required use a pen and notepad to jot down notes. In fact, case interviews are one scenario that may demand some note-taking. For example, interviews for some consulting and engineering roles may need a pad and pen for solving comprehensive case questions for calculations. Inform your interviewer that you are taking down notes to avoid any misconception.

4. Send a thank-you email to your interviewer

It is considered a common courtesy because interns can show professionalism, and politeness, and leave things on a sweet note. Most importantly, double-check your email to ensure you’re not confusing an employer with a buddy. Sometimes it may look like a WhatsApp message rather than a professional email. These important steps are ignored by many interns, but possibly one of the best and easiest ways to leave a good impression and have the employer remember you.

5. Don’t forget about your LinkedIn profile

Remember you are in the market for a job and you are required to have a professional existence on LinkedIn. Even the U.S Secret Service has a LinkedIn page. The perks of having a LinkedIn profile are networking, and unlimited ways to expand your professional circle. Keep your profile updated because many employers ask for candidates’ LinkedIn profiles before interviews. Also, please use a professional picture and not a filtered selfie.

Final Thoughts

Only a few things to mention here, show your beautiful face, be intentional with your questions, think about the consequences, do not assume, always say thank you, and update your LinkedIn profile.

There are many online internship programs to start your career like ULead to upskill yourselves while reinventing learning and transforming lives. Leadership is the most sought-after skill by all companies, and Ulead is the place to be if you see yourself as a corporate leader in the future.