We are moving quickly into second interviews. What is your availability like over the next few days?

"Thank you for presenting me with the opportunity to sit and talk with you. This has been an honor. Should I receive the good news I have the opportunity to move into the next stage of the interview process, I will shift any other priority I have and make myself available. So, to answer your question, my availability is wide open."

They are likely asking this question of every interviewee. So it could be a test to gauge how presumptive you'd be in your interpretation of their intentions in asking.

Remain professional and objective. Considering how competitive this opportunity is, being completely available and ready for the next stage when it is presented reflects that you have planned well for this opportunity. A willingness to be flexible, while conveying hopeful enthusiasm is the tone you'll want to strike.

Tell me about yourself.

"I grew up in Pasadena, CA. As soon as I was legally able to, I got a job in retail during my summer vacations from school. By the time I turned 18, they promoted me to manager. I took a gap year before I went to college for business management and administration. I've always had a strong work ethic. I graduated from high school with a 4.0 GPA and repeated this success throughout my four years of college."

This initial question is an icebreaker. In order to contrast you with other viable candidates, they'll want to get to know you and what makes you unique. Gaining insights into your personality will help them determine your fit for this opportunity. Emotional maturity, ambition, self-growth, conscientiousness, and integrity are some of the driving components they're hoping to hear from their ideal candidates.

Use this icebreaker to offer up a quick bio as an introduction to who you are as a person. Appeal to the personality of the interviewer while maintaining your professionalism. Try not to dwell on the hardships and hurdles you've overcome to get here. Be personable and conversational in tone, yet remain professional and maintain your boundaries. Remember, it's typical for both the interviewer and the interviewee to be nervous in this situation. So set a friendly tone for the interview by providing them with attractive insights into who you are. This will help frame your personality as a desirable fit into their work culture.

The position you are applying for requires a uniform and personal appearance standard. Share with me any issues that might prevent you from wearing a polo type shirt or dark slacks.

"I'd be honored to adorn the official Tesla uniform. I know what it looks like, and to wear that is a badge of honor that represents you're a member of the team."

On one hand, they are trying to ensure you have a collaborative and can-do attitude. On the other hand, by law, they are not allowed to ask if you have any disabilities. Questions such as this help leap through such legal loopholes.

If there is an issue that prevents you from physically wearing one of their uniforms, such as an auto-immune disorder that prevents you from wearing certain fabrics, best to offer this now rather than suffer on the job later. Otherwise, express the can-do attitude they are hoping to hear.

Of all your past projects, pick your favorite and explain to me your role, contribution, and lessons learned.

"I designed this widget I nicknamed the dingus. It was a fabulous doohickey. I designed a marketing plan for it and everything. From production costs to distribution to advertising... I left no stone unturned. But the amount I learned... the research truly was a rabbit hole, and I felt right at home. This was the first time I discovered how thrilling such research and planning could be."

Sharing the accomplishments which you're proud of will clue them into your values, your personality, and your motivators, and guide them on how to coach you in the future. Your answer will reveal why you're proud of the example you provided and how it fits into your career goals. It will also clue them to the level of your work experience in the industry.

It is okay to boast a little when answering this question. Be proud yet humble, and not arrogant. Describe how this achievement acts as a milestone towards your goals, and why you regard it as a success in your personal development.

This position will require some international travel. Is there any issue that you might have with that part of the job?

"International travel sounds fun, depending on its frequency. I am flexible, but I'd have to take some time to consider what that means. Occasional travel is one thing, depending on the duration. Relocation is another. I don't believe anyone would disagree that such a huge life decision should be taken with care. I'd have to weigh how such a decision would impact my personal life and my career goals. I worked for a company that had me traveling for work for two weeks on and two weeks off. Frequently, this took up my evenings and weekends as well, which was far more than they hinted at when I was recruited. Since this didn't shake out as advertised, maintaining a healthy work/life balance proved more difficult than I imagined. So answering your question, once I had all the needed information, I'd consider all options carefully."

This tests your flexibility, and how far you would be willing to go to land the job. It also tests your honesty.

If you weren't aware travel was a prerequisite for the position and found nothing in this regard on their website or in the job description, ask if it is. Tell them you're still interested and that you'd be open to discussing it further. If your understanding of constant business travel doesn't fit into your current lifestyle, take some time to evaluate how this opportunity fits into your long-term career goals. Weight out the pros and cons if you are unsure while exhibiting consideration and flexibility. Ask more questions about the position, including if there is room for advancement from within, and if a willingness to travel is a prerequisite to growing in the company. Keep discussions open and exude flexibility with a focus on a willingness to go to batt for the team. This will exhibit big-picture thinking toward your career goals.

Why do you want to intern for Tesla? What interests you most about what we do?

"I've thoroughly explored the opportunity and tried to leave no stone unturned. Working for this company is in line with the career goals I've mapped out in my revised five-year career plan. Your core values are aligned with my own...."

Anyone bringing on a new employee wants to gauge how well they'll fit into their work environment. They'll test their like-mindedness and try to get you to reveal how in-depth you've researched the position. By testing the interviewee's knowledge of their company, they're evaluating their work ethic, and whether they put their all in trying to compete for the job they're interviewing for.

Answer with sincerity, in a manner according to your nature. Imagine yourself in the position. Ask if it feels like a good fit. Explore what interests you most about the job posting, just to be certain it is the right move for your career pursuits. If so, be sure to incorporate their language into your own. You shouldn't solely be interested in landing any job, but more so interested in what working for them could offer your career. Showcase your knowledge as well as the thorough research you performed. If you find yourself emotionally vested in the opportunity, try not to expect you'll earn it. Be humble yet determined and exude the confidence necessary for success.

What makes you think you're a good fit for Tesla?

"Well, I can't speak for the other candidates who I haven't met. I can only speak for myself. I've mentioned I'm a positive person. I pride myself on my attitude and outlook on life. I've achieved this level of confidence in myself by being honest with myself at all times. If you want to be an honest person, you have to start with being honest with yourself. I don't know too many people who can do that. So this requires enhanced communication skills, which can be applied to yourself just as much as it is applied to others. So I chalk up my high level of emotional maturity to that. I'm always on the lookout for the truth when it comes to everything, so, as a result, that mindset has gifted me with a high level of attention to detail that I apply to everything. This goes hand in hand with my strong work ethic. Integrity is my number one core value. So, I'm a self-starter and a team player around the clock. But all of this stuff all boils down to my happy-go-lucky attitude"

Your interviewers are asking you what sets you apart from the other candidates. They are counting on you being able to self-identify what makes you uniquely qualified for this position. They are asking you to give them an obvious reason why they should hire you.

Your hard skills are those which end up on your resume, from being versed in specific software to tangible, trainable skills. Your soft skills are usually those which don't translate well into paper, such as strong interpersonal skills. The ten most common traits an interviewer looks for in a candidate are confidence, honesty, strong communication skills, being adaptable and flexible, reliability, having strong attention to detail, being self-motivated, having a strong work ethic, and being a team player with a positive attitude.

If I asked you to quit your job and start working at Tesla tomorrow, what three things do you think your manager will miss the most about you?

"First and foremost, they'd miss my professionalism, and quite honestly I'd miss it too if I quit tomorrow without giving proper notice. Ha ha. I really do consider myself a professional. I come into work every day and say my hellos, make enough coffee for everyone, change out the bottle in the water cooler, and any time-saving extras I try to get done. Then I go through my systems and set everything up before I wander to the time clock and get started on time every day. The second thing is my attitude. I'm a happy-go-lucky, positive person and find that I am more motivated in my work when I am motivating others. So I often find myself setting the pace as well. Lastly, I'd say I act as an extra set of eyes and ears for our team leaders. I'm always keeping an eye out for any of those details that might clue me into some pesky thing early on that might be more of a pain to address down the line. I have a high level of attention to detail. It's a strength, and I put that gift to good use."

The subtlety of this question lies in what your manager would miss about you, which speaks to those qualities you possess which made their job easier. So framed the qualities you volunteer so they not only speak to your self-awareness but also from your manager's unique perspective. However, the trick to this question is how it is phrased; if I asked you to quit your job and start working at Tesla tomorrow, suggests quitting without giving notice, which is the antithesis of a desirable trait.

Think of the ways you proved yourself as a support to your leadership, as well as the leadership qualities you possess. This should be the focus of your answer. Some good examples are being a positive influence on morale, supporting the big-picture, being a liaison between your managers and your team, being a team player, having a strong work ethic, and setting the pace of the team, just to name a few.

In Tesla’s Internship there is no hand holding and you’ll be expected to hit the ground running. How would you cope with the high paced expectations of this internship?

"I can be on a team or flying solo and have no issue with being productive. I pride myself on my active listening and communication skills, am adept at note-taking, including shorthand, and if there is no one around to answer my questions, I am super resourceful and self-sufficient."

They are trying to assess whether you are a self-starter, and are capable of working independently and as part of a team. This will also test how resourceful you are, and how you keep up with the day-to-day stresses such a work environment offers.

You'll want to convey a sense of confidence and self-reliance. To drive this point home, offer the tools you used to keep up. These could include active listening and enhanced communication skills, and the ability to track information and juggle several priorities at the same time. Also, offer the tools you used to keep your stress under control while exuding high emotional intelligence.

Share a time when you worked with someone from a different background from yourself.

"At one point in college, I worked at a store in a very diverse neighborhood. That was a pretty exciting experience in that everyone from different walks of life worked under one roof. It was probably the most dynamic and innovative crew I've ever worked with. Everything was outside of the box. We were a pretty great team. I still swing by and take the time to say hello when I'm in the area."

Most leading companies in any industry understand that to foster innovation to compete in an ever-changing world, talent needs to be drawn across boundaries. This requires everyone within their organization to have a high degree of cultural competence. Diversity questions are one way to determine your cultural competence. What they'll be looking for is less of what example you'll answer with, and more so how you answer. A person who doesn't feel comfortable when immersed in a culturally diverse environment might have difficulty navigating this question. They might stammer, and struggle to find the right words. Whereas, a person who has experience with, and no difficulty being immersed in a culturally rich environment working with people from all walks of life, will have no trouble navigating this question with ease.

When discussing diversity, focus on a general acceptance of the human experience and the sensitivities of those from underrepresented communities. When discussing inclusion, demonstrate empathy and acceptance. On even the most inherently human level, we are all driven by the same basic needs and the same unifying experiences. Focus on the unifiers of diversity. Communicate clearly and decisively. The last thing you want to do is come across as uncomfortable or out of your element when answering this question. Speak sincerely about your open-mindedness, and being a universally inclusive person.

You're in a rowboat, which is in a large tank of water. You have a heavy anchor in the boat which you throw overboard. Does the water level in the tank rise or fall?

"I think I remember this one. It follows the Archimedes principle, doesn't it? When the anchor is in the boat, it contributes to the mass of the boat due to its buoyancy and its weight distribution, causing the water level to rise. Should the smaller and denser object of the anchor be dropped in the tank and it rests on the bottom, the mass of the boat is reduced, increasing its buoyancy, and the water level would go down. However, if the anchor did not touch the bottom, and were to be below the boat, pulling down on it and still contributing to its increased weight distribution, and also entering the water, the water level would rise almost imperceptibly due to it also entering the water and increasing its volume. Is that right?"

This is a technical brain teaser that is designed to observe firsthand your analytical skills in action. It is designed for the interviewer to observe if you can think through and resolve such questions quickly with the limited data they present.

You can look up the answer to this question online and rehearse your answer. You not only want to show off your analytical abilities but also your communication skills in how you relay your answer.

You are standing on the surface of the Earth. You walk one mile south, one mile west, and one mile north. You end up exactly where you started. Where are you?

"Well, in order for this to make sense, since there are only three moves involved here, the geometrical shape of the route taken cannot possibly be a square, right? So in order to have done so in three moves, and end up where I started, it would have to be a triangle. So in order for that to be the case, where on Earth would I have to be if I were to end up where I started in three moves like that? It would have to be a fixed point on the planet. The planet is spherical, but if I am going walking one mile south, and then one mile west, and then one mile north, those are fixed directions that cannot be altered, so that would mean it was a direction that is fixed, such as The North Pole?"

This is one of Elon Musk's favorite interview questions and is often a standard in their company's interview practices. It's a brain teaser designed to observe your analytical skills in real-time.

Try answering the question at home on your own before looking up the answer. Try to vocalize your answer as you attempt to problem solve it to practice your communication skills. Then look up the answer and adjust accordingly. Whether you answer the question before the interview is beside the point. You want to go through the whole problem-solving process, communicating clearly when this question is posed.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

"Thank you for asking. I just revisited my five-year career plan, which I do once every year or two, depending on where I am at in my goals. For the next two years, I've set some pretty aggressive challenges for myself. I think of it as the cartography of my future. The nearest destination on my map is picking up new skills and experiences with a company whose goals and values align with my own. Once I've completed my training in that position, I hope to be growing within that organization, being mentored and accelerated toward our mutual goals. I have some charts with me that detail my plan if you'd like me to share?"

How you answer this question will offer insights into the level of your ambition, clues to where you want to take your career, and how well your goals align with what they offer. It'll also reveal how familiar you are with Tesla, how familiar you are with this position, and how your future aligns with the opportunities their internship provides.

One's self-development should be as never-ending as one's determination. One can surmount seemingly unachievable goals by breaking them up into smaller, more easily attainable tasks. One way a person can go about this is by putting together a five-year career plan. If you haven't already, start by creating one starting from your college experience. Next, determine where you currently stand on your trajectory of that plan and build out another five-year plan from there. Following this exercise, you should be able to revise your five-year career plan every year, determining where you are on that map, and charting your path from there. This way, you can adjust and correct your itinerary accordingly. You'd be surprised how doing so will aid in you your interviews.

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How was it resolved?

"I experienced this in my first year of college, feeling I wasn't fairly graded for my efforts. I advocated for myself, communicating as effectively as I could. My professor was at first stand-offish and told me to deal with it and do better next time. But I explained that I didn't understand why they graded me so egregiously on my grammar for a science-based project. After successfully being able to communicate this point in our exchange, they finally softened and explained that in the scientific community, communication, especially the written word, holds as much value as the work itself. I get that now."

This question is layered. Not only is the interviewer trying to get an idea of who you are, but also an idea of your communication skills, as well as your focus on a team mentality. They're keeping a keen eye out for any red flags. In the simplest terms, in this scenario, the last thing you want is to plant the seed that the challenging person in this scenario was you.

When an interviewer asks you how you deal with conflict, center your example on the solution rather than the problem. Always focus on the situation and never spotlight any one person as the source of the conflict. Taking a thoughtful approach by listening to the opinions of others first is always a good place to start! Show that you took the initiative and stayed calm to resolve the situation!

This position will require us to perform a background check and a drug screen. Are you aware of any issue that might hinder you in this matter?

"I have a clean criminal record, a solid credit score, and no issues with drug dependency. So, there are no issues I am aware of that would make this a problem in any regard."

Performing background checks on several applicants in an interview pool can become costly fast. Background checks cost money, and it's their job to protect their company's assets.

Best to be honest and offer everything that might come up on a background check. If you're not sure what to list off, research everything and anything that might come up, and see if any of those items apply to you. Better to save them the money, and yourself the time you'd invest waiting to hear back.

What are your salary expectations?

"I am currently making $65,000 a year with my current employer, with a $2000 bonus at year's end. Understanding there is quite a shortage in the workforce right now, they've offered me more if I choose to stay. Also, it seems fair to mention I have pretty good health insurance benefits through work. Traveling to this location would also be quite a commute, and with gas prices where they're at, this could put a dent in my earnings as well. I imagine, due to the distance, it would cost about $150 a week for gas costs alone. That's nearly ten thousand a year in gas.If you don't mind, before I throw out a number, I have some questions. Do you offer health insurance benefits? Do you have any commuter benefits? Is there a remote work option available for this position? Do you offer yearly bonuses? What is the budgeted range that you are able to offer for this position? Are there any other perks worth mentioning?"

This question can come up anywhere in the interview, but it more commonly comes towards the end. This not only gauges your expectations but your self-awareness of how the interview has gone. This is where you'll show your hand and how you not only value yourself but how realistic your expectations are. Your expectations may be unrealistic, or perhaps they sell you short. Either can be revealing with your career trajectory.

Find a realistic goal regarding salary by doing your research. Be wary of selling yourself short. Don't aim too high either. The best way to discuss your salary expectations is to use your current earnings as a baseline. From there, contrast your current earnings with where you feel you are on your career path to where your ultimate career goals are heading. This should give you a reasonable expectation of what you should ask for. Also take into consideration any bonuses or incentives, your commute, and what kind of job market it is, and this presents an opportunity to inquire what kind of benefits they may be offering as well. Be open, realistic, and honest. Transparency is the best choice when salary-based questions arise.

In three words, describe three qualities you would most like me to know about you.

"Word one; Professional. I consider myself a professional. I come into work every day and say my hellos, make enough coffee for everyone, change out the bottle in the water cooler, and I'll get to any time-saving extras I can. Then I go through my systems and set everything up before I wander to the time clock, getting started on time every day. Word two; Optimism. I pride myself on my attitude. I'm a happy-go-lucky, positive person and find that I am more motivated in my work when I am motivating others. So I often find myself setting the pace as well. Word three; excellence. I act as an extra set of eyes and ears for our team leaders. I'm always keeping an eye out for any of those details that might clue me into some pesky thing early on that might be more of a pain to address down the line. I have a high level of attention to detail and I put that gift to good use."

There are many questions that give you opportunities to advertise your merits. The subtlety of this question lies in what specific three words communicate the most, speaking of the appealing qualities you possess.

Focus on industry keywords to describe yourself. If you can align those keywords with the keywords Tesla uses on their website, even better. Words such as collaboration, inclusion, and communication repeat throughout their site.

Why did you decide to pursue your degree?

"I'm a nerd. I was in the science fair for my high school every year and won first place in my junior and senior years. Being involved in that kind of work made me feel more alive than anything else I've done. So, when I started college, I wasn't sure where I wanted to take my degree, but I liked the degree programs and started off testing the waters, per se. But pretty quickly, I knew what excited me most..."

Similar to choosing your college, they are interested to know how you chose your degree. Primarily, they're looking for your motivators, as well as how seriously you are pursuing the career your degree has to offer.

If you feel as if you fell into your career, or chose your degree because it seemed easy, map out the narrative of your journey in a more desirable presentation. If you find your work easy, it is likely because you are good at it. Being good at your job is rewarding, which is a motivator. Meditate on how your pursuits have inspired you to get to where you are today.

Why did you choose your school?

"I wasn't exactly certain what career I wanted to pursue at first, but I really liked the degree programs my university offered. I felt like their coursework would help light the way to my career path, and it did exactly that. I've always had an engineering mind, and have been excited about sustainability, especially when it comes to renewables."

Some individuals choose their school because they like the city it is in, they like the campus, or they prefer the college lifestyle it offers. Whatever the reason, try to come across as career-focused. What they are looking for in their ideal candidate is someone who is ideally career-focused from the start. From choosing their school to sitting in this interview, any interviewer will favor a candidate who exudes the careful planning and follow-through of every stage of their career.

If you carefully planned your career or knew where you were headed early on, be sure to advertise that. Be clear in your communication when detailing this. If you weren't sure where you wanted to take your career, be sure to detail how you chose your degree, and how you ultimately landed in this career. If you always wanted to work in a particular environment that was aligned with the career you choose, offer how you came to this realization.

When have you failed and what did you learn from it?

"I inherited the workload of an employee that was underperforming, a lot, and was let go. It was overwhelming. I suffered from task paralysis and had trouble getting started. Long ago, a mentor suggested in situations like this I always tackle the biggest aspect of an overwhelming project first, since that was what I felt most daunted by. It was good general advice, and I listened to it. However, in this instance, I should have taken a different approach. I lost focus on the priorities of the project, where instead of focussing on the tasks one by one, I should have looked more closely at the broader view of the problem at hand. As a result, I didn't manage my time well and should have approached the project differently. I missed that target, but never made the mistake again."

Many times, a person might feel the fear of being judged for a mistake they've made. How they confront their fear, and the situation, is the true test of their character. So your interviewer wants to ensure the ideal candidate has a strong sense of self-accountability and exhibits the ability to learn from their setbacks. How you answer will help them evaluate how you handle disappointment and what you learn from such experiences, if you take responsibility for your own actions, inactions, and limitations, and exhibit self-awareness, as to what your attitude towards life looks like. Making mistakes is human. How we deal with and remedy a mistake comes down to exercising good judgment and knowing when asking for help is appropriate.

Relay a positive experience, detailing the situation, framing the setback, how you dealt with it, and what you learned along the way, providing your lens of what failure looks like. Detail what you would've done differently and how you avoided repeating it.

How do you cope with repetition?

"I get that a lot of people have trouble performing that kind of work without burning out on it. I'm indifferent to that part of the job. I take pride in my work, no matter what I'm doing, and have several systems and processes for every aspect of what I do. When you are good at what you do, you enjoy the work."

This question aims to determine how sustainable of an employee you'd be in an environment such as theirs. They're interested if you thrive on solitary introverted work and less so on the more social aspect of the job, or if you prefer to work with more social interaction. This is an attempt to find out whether you'll burn out from the monotony of the job, or if you thrive in a regimented, rule-bound environment.

The essential goal is to communicate that you understand what they expect of you and validate that monotonous work is more arduous than it seems. Ask for further clarification of what the position entails, beyond what they advertise in the job description, regarding their routine. Further elaborate on how your experience correlates with the expectations of the job, drawing correlations between your work experience and the expectations of the position you're contending for.

How do you manage multiple priorities at the same time?

"I consider myself very adept at tracking my progress on any given task so I can effectively pick up where I left off when the need arises for me to be flexible and needing to change gears. I'm extremely systems-oriented in my approach. Whether they're systems implemented for tracking my own work or implementing systems for the office which everyone can use, I'm always developing tips and tricks to do the job easier the right way, right away."

Employers ask this interview question to evaluate your time management skills and assess your ability to switch hats and prioritize more urgent and important tasks. Your answer to this question allows the interviewer to get an idea of how you'd manage and complete your work assignments should they hire you for the job. Highlighting your time management skills, organizational skills, and your ability to maintain a healthy work-life balance can show employers that you are capable of performing efficiently while taking on multiple responsibilities.

Multitasking is challenging for everyone. Tracking your progress, picking up where you left on a task, exhibiting flexibility, staying productive, and preventing rework are the key components of multitasking. Your ability to exhibit sound judgment and prioritize based on the greater good of the team is of equal relevance. Communicate how you re-prioritize your workload as needed. For instance, you could explain to the interviewer how you'd handle inheriting tasks amid other projects. Describe how mindful you are of urgency as you prioritize items in your workload.

Tell me about a time when you had to use your attention to detail to stay focused on the job. How did you go about it?

"There was a time where a coworker had me proof their work. I immediately noticed a discrepancy in the information they compiled. We examined it together, and we were able to determine that the error existed before they extrapolated the data from its source. Two numbers had been transposed. Digging deeper, we discovered this discrepancy was the source of another problem our management had been working on. Tying our issue to theirs, we corrected the course on two projects. All I did was notice the discrepancy and question it. Tracking it to its source and the directions it branched out to was more of a team effort."

The interviewer is probing for the various ways you handle your work with diligence and accuracy. How you answer this question will give the interviewer insight into your self-awareness and how you identify your self-assessment and growth opportunities. They'll likely also be evaluating the consistency of your answers. If you answered one question one way, and a similar question totally different, this will clue them into a lack of attention to detail. Therefore, keep your answers consistent.

You'll need to convincingly explain your process for proofing your work for errors. This will come down to a combination of technical skills and aligning all the necessary data to a conclusive result. Support your claim with a real-life example. If this is one of your strengths, offer examples of how your attention to detail benefited the team.

Tell me about some of the most difficult problems you worked on and how you solved them.

"I was part of a team responsible for building the different bots for a platform. We divided our team into three sections. Two for monitoring and security, two for flagging spam, and two for testing our security. Somehow, things got off track with the team. First off, the patchwork we were implementing resulted in a spaghetti algorithm, and the problems escalated. Secondly, the project turned into a not-so-friendly competition to see who could out-perform each other's work, hurting the group's productivity, and losing sight of the intention of the project. It also created some strain and friction between certain individuals on the team. I pointed this out and influenced everyone to work together on developing each set of bots in stages. I encouraged each member of the team to rotate working side by side together. This way, everyone got to work closely with everyone on an individual level, spotting each other's work. This diverse collaboration fostered our teamwork mentality, and created a situation where we over-performed as a group, turning our project around."

Innovation is integral to leadership. They're seeking to measure your preferred working style and whether it meets their required criteria. They want to know how resourceful you are and whether you exhibit outside-of-the-box thinking.

Frame yourself as resourceful, with a propensity to think fast on your feet. Demonstrate that you aren't easily discouraged. Where there is a will, there is a way, which is the attitude you want to convey. Meeting deadlines, overperforming, learning, and innovating is the aim of the messaging in your example. You want your answer to exhibit determination.

Have you had an internship before?

"This is my first active pursuit to intern with a company. Tesla is also my first choice for an internship."

They are curious about your on-the-job experience. Additionally, many internships offer permanent positions for those who intern with them. So a follow-up question might be why you didn't stay in that role. This could offer insights into whether you'll commit to Tesla, should the opportunity present itself, or if you'll take the skills you learned and apply them elsewhere.

Your direct answer to this question should be straightforward. Yes or no. If you did intern elsewhere, go into detail regarding that experience, and try to be proactive in answering any predictable follow-up questions.

Have you done any volunteer work? If so, where and why did you choose that cause?

"My Aunt is an auto mechanic. She taught me everything about working on cars. She also runs a non-profit called Gearing Up For The Future. They teach at-risk youth the skills of being an auto-mechanic, from changing out capacitors on motherboards to changing out a head gasket. I saw the good work she was doing and volunteered with her a lot."

Those at Tesla feel very strongly about their global impact and about helping communities worldwide. They have also recruited volunteers to help them with several of their own altruistic pursuits. They ask this question in the interview to gauge your volunteerism and to see to what degree you already embrace similar values to theirs.

Perform your research on yourself. Find every applicable example of your altruistic pursuits.

Walk me through your resume.

"Well, at my first job I had a typical 90-day probation period when I started, but everyone knew pretty quickly I was a top performer after week one. That's when I learned the term Clutch-Player. I never heard that until everyone started calling me that. In fact, at my second job, Clutch became my nickname. Anyway, back to my first job..."

Often, when an interviewer asks you to walk them through your resume, they are keeping an eye out for a few things. They are interested in what your tone may reveal about how you look back on your work history. They are interested in how consistent your oration is with what you've written. They are interested in the finer details of what you did that just didn't make it onto your resume.

Make sure you know your resume like the back of your hand. Feel free to advertise your merits, especially detailing those finer details that just didn't translate well to your resume or cover letter.

What is Tesla's mission?

"Tesla's mission is to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy. It's clear they mean it to, when you look at the technological advancements the company has made and how it's already impacted the world."

The interviewer wants to ensure you've done your research on the company and exhibit the drive and ambition they are looking for in a candidate who seems to want to work with them. They're not interested in working with someone who just wants a job. They want to hire someone who exhibits an ability to go above and beyond to compete for the opportunity to work with them.

Perform research on the company, on their mission statement and their core values. Learn as much as you can about their internship program, and why they offer it. What are they offering and what do they expect in return? Do everything you can to see if you fit their mold.

How do you motivate your team?

"Everyone is different. Everyone is born different, comes from different backgrounds, has different perspectives, and has something unique to deliver. I believe when people are happy doing what they love, they're even more motivated to innovate. My leadership style ensures everyone is educated on the best routes to accomplish their goals or the goals of the team. If someone feels like they've contributed, they'll take greater pride in their work. This is how to achieve success. I'd say my leadership style is transparency, delivering clear and concise communication, and an equal share of direction and feedback."

Your answer to this question will offer the interviewer a glimpse into your leadership style. They want to know how your interpersonal skills will complement their team. Tesla is interested in investing in future leaders and innovators from within. How you encourage the ideas of their future leaders could serve to further contribute to their success.

Think about your leadership style - whether you inspire innovation in others by assigning tasks equitably, based on skill, preference, or randomly, determine your approach and speak to its merits. Describe the methods you used to incentivize: praise and recognition, competitions, or rewards/bonuses. The ability to promote a team member's strengths and avert exploiting weaknesses is integral to effective leadership. An employee that has a general sense of accomplishment will be more effective at their job. Avoid examples of bribery (such as bringing in donuts) or micromanaging. Inspiring innovation is key.

What would you say is your leadership philosophy?

"I'd say I am an influencer and a transformational leader. I've been told I am a great coach and motivator, and I think that's partly due to my approach, where I treat everyone equally, work in partnership with my peers conduct myself with honesty and integrity, and earn their trust by showing I care."

The interviewer wants insight into your style of leadership and how you overcome challenges while motivating your team. Additionally, how you answer this question will help them evaluate your approach and your ability to identify the benefits and drawbacks of each of the five leadership personality styles; authoritarian, participative, delegative, transactional, and transformational.

Display your knowledge of the principles of quality leadership. Think about leaders you find inspiring, and what makes them such strong leaders in your opinion, and apply those principles to yourself.

Tesla Internship Interview Questions

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1. We are moving quickly into second interviews. What is your availability like over the next few days?
2. Tell me about yourself.
3. The position you are applying for requires a uniform and personal appearance standard. Share with me any issues that might prevent you from wearing a polo type shirt or dark slacks.
4. Of all your past projects, pick your favorite and explain to me your role, contribution, and lessons learned.
5. This position will require some international travel. Is there any issue that you might have with that part of the job?
6. Why do you want to intern for Tesla? What interests you most about what we do?
7. What makes you think you're a good fit for Tesla?
8. If I asked you to quit your job and start working at Tesla tomorrow, what three things do you think your manager will miss the most about you?
9. In Tesla’s Internship there is no hand holding and you’ll be expected to hit the ground running. How would you cope with the high paced expectations of this internship?
10. Share a time when you worked with someone from a different background from yourself.
11. You're in a rowboat, which is in a large tank of water. You have a heavy anchor in the boat which you throw overboard. Does the water level in the tank rise or fall?
12. You are standing on the surface of the Earth. You walk one mile south, one mile west, and one mile north. You end up exactly where you started. Where are you?
13. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
14. Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How was it resolved?
15. This position will require us to perform a background check and a drug screen. Are you aware of any issue that might hinder you in this matter?
16. What are your salary expectations?
17. In three words, describe three qualities you would most like me to know about you.
18. Why did you decide to pursue your degree?
19. Why did you choose your school?
20. When have you failed and what did you learn from it?
21. How do you cope with repetition?
22. How do you manage multiple priorities at the same time?
23. Tell me about a time when you had to use your attention to detail to stay focused on the job. How did you go about it?
24. Tell me about some of the most difficult problems you worked on and how you solved them.
25. Have you had an internship before?
26. Have you done any volunteer work? If so, where and why did you choose that cause?
27. Walk me through your resume.
28. What is Tesla's mission?
29. How do you motivate your team?
30. What would you say is your leadership philosophy?

Tesla Internship Interview Questions

1. We are moving quickly into second interviews. What is your availability like over the next few days?

2. Tell me about yourself.

3. The position you are applying for requires a uniform and personal appearance standard. Share with me any issues that might prevent you from wearing a polo type shirt or dark slacks.

4. Of all your past projects, pick your favorite and explain to me your role, contribution, and lessons learned.

5. This position will require some international travel. Is there any issue that you might have with that part of the job?

6. Why do you want to intern for Tesla? What interests you most about what we do?

7. What makes you think you're a good fit for Tesla?

8. If I asked you to quit your job and start working at Tesla tomorrow, what three things do you think your manager will miss the most about you?

9. In Tesla’s Internship there is no hand holding and you’ll be expected to hit the ground running. How would you cope with the high paced expectations of this internship?

10. Share a time when you worked with someone from a different background from yourself.

11. You're in a rowboat, which is in a large tank of water. You have a heavy anchor in the boat which you throw overboard. Does the water level in the tank rise or fall?

12. You are standing on the surface of the Earth. You walk one mile south, one mile west, and one mile north. You end up exactly where you started. Where are you?

13. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

14. Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How was it resolved?

15. This position will require us to perform a background check and a drug screen. Are you aware of any issue that might hinder you in this matter?

16. What are your salary expectations?

17. In three words, describe three qualities you would most like me to know about you.

18. Why did you decide to pursue your degree?

19. Why did you choose your school?

20. When have you failed and what did you learn from it?

21. How do you cope with repetition?

22. How do you manage multiple priorities at the same time?

23. Tell me about a time when you had to use your attention to detail to stay focused on the job. How did you go about it?

24. Tell me about some of the most difficult problems you worked on and how you solved them.

25. Have you had an internship before?

26. Have you done any volunteer work? If so, where and why did you choose that cause?

27. Walk me through your resume.

28. What is Tesla's mission?

29. How do you motivate your team?

30. What would you say is your leadership philosophy?