1. What is the overall structure of the company and how does your department fit within that structure?
This is a good way to get a sense of the how the company operates and what each department does so that you can see how your role as an intern/trainee would fit into this organization.
2. What will be my day-to-day responsibilities? Can you give me an example of a project on which I would be working?
You should ideally know the major responsibilities of the position before interviewing, but this question will help you get a better sense of the more specific types of tasks you would be doing and the anticipated level of your involvement within the organization.
3. Can you describe the work environment/office culture?
Is it casual? More corporate/formal? You will want to know the office dynamic before accepting an internship position with the company. Can you see yourself training in a similar environment? How does this office compare to offices in your home country or previous positions you've held?
4. What do you like about working here?
Be curious and inquisitive! Show that you are interested in the interviewer's background and experience at the company. You will learn about the advantages of having an internship with them and get some firsthand insight.
5. Why are you interested in hiring an intern?
This is a great way to gauge the employer's motivation for having an intern in the first place. You can better understand what they might have you working on and what type of role they envision you having.
6. What is the typical career path for interns or employees in this department?
You can relate this question to your long-term career aspirations by mentioning where you see yourself in a few years and how this position ties into those future professional goals. Maybe the employer will mention a previous intern. Do you share a similar background with that intern? This is a great way to learn about what a typical or potential career track might be.
7. What would you consider to be the most important aspects of this internship role?
You can use this question to really emphasize your strengths and draw on your education and/or previous experience. The better you are at understanding the expectations for the position, the better you can show them how you will meet those expectations and be an exceptional intern/trainee.
8. What do you think is the most challenging aspect of this position?
This interview is an opportunity to really learn about your employer's expectations for the position. You can also turn this into a conversation about challenges you've faced in your previous positions and how you have overcome them. (Hopefully very well!)
9. Does the company participate in any team-building activities, traditions or events?
The purpose of the Career Training USA program is cultural exchange. The program is a really great way to learn more about U.S. culture and to share your culture with Americans. This question allows you to learn about opportunities or activities for you to get involved in with the company.
10. What are the next steps in the interview process?
You don't want to be pushy about when you will find out if they have offered you the internship, so this is a good way of asking what happens next.
What NOT to ask: