When interviewing an employer, the inherent power dynamics as an employee make it easy to forget that you are offering goods that the employer is desperate to obtain, otherwise they would be making do some other way (even as a first time intern you are giving them an opportunity to pay it forward to the next generation).
As such, the main goals of the interview are to
- Find out their needs,
- Sell your ability to meet those needs,
- Get a sense of their organization and people to determine whether you want work with them for the next few years.
Of those three, the last one is the most important to you. Think of this way, you’re buying their project experience and money in exchange for your time. No doubt, you’re looking to getting some good stuff, but you’re trading your life in return.
So they better be worth it. This is your opportunity to interview them.