Even if you consider an internship as not a real job, it is a step in the real work life, which can be the trampoline to provide you with job opportunities in the future. It is important you take internship placement as serious as any job offer. Often companies which offer internship may want to interview to the candidates to check their motivation and desire to adhere to their work obligations seriously. This Chapter aims to point out some important issues that a young person must take into account when going for an internship/job interview.

Preparation for a job interview is a challenge. At first you should consider an interview as the time to shine and to sell yourself in an efficient yet warm manner. A job interview is essentially a meeting organised by a recruiter (any business organization) that is used to evaluate a potential employee for prospective employment. However, consider this meeting as a two-way process between the candidate and the interviewer. The interviewer wants to find out how well the candidate could do the job and fit in with their organisation and team and the candidate aims to show that they are the best person for the job and for the organisation but they also should aim to find out more about the work environment.

Interviews last approximately 45–60 mins, although telephone interviews may be slightly shorter.

Depending on the type of job you have applied for and seniority of the role, the interview panel may vary between three and 12 members.

What you shoudl do before the interview is:

• Research the Company - a company's website is an excellent place to begin. It usually gives you information on whether it is international or domestic, what its revenues are, how many locations it has, and the nature of its major products. Most companies are very proud of their websites. Don't be surprised if one of the first questions interviewers ask when you arrive is, "Have you have had a chance to look at our website?"
• Practice interviews - write down a list of possible questions that you think may be asked, then have a friend act as an interviewer and direct them to you in a practice interview situation. Don't stop until you feel comfortable answering each question. Practicing beforehand will make you feel more comfortable and relaxed during the interview.
• Dress professionally.
• Arrival - try to arrive at the interview location a little early. This gives you time to determine where you need to go, and will give you a few minutes to collect your thoughts. DO NOT arrive late. Nothing destroys your chance at impressing an employer more than arriving late and offering no explanation. If you learn at the last minute that you are going to be arriving late at the interview, call and let the interviewer know. Interviewers understand that things can come up suddenly. You are never considered late if you call and make them aware of the fact.
• Review your CV and application form - this translates into reviewing your skills, abilities and characteristics in detail and identifying those that apply to the potential future employer and job and also present them in a way that match their goals and needs.