Although they are not employees, interns are still essential members of your company. The strongest applicants are the ones who are up for learning and doing anything that is needed, not the ones who give up when things get hard. When you get an idea of how they react to being given tasks that are not fun; it will be simpler to picture how they would fare in your office. What to look for in an answer:

• Willingness to take on mundane tasks
• Enthusiasm for completing tasks and exceeding expectations given
• Mature, can-do attitude

Many prospective interns are, or were recently, students. Asking about their school’s curriculum gives you background on what skills and knowledge they have. Take note of whether or not their favorite class relates to their major. Even if it does not, how they explain why a certain one matters to them helps you see what they value. You want to bring on an intern who is genuinely passionate about learning. What to look for in an answer:

• Genuine answers
• Well-stated responses
• If their answers clearly relate to being a marketing intern, in terms of background and skills

Knowing whether or not someone has interned before is essential. Do they know how to act in a professional setting? Would they likely need a lot of training? You want an intern who will not have a steep learning curve, especially when it comes to industry software and social media. Interns will need to have some knowledge of these two things, so try to discern their proficiency from their response. What to look for in an answer:

• Previous long-term internship or work experience
• Strong working knowledge of social media and industry programs/platforms
• Experience at similar companies/businesses

As a marketing intern, there is a very strong possibility that hires will need to take on social media management responsibilities for you. Look for someone who not only has an interest in social media marketing but professional experience in it as well. Ideally, prioritize interviewing these candidates. In addition, look for someone who either has a background in marketing or has closely related skills and the strong potential to succeed. What to look for in an answer:

• Managed social media accounts for a business/company/school organization
• Familiarity with marketing concepts
• Interest in social media for non-superficial reasons

Since young professionals have numerous opportunities to apply for, honing in on what attracted them to your company is important to do in the interview. Their answers can tell you if they did any prior research, if they are familiar with the job description and if what they hope to get out of the position matches what you have in mind. Candidates should be prepared, knowledgeable and have realistic goals/expectations. What to look for in an answer:

• Something more than applying was easy or I need an internship
• Company awareness and interview preparedness
• Realistic expectations of being a marketing intern

The strongest candidates for a marketing intern role are actively looking for opportunities for growth where they can contribute more than getting coffee and running errands. This question shows which candidates have thought critically about the internship and how it could impact their career in marketing. It also indicates which candidates understand the structure and roles in a marketing environment. A good answer will include:

• Professional development goals
• Example high-level roles
• Motivation