Quick answer: software engineering internship interviews usually test three things: coding fundamentals at an easier level than full-time roles, your projects, and how you work with others and learn. Many processes start with an online assessment or a short screen, followed by one or two interviews that mix a coding problem with questions about your experience. Interviewers expect you to be learning, so a clear explanation of your thinking matters more than a perfect answer.
This guide covers how the process usually works, the questions students commonly report, sample answers and a three-week plan. It is written for students and new graduates applying to internships in the US, Canada, the UK and other countries.
How internship interviews usually work
Processes vary by company, so read each employer's careers page. As one example, Microsoft's student interviewing page describes an initial interview and, if you are selected, a final interview, with all interviews virtual and one-to-one conversations with breaks between them (checked 15 October 2026). It says to expect both behavioral and technical questions, and some roles ask for code or a portfolio.
Common stages elsewhere include:
1. An online assessment with one to three timed coding problems. Our online assessment guide covers these.
2. A recruiter or campus screen about your interests and availability.
3. One or two technical interviews, each with a coding problem and questions about your projects.
4. Sometimes a short behavioral interview with a manager.
What interviewers look for in students
1. Fundamentals: can you use arrays, strings, hash maps, and simple trees and recursion correctly?
2. Communication: do you explain your plan before coding and say what you are doing as you go?
3. Learning: when you get a hint, do you use it well?
4. Ownership: can you explain your projects, including the decisions you made yourself?
Nobody expects an intern to know everything. Saying "I have not used that, but here is how I would find out" is a fine answer.
Common coding questions
Internship coding problems are usually classic easy-to-medium problems. Practice these patterns:
1. Hash maps: find two numbers that add up to a target, or check whether two strings are anagrams.
2. Strings and stacks: check whether a string of brackets is balanced.
3. Two pointers: reverse a string in place, or merge two sorted arrays.
4. Linked lists: reverse a linked list, or detect a cycle.
5. Trees: find the maximum depth of a binary tree, or print it level by level.
6. Sorting and intervals: merge overlapping intervals.
For each problem, say the brute-force approach first, then improve it, and give the time and space complexity. Our LeetCode preparation guide lists more problems by pattern.
Questions about your projects
1. "Walk me through a project you are proud of."
2. "What was the hardest bug you fixed, and how did you find it?"
3. "Why did you choose that framework or database?"
4. "What would you change if you built it again?"
5. "How did you split the work in your team project?"
Pick two projects and prepare a two-minute walkthrough for each: the problem, your role, the technical decisions, one difficulty and the result. Interviewers often dig into one detail, so know your own code.
Behavioral questions for students
1. "Tell me about yourself."
2. "Tell me about a time you worked in a team that disagreed."
3. "Tell me about a time you had to learn something quickly."
4. "Tell me about a time you missed a deadline or made a mistake."
5. "Why do you want to intern here?"
Answer with the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), using class projects, hackathons, clubs or part-time jobs. Our STAR method guide has full examples.
Sample "Tell me about yourself": "I'm a third-year computer science student. I've enjoyed backend work most, and last summer I built an API for a campus food bank that now tracks donations for two locations. I'm comfortable in Python and Java and I'm learning cloud basics. I'm applying here because I want to see how a large team ships and runs software, and your developer tools team works on exactly the problems I enjoyed in that project."
A three-week plan
1. Week 1: review arrays, strings, hash maps and Big O. Solve one or two easy problems a day, talking through each one out loud.
2. Week 2: linked lists, stacks, trees and recursion. Move up to medium problems and time yourself.
3. Week 3: prepare two project walkthroughs and five STAR stories, research each company, prepare questions to ask, and do at least two mock interviews.
Need questions for the end? See our list of questions to ask at the end of an interview.
How CrackInterviewAI helps you practice
CrackInterviewAI is a Windows 10/11 app that turns a spoken, typed or screenshot question into a short answer outline, using your resume, target role and job description as context. New accounts get 30 free minutes; after that, international prices start at $3.99 for one hour, with no subscription or auto-renewal (USD plans).
Students can add a resume and the internship description, then practice project walkthroughs and behavioral questions out loud, or paste a practice problem to compare an outline with their own approach. Use a free mock interview to rehearse. Online assessments and interviews usually prohibit outside help, so keep these tools for preparation unless the employer says otherwise.
Get ready for your internship interviews
Download CrackInterviewAI for Windows and use your 30 free minutes to practice project walkthroughs and behavioral answers.
Frequently asked questions
Are internship coding interviews easier than full-time ones?
Usually, yes. Most internship problems are easy to medium and focus on fundamentals, but you still need to explain your approach clearly and test your code.
What if I have no internship experience yet?
Use class projects, hackathons, personal projects, clubs and part-time jobs. Interviewers care about what you built and how you worked, not whether it was paid.
Which programming language should I use?
Use the language you know best unless the company asks for a specific one. Python and Java are common choices because they are quick to write and widely understood.
How many practice problems should I solve?
There is no magic number. Covering each common pattern and being able to explain your solutions out loud matters more than a high count.
Do internship interviews include behavioral questions?
Yes. Most include at least a few, often "Tell me about yourself", a teamwork story and why you want the internship. Prepare them as carefully as the coding.
Keep exploring
Return to the CrackInterviewAI homepage to download the Windows app, or browse all guides on the interview prep blog.