6 answers
Elizabeth
Student
Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
3
Questions
Asked
423 views
I have an upcoming interview for an HR internship. How should I best prepare and what should I make sure to mention/not mention?
I'm interested in pursuing a career in IO psychology/Organizational psychology but have had no luck finding internships relating to those specific fields. I think HR is very interesting but not entirely sure if it's what I want to do, so I'm nervous about not sounding prepared for my interview or not having a good enough background.
Login to comment
5 answers
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
626
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Elizabeth,
Congratulations on landing the HR internship interview! It’s completely normal to feel nervous, but with preparation and the right mindset, you’ll do great. HR internships are an excellent way to gain practical experience that ties directly to I-O Psychology, so this is a great opportunity to highlight your transferable skills and enthusiasm for learning. Here’s how to prepare and ace the interview:
How to Prepare for the Interview
1. Research the Company
- Learn about their mission, values, and recent achievements. If possible, research their HR department or initiatives (e.g., diversity programs, employee engagement efforts) to show genuine interest.
2. Understand the Role
- Review the job description and think about how your skills match their needs. If they mention specific tasks like recruiting, data analysis, or employee relations, prepare examples of how you’ve done similar things in school or other experiences.
3. Connect HR to I-O Psychology
- Highlight how HR is closely linked to I-O Psychology. For example, HR focuses on hiring, training, and employee satisfaction—all key areas in which I-O psychologists work.
4. Prepare Examples
- Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure responses about your experiences. Think of examples that show your teamwork, communication, problem-solving, or organizational skills.
5. Practice Common HR Internship Questions
- Why are you interested in HR?
Highlight your interest in understanding people and organizational dynamics, and connect it to your long-term goal in I-O Psychology.
- Tell us about a time you handled a conflict.
Be ready to share an example that demonstrates emotional intelligence.
- What are your strengths/weaknesses?
Choose a strength relevant to HR (e.g., communication or analytical skills) and a weakness you’re actively working to improve.
What to Mention in the Interview
1. Your Passion for Workplace Dynamics
- Share your interest in understanding what motivates people, improves productivity, or creates positive work environments.
2. Your Transferable Skills
- Mention skills like organization, attention to detail, critical thinking, and collaboration, and how these are valuable in HR.
3. Your Eagerness to Learn
- Be honest about your curiosity and enthusiasm to explore HR as a stepping stone toward your career goals. Employers appreciate candidates who are willing to grow.
4. Connection to the Role
- If the internship involves tasks like onboarding, performance reviews, or data analysis, emphasize how excited you are to gain hands-on experience in these areas.
What to Avoid
1. Over-Emphasizing Uncertainty
- It’s okay to be unsure about your long-term career path, but frame it positively: “I’m exploring related fields and am excited to see how HR ties into my interest in organizational psychology.”
2. Criticizing Past Experiences
- Avoid speaking negatively about previous roles or internships you’ve applied to. Instead, focus on what you learned or hope to learn.
3. Sounding Unprepared
- Not knowing about the company or the role can be a red flag. Even if HR isn’t your final goal, show genuine interest and professionalism.
Closing the Interview
When they ask, “Do you have any questions for us?” consider asking:
- “What does success look like in this internship?”
- “What opportunities are there for interns to contribute to company projects?”
- “How does your HR team support employee engagement or professional development?”
You don’t need to have everything figured out to succeed in this interview. Focus on showing your enthusiasm for learning, your appreciation for HR’s impact on organizations, and your commitment to growing professionally. With preparation and confidence, you’ll make a great impression!
Best of luck—you’ve got this!
Congratulations on landing the HR internship interview! It’s completely normal to feel nervous, but with preparation and the right mindset, you’ll do great. HR internships are an excellent way to gain practical experience that ties directly to I-O Psychology, so this is a great opportunity to highlight your transferable skills and enthusiasm for learning. Here’s how to prepare and ace the interview:
How to Prepare for the Interview
1. Research the Company
- Learn about their mission, values, and recent achievements. If possible, research their HR department or initiatives (e.g., diversity programs, employee engagement efforts) to show genuine interest.
2. Understand the Role
- Review the job description and think about how your skills match their needs. If they mention specific tasks like recruiting, data analysis, or employee relations, prepare examples of how you’ve done similar things in school or other experiences.
3. Connect HR to I-O Psychology
- Highlight how HR is closely linked to I-O Psychology. For example, HR focuses on hiring, training, and employee satisfaction—all key areas in which I-O psychologists work.
4. Prepare Examples
- Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure responses about your experiences. Think of examples that show your teamwork, communication, problem-solving, or organizational skills.
5. Practice Common HR Internship Questions
- Why are you interested in HR?
Highlight your interest in understanding people and organizational dynamics, and connect it to your long-term goal in I-O Psychology.
- Tell us about a time you handled a conflict.
Be ready to share an example that demonstrates emotional intelligence.
- What are your strengths/weaknesses?
Choose a strength relevant to HR (e.g., communication or analytical skills) and a weakness you’re actively working to improve.
What to Mention in the Interview
1. Your Passion for Workplace Dynamics
- Share your interest in understanding what motivates people, improves productivity, or creates positive work environments.
2. Your Transferable Skills
- Mention skills like organization, attention to detail, critical thinking, and collaboration, and how these are valuable in HR.
3. Your Eagerness to Learn
- Be honest about your curiosity and enthusiasm to explore HR as a stepping stone toward your career goals. Employers appreciate candidates who are willing to grow.
4. Connection to the Role
- If the internship involves tasks like onboarding, performance reviews, or data analysis, emphasize how excited you are to gain hands-on experience in these areas.
What to Avoid
1. Over-Emphasizing Uncertainty
- It’s okay to be unsure about your long-term career path, but frame it positively: “I’m exploring related fields and am excited to see how HR ties into my interest in organizational psychology.”
2. Criticizing Past Experiences
- Avoid speaking negatively about previous roles or internships you’ve applied to. Instead, focus on what you learned or hope to learn.
3. Sounding Unprepared
- Not knowing about the company or the role can be a red flag. Even if HR isn’t your final goal, show genuine interest and professionalism.
Closing the Interview
When they ask, “Do you have any questions for us?” consider asking:
- “What does success look like in this internship?”
- “What opportunities are there for interns to contribute to company projects?”
- “How does your HR team support employee engagement or professional development?”
You don’t need to have everything figured out to succeed in this interview. Focus on showing your enthusiasm for learning, your appreciation for HR’s impact on organizations, and your commitment to growing professionally. With preparation and confidence, you’ll make a great impression!
Best of luck—you’ve got this!
Duncan Gerungan
Technical Specialist - Data & AI
17
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Duncan’s Answer
Congratulations on getting an interview! First thing I'd do is go on Glassdoor and other online resources that show interview experiences and sometimes really specific questions that have been asked for your specific position + company. Next I'd look for common interview questions for the role you're interviewing for, irrespective to the company.
Make sure you prepare to answer questions with the STAR format, and I like to think of and write down some examples that I think I can use to answer commonly asked behavioral type questions. These usually start with "Name a time when..."
Do your research, have a good sleep before, and you got this! Remember that everyone is nervous to some degree, so the interviewer will be used to it. Show your best side, and remember you're also interviewing them so you can find out what type of role and culture the company has in store for you.
Good luck!
Make sure you prepare to answer questions with the STAR format, and I like to think of and write down some examples that I think I can use to answer commonly asked behavioral type questions. These usually start with "Name a time when..."
Do your research, have a good sleep before, and you got this! Remember that everyone is nervous to some degree, so the interviewer will be used to it. Show your best side, and remember you're also interviewing them so you can find out what type of role and culture the company has in store for you.
Good luck!
Marelyne Tolentino
Consultant
4
Answers
Buffalo, New York
Updated
Marelyne’s Answer
This is a thrilling period... Securing an interview is the initial stride and can seem intimidating. Here are some practical suggestions I've shared with other interns:
1. Stay true to yourself, maintain authenticity
2. Familiarize yourself with the company you're interviewing with
3. Craft a concise self-introduction that tells the interviewer about your identity, your accomplishments, and your future goals
4. Ready some inquiries for the interviewer. For instance: Could you illustrate a typical day for an HR intern?
5. Don't forget to express your gratitude to the interviewer for their valuable time
1. Stay true to yourself, maintain authenticity
2. Familiarize yourself with the company you're interviewing with
3. Craft a concise self-introduction that tells the interviewer about your identity, your accomplishments, and your future goals
4. Ready some inquiries for the interviewer. For instance: Could you illustrate a typical day for an HR intern?
5. Don't forget to express your gratitude to the interviewer for their valuable time
Samantha Fullmer
Human Resources
1
Answer
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Updated
Samantha’s Answer
Well done on securing the interview! The advice given earlier about preparation is excellent!
I would also suggest preparing some questions to better understand the role, and if necessary, to gain a clearer picture of the HR department as a whole. It's crucial to know exactly what you're signing up for; remember, you're evaluating them just as much as they're evaluating you!
In my experience in the field of organizational psychology, it's often intertwined with the HR function. Unless you're joining a particularly large organization, it might be challenging to find a role that is predominantly IO/OP. More likely, these skills will be utilized within the scope of an HR executive or leader's responsibilities. With this in mind, I would recommend using the interview to inquire about the various aspects of HR you will be involved in. HR is a more diverse field than many people realize! It encompasses employee relations, performance management, benefits, payroll, worker's compensation, company culture, learning and development, and so on.
I would also suggest preparing some questions to better understand the role, and if necessary, to gain a clearer picture of the HR department as a whole. It's crucial to know exactly what you're signing up for; remember, you're evaluating them just as much as they're evaluating you!
In my experience in the field of organizational psychology, it's often intertwined with the HR function. Unless you're joining a particularly large organization, it might be challenging to find a role that is predominantly IO/OP. More likely, these skills will be utilized within the scope of an HR executive or leader's responsibilities. With this in mind, I would recommend using the interview to inquire about the various aspects of HR you will be involved in. HR is a more diverse field than many people realize! It encompasses employee relations, performance management, benefits, payroll, worker's compensation, company culture, learning and development, and so on.
Patrick Meyer
Executive - Data Analytics and AI
800
Answers
Naperville, Illinois
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
Elizabeth, please understand that you should congratulate yourself on securing an interview for the HR internship. It's completely natural to feel a bit uncertain, especially when transitioning into a field like Human Resources , which may not align perfectly with your primary interest in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. However, your understanding of IO Psychology can actually provide a unique advantage in HR, as both fields share core principles in human behavior, employee well-being, and organizational development. Here’s how you can prepare for the interview and present yourself as a strong candidate, even if you don’t have direct experience in HR yet.
1. Leverage Your IO Psychology Knowledge - Even if you haven’t had the opportunity to work directly in IO Psychology, you can demonstrate how your academic background and interest in the field will benefit the HR role. You should ensure to: Explain how your knowledge of psychological principles related to motivation, employee engagement, performance management, and leadership can be applied to HR practices; If you’ve worked on any projects or research that relate to workplace dynamics, team collaboration, or employee satisfaction, bring these up as examples of how you are prepared to contribute to HR functions; and share your passion for creating positive organizational cultures, which is a core aspect of both HR and IO Psychology. You can discuss how HR’s role in employee development, training, and recruitment ties into your broader interests in organizational psychology.
2. Research the Company and the Role - Familiarize yourself with the company’s mission, values, and any HR initiatives they may have. Understanding how HR aligns with the organization’s broader goals will help you position yourself as a strategic thinker and show that you are not just interested in the position, but in how it connects to the overall business objectives. Additionally you should be clear about the specific responsibilities and qualifications of the internship. Focus on how your existing skills—whether they’re related to communication, data analysis, or employee relations—align with the tasks you'll be expected to perform. Also think of situations where you’ve demonstrated relevant skills, even if they were in academic, volunteer, or personal contexts. For example, if you’ve led group projects, facilitated discussions, or conducted research on employee motivation or performance, these experiences can demonstrate your readiness for the HR internship.
3. Show Enthusiasm for the Field - Even though you’re not entirely sure if HR is your long-term career, it’s important to express genuine interest in the internship. Highlight why you’re excited about the opportunity to work in HR, and how it connects to your broader career goals in IO Psychology: You can explain that while your ultimate goal may be in IO Psychology, you believe gaining hands-on experience in HR will provide valuable insights into organizational behavior, which will be beneficial for your future career. Show that you’re eager to learn about HR processes such as recruitment, employee development, and performance management. Also, emphasize that you are excited about the opportunity to explore various HR functions and contribute to the development of employee-centered practices, while also learning more about how HR contributes to organizational success.
4. Prepare to Address Your Uncertainty - Since you mentioned being uncertain about HR as your ultimate career path, be prepared to answer any questions related to your interest in the field. Here’s how to approach it: It’s okay to express that you’re exploring different aspects of human resources and organizational behavior to determine where you can make the most impact. However, focus on the transferable skills you bring to the table, such as your analytical thinking, communication skills, and interest in improving workplace dynamics. Rather than seeing your uncertainty as a weakness, you can frame it as a desire for growth and exploration. Explain that this internship offers you the chance to gain practical experience in HR, which will ultimately help you make a more informed decision about your future career path.
5. Things to Avoid Mentioning - While it’s important to be authentic, there are certain things you might want to avoid saying during the interview: Even if you’re unsure about pursuing HR long-term, make sure to convey your enthusiasm for the internship and how it aligns with your career development; Avoid suggesting that HR is a "fallback" or "secondary" option for you. Even if your passion lies in IO Psychology, HR plays an important role in organizational success, and demonstrating respect for the field will show maturity and professionalism; and Instead of emphasizing areas where you feel you lack experience, highlight what you bring to the table—your analytical mindset, understanding of workplace psychology, and your ability to learn quickly.
6. Prepare Thoughtful Questions - At the end of the interview, having thoughtful questions prepared can demonstrate your genuine interest in the role and the company. Consider asking the following: How does this internship program align with the company’s broader HR goals?; What opportunities will I have to gain exposure to different HR functions during the internship?; How does the company integrate employee development or engagement practices into its HR strategy?; How might this internship position contribute to my long-term career development, especially in organizational psychology?
Elizabeth, you should know that the best way to prepare for your HR internship interview is to blend your passion for IO Psychology with a clear understanding of how HR can provide a foundation for your career goals. Be confident in sharing how your skills, academic knowledge, and curiosity about organizational behavior make you a strong fit for the role, even as you explore this exciting field. Stay positive, stay open to learning, and you’ll be well-positioned to make a lasting impression on your interviewers.
1. Leverage Your IO Psychology Knowledge - Even if you haven’t had the opportunity to work directly in IO Psychology, you can demonstrate how your academic background and interest in the field will benefit the HR role. You should ensure to: Explain how your knowledge of psychological principles related to motivation, employee engagement, performance management, and leadership can be applied to HR practices; If you’ve worked on any projects or research that relate to workplace dynamics, team collaboration, or employee satisfaction, bring these up as examples of how you are prepared to contribute to HR functions; and share your passion for creating positive organizational cultures, which is a core aspect of both HR and IO Psychology. You can discuss how HR’s role in employee development, training, and recruitment ties into your broader interests in organizational psychology.
2. Research the Company and the Role - Familiarize yourself with the company’s mission, values, and any HR initiatives they may have. Understanding how HR aligns with the organization’s broader goals will help you position yourself as a strategic thinker and show that you are not just interested in the position, but in how it connects to the overall business objectives. Additionally you should be clear about the specific responsibilities and qualifications of the internship. Focus on how your existing skills—whether they’re related to communication, data analysis, or employee relations—align with the tasks you'll be expected to perform. Also think of situations where you’ve demonstrated relevant skills, even if they were in academic, volunteer, or personal contexts. For example, if you’ve led group projects, facilitated discussions, or conducted research on employee motivation or performance, these experiences can demonstrate your readiness for the HR internship.
3. Show Enthusiasm for the Field - Even though you’re not entirely sure if HR is your long-term career, it’s important to express genuine interest in the internship. Highlight why you’re excited about the opportunity to work in HR, and how it connects to your broader career goals in IO Psychology: You can explain that while your ultimate goal may be in IO Psychology, you believe gaining hands-on experience in HR will provide valuable insights into organizational behavior, which will be beneficial for your future career. Show that you’re eager to learn about HR processes such as recruitment, employee development, and performance management. Also, emphasize that you are excited about the opportunity to explore various HR functions and contribute to the development of employee-centered practices, while also learning more about how HR contributes to organizational success.
4. Prepare to Address Your Uncertainty - Since you mentioned being uncertain about HR as your ultimate career path, be prepared to answer any questions related to your interest in the field. Here’s how to approach it: It’s okay to express that you’re exploring different aspects of human resources and organizational behavior to determine where you can make the most impact. However, focus on the transferable skills you bring to the table, such as your analytical thinking, communication skills, and interest in improving workplace dynamics. Rather than seeing your uncertainty as a weakness, you can frame it as a desire for growth and exploration. Explain that this internship offers you the chance to gain practical experience in HR, which will ultimately help you make a more informed decision about your future career path.
5. Things to Avoid Mentioning - While it’s important to be authentic, there are certain things you might want to avoid saying during the interview: Even if you’re unsure about pursuing HR long-term, make sure to convey your enthusiasm for the internship and how it aligns with your career development; Avoid suggesting that HR is a "fallback" or "secondary" option for you. Even if your passion lies in IO Psychology, HR plays an important role in organizational success, and demonstrating respect for the field will show maturity and professionalism; and Instead of emphasizing areas where you feel you lack experience, highlight what you bring to the table—your analytical mindset, understanding of workplace psychology, and your ability to learn quickly.
6. Prepare Thoughtful Questions - At the end of the interview, having thoughtful questions prepared can demonstrate your genuine interest in the role and the company. Consider asking the following: How does this internship program align with the company’s broader HR goals?; What opportunities will I have to gain exposure to different HR functions during the internship?; How does the company integrate employee development or engagement practices into its HR strategy?; How might this internship position contribute to my long-term career development, especially in organizational psychology?
Elizabeth, you should know that the best way to prepare for your HR internship interview is to blend your passion for IO Psychology with a clear understanding of how HR can provide a foundation for your career goals. Be confident in sharing how your skills, academic knowledge, and curiosity about organizational behavior make you a strong fit for the role, even as you explore this exciting field. Stay positive, stay open to learning, and you’ll be well-positioned to make a lasting impression on your interviewers.