Helping College Students Learn How to Interview (and Go After Internships) - Newsletter #49

I spend a lot of time mentoring college students and early-career professionals. I work closely with our Microsoft LEAP program, support students navigating internships, and I’m lucky to mentor people who are Microsoft employees themselves. I also have mentors of my own. The learning goes both ways, and it always has.

What I see consistently is this: students are competent, capable, and deeply motivated, but no one really teaches them how hiring systems actually work.

Here’s what I wish every college freshman knew early.

First: interviews are often imperfect by design. You may be asked to solve problems that have little to do with the role. That doesn’t mean you’re unqualified. It often means the organization is testing how you think under pressure, how you communicate uncertainty, or relying on outdated interview practices. Your job is not to be flawless. Your job is to stay grounded, curious, and clear in your approach to problems.

Second: narrate your thinking, not just your answer. If you don’t know something, say so, then talk through how you would approach it. Ask clarifying questions. Name assumptions. Explain tradeoffs. In real jobs, that’s what strong teammates do.

Third: internships are about trajectory, not prestige. A summer spent building skills, contributing meaningfully, or doing research beats a brand name that doesn’t teach you anything. Apply broadly. Include startups, research labs, nonprofits, and companies you’ve never heard of. Momentum compounds.

Fourth: follow up and advocate for yourself - professionally. If you gain new experience after an interview, could you share it? That’s not awkward. That’s responsible. If an organization doesn’t respond, that’s information about their process, not your potential.

Fifth (and important): it is not too late for Summer 2026 internships. Many students assume they’ve “missed the window.” That’s rarely true. Roles open and close in waves, especially at smaller companies, startups, research labs, and even large organizations.

Recently, I sat down with a mentee, and we used Microsoft 365 Copilot to get unstuck. We didn’t overthink it. We simply asked:

Prompt: “What are the internships for this summer in computer science, robotics and space that are still open? List where, the direct URL, and the cutoff date.”

She ended up with a strong, actionable list of companies, links, and deadlines and suddenly the process felt manageable again. AI didn’t replace her effort. It lowered the friction so she could focus on applying, learning, and building confidence.

Finally: rejection is not feedback on your worth. Early in a career, decisions are shaped by timing, budgets, and internal constraints you will never see. Learn from the process, refine your approach, and keep moving. Confidence is built through repetition, not on a single perfect outcome.

If you’re a college student reading this: your job right now is to learn how to learn, how to ask good questions, and how to keep showing up, even when systems are messy (and they usually are). And this is a numbers-and-relationships game. The funnel at the top is broad, so apply to a ton, and remember that with every interview, you are learning about yourself, what you want, and whether you feel there is a fit. 

Do not forget that you are interviewing these companies just as much as they are interviewing you. If you are unsure of your path, think about the industries that you are interested in or what hobbies you love - you never know, you could end up at a place you never thought was possible.

And if you’re a manager, mentor, or educator: let’s be more transparent about how interviews really work — and encourage students to use the tools available to them. Teaching this early changes trajectories. And show up as an interviewer with more than the basic eight questions you pulled out of a search engine (strengths/weaknesses) or the "Impossible Questions" of "How do you move Mount Fuji?" that are inappropriate IMHO for first-time internship positions even at a big Tech company. A good read, though, for students, especially in the STEM or Tech space, so one doesn't get thrown by those as there is always someone who will toss one in there. The learning truly goes both ways for mentors and the art of interviewing.

Lastly, go for it. Here is to all of you starting the new year with many internship applications in place and a plethora of possibilities. 

If you have any great tips for college students looking for internships or interview tips and tricks, please share. 

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