Prepping for a web development internship interview

“Failure to prepare is preparing to fail,” Benjamin Franklin.?

Even if you’ve already applied, assess what you want to gain from the internship. As much as you might need one, remember they should impress you just as much as you should impress them. Asking questions can make you look like a more serious candidate. So, what can they do for you??

If the internship listing isn’t detailed, here are some things to ask or look into.??

• Is there a mentorship program??
• Will the company give credit to your work or is it anonymous?
• Are they hiring in the near future??
• Are interns allowed to explore different specialties???

Also, if there's a certain skill you lack experience with, don't be scared to communicate that and ask what resources they’re able to provide for you to improve. They might ask you to share an example of when you had to quickly learn a new skill. Then after sharing, re-emphasize what you can do.??

Depending on your specialty…?

• Be prepared to answer questions about your past projects?
• Hiring managers might check your Github or Stack Overflow profile to see your skill level?
• Elaborate on how you can make a website or web app more user-friendly
• How do you organize your code?
• Do you have experience debugging? How do you test your codes?
• Brush up on your language(s), ie. HTML5, CSS and JavaScript
• How would you lead a development project?
• How are your communication skills? Have you ever worked on a project involving multiple departments or specialties??

And last but not least, follow-up within a week after the interview. Express your appreciation for their time and add to an interesting topic you discussed together; ie. If you spoke about a popular website that teaches beginners how to code, mention a new article that was posted on the site and what you think of it. Aside from standing out from other applicants, the goal is to continue to show your passion in a natural, conversational way. If they asked for additional materials, send this follow-up email ASAP with the requested materials attached.?

What’s the best interview advice you’ve received in the world of web development?