--- title: "Internship and apprenticeship interview: questions, scoring, no experience" description: "Internship and apprenticeship interview: the 12 questions, how a panel scores you, what to say with no experience, internship versus apprenticeship, sample answers." lang: en canonical: https://nelo-ia.com/en/internship-interview/ --- 1. [Home](https://nelo-ia.com/en/) 2. Internship and apprenticeship interview # Internship and apprenticeship interviews: the questions, the scoring and what to say with no experience An internship or apprenticeship interview is held with someone who knows you have not worked much yet. They are not looking for a full resume. They are looking for someone motivated, organised and able to talk clearly about what they have already done at school, in a club or in a part-time job. This page gives you the 12 questions that come back, the grid an interview can be scored against, what to say when you have never had a job, how an apprenticeship panel really marks you, and what differs between an internship and an apprenticeship. It also shows how to rehearse out loud with the posting itself, using NELO, the interview practice app. By The NELO teamPublished October 6, 2026 [No experience](#no-experience)[How a panel marks you](#panel)[Internship or apprenticeship](#difference)[The 12 questions](#questions)[Introductions](#introductions)[Phone and video](#formats)[Practise](#practise)[FAQ](#faq) ## With no experience, you’re not behind: apprenticeship panels score situations, not years The first fear of every candidate is having “nothing to talk about”. Look at what the people running these interviews actually say. UCAS, the UK’s admissions service, tells apprenticeship applicants: “Don’t worry if you’re not the perfect candidate on paper.” The Tucson electrical apprenticeship committee’s guide says its panel wants to know “the situation, what you did, and the result” in situations you faced “at work, in school, or at home”. Old Dominion University’s internship office says that interns are not expected to demonstrate expertise, but to show initiative. Now look at the grid NELO applies to an HR screen interview: seven criteria, each rated from 1 to 4. None is about how long you have worked, your grades or the name of your school. It is not every interviewer’s grid; it is built from recruiting guides, Apec and Welcome to the Jungle among them, and it is what NELO’s reports are based on. Criterion Weight What you can show with no experience Motivation 20% One specific reason drawn from the posting, backed by a fact from your studies: a class, a project, a first look at the work. Career thread 20% Why this course or path, what you took from it, and a change of direction explained simply, without blaming anyone. Consistency with the resume 15% Whatever is on your resume, you can detail it: a group project, a report, a class. Self-awareness 15% One strength and one area to improve, each with an example and what you did to improve. Practical fit 10% Start date, schedule around classes, commute: clear answers. Clarity 10% Short sentences, an answer of one minute to a minute and a half. Professional posture 10% You listen, you don’t criticise a former employer or a teacher, you adapt to the follow-up question. NELO’s “hr-v1” rubric. The weights are the ones applied in the app’s reports. ### Where to find proof when you have never had a job Proof does not have to be a job. Here are five sources, and what each one shows. The source An example sentence What it proves A class project “There were four of us building a site for a nonprofit. I kept the schedule and built the contact page.” Your role in a group, your organisation. A part-time or summer job “I ran the register three summers. By the end, I was training the new hires.” Your reliability, how you deal with customers. A club or volunteering “I organised this year’s food drive: 40 volunteers, 600 pounds of donations.” Your commitment, your initiative. A team sport or a competition “I captained the team two seasons. We moved from eighth place to third.” How you work in a team and keep going. A personal project “I built a tutorial channel: 1,200 subscribers in a year.” Your independence, what you do without being asked. Examples written for illustration: keep the structure and the numbers, replace the rest with your own story. To build a complete story, read: [STAR method](https://nelo-ia.com/en/star-method/) ### What the grid does not measure: grades and school prestige In NELO’s grid there is no line for grades or for the name of your school. That doesn’t mean an interviewer never looks at them: only that NELO does not score them, and that you can only act on what you say. It is also what improves fastest with practice. ## How an apprenticeship panel marks you: ranked by interview score Some apprenticeship selections are not a chat: they are scored. The electrical training alliance of Western Oklahoma states that its committee places applicants “in descending ranked order according to interview score”, and that aptitude test scores are not shared with the interview committee. Behind a score, there is a method. The Tucson Electrical JATC’s guide to its own interview describes it. 1. **Who interviews you.** A committee made up of representatives of the electricians’ union (IBEW) and of the contractors’ association (NECA). The guide describes a team of eight members who take turns asking questions. 2. **How long it lasts.** Most interviews take 10 to 20 minutes, and the committee wants you to do most of the talking. 3. **What the questions look like.** They ask how you handled situations “at work, in school, or at home”, and the guide’s sample question, taken from a clerical interview, is “Tell me about a time when you had to set up and type a document.” 4. **How to answer.** In three parts: the situation, in a sentence or two; what you did, with action verbs and the first person (“I wrote”, “I called”); and the result, in a sentence or two. 5. **How to prepare.** Make a list of the jobs you have had, special projects at school or at home and extracurricular activities. Pick the situations you are proud of, where you learned a lesson or met a real challenge. These are electrical-trade programmes: other apprenticeships and internships work differently, and some are simpler. The method, though, is the same one that works everywhere: a short situation, your own action, a result. Our guide goes further: [STAR method](https://nelo-ia.com/en/star-method/) ## Internship or apprenticeship: what changes in the interview The two are often confused, and the interview is not quite the same. The rules also differ between the US and the UK, so check the programme you are applying to. Internship Apprenticeship What it is A short placement to try a field and build experience A paid job combined with structured training and classroom instruction (apprenticeship.gov, for US registered apprenticeships) What you learn On the job, shaped by the team and the project On the job plus related instruction, leading to a recognised credential (apprenticeship.gov) What the interviewer checks A growth mindset, enthusiasm and potential despite limited experience (Old Dominion University) Motivation, time management, problem-solving, teamwork and knowledge of the daily work (Indeed) Who interviews you Usually a recruiter or a manager, sometimes a short panel A hiring manager or, in many trades, a joint committee How it is decided Varies by employer Some programmes rank applicants by interview score (Western Oklahoma electrical programme) UCAS’s guidance for apprenticeship applicants lists what employers look for: genuine interest in their specific company, authenticity, preparedness and willingness to learn, and the ability to relate your skills to the role. ## The 12 questions, and what they are checking The same questions come back from one interview to the next. Knowing them does not mean reciting them: for each one, pick a proof and a closing sentence. The question What they are checking How to answer “Tell me about yourself.” Your thread in ninety seconds Present, past, future, with one concrete achievement. “Why do you want this internship (or apprenticeship)?” A specific, thought-through motivation One reason drawn from the posting and one fact from your studies. “Why our company? What do you know about the daily work?” That you did your homework Two precise facts, and a link to the tasks in the posting. “What do you want to learn here?” That you are coachable Name one skill you will practise and who can teach it. “Tell me about a team project.” Your role in a group A short story: situation, your action, result. “Describe a challenge you overcame.” How you react to an obstacle A real obstacle, what you did, what you learned. “How do you manage your time between school and work?” Your organisation One concrete system: a planner, a weekly review, an example under a deadline. “What are your strengths? One area to improve?” Self-awareness Each with an example and what you do about it. “Where do you see yourself in a few years?” Your ambition, without unrealistic promises An honest direction, tied to the field. “When are you available? What is your class schedule?” Practical fit Exact dates and the schedule you can really keep. “Are you applying elsewhere?” Your situation and other options An honest answer, without dramatising. “Do you have any questions for us?” Your interest and next steps Two prepared questions: the daily work, the support, the next steps. [Download the “My 12 answers” worksheet (PDF)](https://nelo-ia.com/downloads/internship-interview-answers.pdf)Three proofs to pick, one line per question, your schedule and your answer on what comes next. One printable page (US Letter). ### “Why do you want this internship?” It is the question that sorts candidates. A generic answer (“to gain experience”) sets nobody apart. A good answer says what the placement offers that classes don’t, and what you will bring: > “In class I learn the method. In a team I would see what it costs when it is applied badly. I spent two weeks shadowing the analytics team at my uncle’s company last winter, and the part I liked most was the weekly review of real numbers. I’d like to learn to build that report myself.” ### “Why this apprenticeship?” When an employer hires for potential, enthusiasm weighs heavily. Show that you know what the work looks like day to day and that you want the training, not just a job: > “I want to learn the trade properly, on the job and in the classroom. I spent two summers helping my uncle on residential wiring, so I know it’s physical and precise work, and I’m ready for the classroom part. What does a typical first year look like in your programme?” ### The questions to ask them UCAS suggests “What would a normal day for me look like?”, “What career progression could you offer me?” and “What kind of support will I get?” Old Dominion University suggests asking what success would look like in the role, and avoiding questions that a quick internet search would answer. ## Three sample introductions: college student, high school graduate, career changer The first question is almost always “tell me about yourself”. The structure is the same (present, past, future), but for you the “past” comes from studies, projects and part-time jobs rather than a career. Three examples written for illustration: ### College student, marketing internship > I’m a sophomore studying marketing, and I’m looking for a summer internship in paid acquisition. > > In a class project, I managed a mock $2,000 ad budget for a bike brand: we tested three visuals, and the one I proposed doubled the click rate. On the side, I’ve run the social media for my club’s volleyball team for two years. > > Your posting talks about campaigns measured by results, which is exactly what I want to practise for real. ### High school graduate, electrician apprenticeship > I just finished high school, and I’m applying for the electrician apprenticeship because I want to learn a skilled trade. > > I’ve spent two summers helping my uncle on residential wiring jobs, where I pulled cable, labelled panels and learned to read a basic plan. At school, I took shop and algebra, and I finished with a B+ average in both. > > Your programme combines paid work with classroom training, and that’s the way I learn best. ### Career changer, IT support apprenticeship > I’ve worked in retail for six years, and I’m changing careers into IT support through an apprenticeship. > > As a shift lead, I became the person colleagues came to when the point-of-sale system froze. I wrote a one-page fix sheet that cut the time to restart a register from ten minutes to two. In the evenings, I’ve completed an online networking course. > > I’m looking for a programme that pairs a real helpdesk with training, and yours is the one I found that does. [Read the method for “Tell me about yourself”](https://nelo-ia.com/en/blog/tell-me-about-yourself/) In each example, the concrete achievement does not come from a full-time career: it comes from a project, a summer job or a shift. That is what earns the top level on the “concrete achievement” criterion. ## Phone, video or in person: the format changes, the grid doesn’t A first conversation is often remote, and trade committees often meet in person. The detailed advice is in our guide to phone and video interviews: what to say when the call catches you at a bad moment, the scoring grid, the plan B if the connection drops. Three points that matter for students and apprentices: 1. **The call comes during class.** You may say you are not available: “Thanks for calling, I’m in class right now. May I call you back at 12:30?” Write down the time and call back on the dot. 2. **In person, dress professionally.** Old Dominion University advises clean, professional clothes and erring on the formal side; the Tucson guide says the same: dress professionally and avoid offensive clothing. 3. **On video, look at the lens.** Old Dominion University suggests testing your technology 15 minutes early, using headphones, putting the light in front of you and looking at the camera to simulate eye contact. [Read the guide to phone and video interviews](https://nelo-ia.com/en/phone-interview/) ## Practise out loud with the posting, with NELO Preparing your answers in writing does not prepare you to say them out loud, to someone who follows up. NELO is an iPhone app that runs a spoken interview with an AI recruiter, then gives you a scored report. In NELO, import the posting for your internship or apprenticeship (as text, PDF, Word or a link) and your CV, which is anonymised on your iPhone before anything is sent. Amara Diallo then runs a 5 or 10-minute HR screen interview built on that posting: she checks your motivation, your path, one line of your CV, then your availability. What your CV does not show, she digs into. You practise in three passes. First the call, as if it were the real one. Then the report: each criterion in the grid above is rated from 1 to 4, and each remark quotes a sentence you actually said. Finally, redo your weakest question in two minutes with the same recruiter. For the “tell me about a time when…” questions that panels love, a 10 or 15-minute behavioural interview with Diego Alvarez trains them with the STAR method. **What NELO doesn’t do.** NELO has no mode specific to internships or apprenticeships: the HR screen interview and the grid apply as they are, and the report describes what you said, without predicting whether you will be selected. **What is free, what is in Premium.** The 2-minute “Introduce yourself” is free once, with its report: it is question number 1. The full HR screen and behavioural interviews are part of Premium, from €7.99 a week. ![Amara Diallo](/_astro/rec-amara.DunYMUa9_1fIAbF.webp) Rehearse your interview, out loud, with Amara Import the posting and your CV, talk for 5 or 10 minutes, then read a scored report that quotes your sentences. Your CV is anonymised on your iPhone before anything is sent, and audio is never recorded. [Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6808133760) ## Internship and apprenticeship interview FAQ ### Can I get an internship with no experience? Yes. Old Dominion University’s internship office says that interns are not expected to demonstrate expertise, but to show initiative, and recommends using school projects and club activities as examples. In NELO’s grid, nothing is about length of experience: a concrete achievement can come from a class project, a summer job, a club or a personal project. ### What should I wear to an internship or apprenticeship interview? Clean, professional clothes, and err on the formal side for an in-person interview, as Old Dominion University advises. The Tucson electrical programme’s guide says the same: dress professionally and avoid offensive clothing. On video, the same advice holds, and the light should be in front of you. ### How long is an apprenticeship interview? It depends on the programme. The Tucson Electrical JATC’s guide says most of its interviews take 10 to 20 minutes, with a committee that wants you to do most of the talking. Ask the programme before the day. ### Are apprenticeship interviews scored? Some are. The electrical training alliance of Western Oklahoma states that it ranks applicants in descending order according to interview score, and that aptitude test scores are not shared with the interview committee. Many other programmes and most internships are less formal, but the method that works is the same: a situation, your action, a result. ### What is the difference between an internship and an apprenticeship? An internship is a short placement to try a field and build experience. A registered apprenticeship, as apprenticeship.gov describes it in the US, is a paid job combined with related instruction that leads to a recognised credential. The rules differ in the UK, so check the programme. ### What questions should I ask at the end? UCAS suggests “What would a normal day for me look like?”, “What career progression could you offer me?” and “What kind of support will I get?”. Avoid questions that a quick web search would answer. ## Sources - [Tucson Electrical JATC, “The Apprenticeship Interview”](https://www.tucsonjatc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/The-Apprenticeship-Interview.pdf) - [electrical training ALLIANCE of Western Oklahoma, “The Selection Process”](https://etawok.org/the-selection-process) - [UCAS, “How to prepare for an apprenticeship interview”](https://www.ucas.com/apprenticeships/how-apply-apprenticeship/how-prepare-apprenticeship-interview) - [Apprenticeship.gov, Registered apprenticeship in the United States](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/) - [Old Dominion University, “The Ultimate Internship Interview Guide for Students and Recent Grads”](https://internship.odu.edu/resources/the-ultimate-internship-interview-guide-for-students-and-recent-grads/) - [Indeed, “9 Apprentice Interview Questions and Example Answers”](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/apprentice-interview-questions)