NPR General Intern Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 34 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at NPR.
NPR
Intern
Intern Easy Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Other
I applied for a spring internship. The senior producer I was supposed to interview with forgot to call me at the scheduled time, so I had to call her a few times until she picked up. It was a really friendly chat, and she asked me about the industry and why I wanted to work with NPR. I also shared my thoughts on what worked and what didn't in how the show was produced. She ended up offering me the job right away, but suggested I do the summer internship instead because only summer interns were paid back then.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- Can you tell me about your background and experience?
- What makes you want to work for NPR?
- What aspects of the show do you find appealing?
NPR
Intern
Intern Difficult Positive experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Phone screen Phone screen Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Behavioral Behavioral
After applying online, I was contacted by the executive producer. Then I had three phone interviews. The first was a get-to-know-you chat, about 45 minutes, because corporate culture is important at NPR. The next week, I had the second and third rounds, which were strictly question-based with different interviewers each time. Waiting was the hardest part, as I didn't get an offer until late December after applying in October. It was overwhelming to arrange travel, housing, and move, but worth it. The offer was a surprise. Hiring processes vary by department.
Confirmed questions6 questions
- What segment would you pitch and how did you start listening to NPR?
- Why do you want to work in public radio?
- Tell us about your experience reporting, producing, etc...
NPR
Intern
Intern Average Negative experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Take home Technical screen
Interview formats
Technical Coding
I applied and after two weeks, I got a call on a Friday for the first interview with someone from the team. She was really short and not very expressive, kind of antisocial. Towards the end, she gave me a 2-hour data test due Sunday. I had work Friday night and was traveling Saturday morning, so I asked if I could do it Monday, but she said no. It was annoying to get a weekend assignment on short notice, especially as an applicant. I stayed up late to finish it and only got 4 hours of sleep before my trip. Then, two days after I submitted the test, another team member emailed asking for a second round. Her email was also curt and she gave me specific times to choose from. I responded saying I wasn't interested. Their lack of respect for my time as an applicant was a major turn-off, and I didn't want to work with people who were so inflexible and aloof. My summer would have been miserable.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you tell me what you know about NPR?
NPR General Intern Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from NPR interview reports.
“What election year story did you enjoy NPR's coverage of?”
Read reports →“Can you please watch and review a video that you really liked from NPR Jazz night in America?”
Read reports →“What aspects of the show do you find unappealing?”
Read reports →“What would you pick as a headline for the show today?”
Read reports →“Can you tell me what you know about NPR?”
Read report →“Are you okay with editing content to make it easier to read?”
Read report →“Which podcast episode is your favorite, and what do you like about it?”
Read report →“What aspects of the show do you find appealing?”
Read report →“What segment would you pitch and how did you start listening to NPR?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 34 NPR interview reports.