Apprenticeship or internship interview: what companies really want
· 6 min read
Hiring an apprentice means committing to one or two years of mentoring. The company does not expect an expert: it wants someone reliable, curious and easy to integrate, who will make that invested time worthwhile.
That is why an apprenticeship interview focuses less on technical skills than on your seriousness, your plan, and your ability to commit over time.
Know your schedule and dates cold
This is checked first, and it is an immediate dealbreaker. Know by heart: your exact rhythm (for example 3 weeks at work / 1 week at school), your start and end dates, the total duration, and the contract type. Hesitating here suggests you have not prepared your year.
Connect your course to the role
The company wants to understand why THIS role serves YOUR training, and vice versa. Explain what your programme covers, what you want to deepen in a company setting, and how the listed tasks answer that. A candidate applying "to find any apprenticeship" is spotted within a minute.
What the mentor actually assesses
- Reliability: will you show up on time and keep your commitments?
- Autonomy: will you search before asking, without staying stuck either?
- Curiosity: do you ask about the work, not just the conditions?
- Fit: will you be pleasant to mentor day to day for a year?
I am not looking for the brightest apprentice, I am looking for the one I will enjoy training. — Company mentor
Common apprenticeship questions
- "Why did you choose this programme?"
- "How do you plan to handle the school/work rhythm?"
- "What do you expect from your mentor?"
- "What do you want to do after graduating?"
- "Have you already worked in a team on a concrete project?"
On the last one, do not stay theoretical: describe a school project or student job with your precise role and the outcome. It is your best proof of professionalism at this stage.
Show that you project forward
Many apprenticeships lead to a permanent hire — often that is the company's goal. Saying clearly that you would consider staying, if the fit is right, is a positive signal — provided you are honest. And do ask: "Do you sometimes hire your apprentices at the end of the contract?"