NATO Internship Assessment: Games, Interview & How to Prepare (2026)
The NATO Internship Programme uses the same first-round format as the Young Professionals Programme: cognitive games, a Portrait-style work preference task and a short recorded video interview about your motivation.
Practise the games free →What to expect
Interns report the same line-up candidates see in the YPP: quick mental maths (Numerosity), recalling sequences of numbers or letters that later run backwards (Digit Span), remembering an order then summing values (Disco Numbers), matching rotated or spinning grids (Shape Dance), and Portrait, a visual work-style preference task. A brief recorded interview about your motivation follows the games. The exact line-up can vary by intake, so follow your official invitation.
See the dedicated NATO YPP assessment guide for a fuller breakdown - the games are the same.
How to prepare
- Train the specific game mechanics, not generic puzzles: Numerosity, Digit Span, Disco Numbers, Shape Dance and Portrait.
- Rehearse under a real timer so the format feels automatic on the day.
- Find your single weakest sub-skill and drill that one until it improves.
Because the reported flow matches the YPP, the same prep works: rehearse the timed games under pressure, answer Portrait naturally, and prepare two or three concise reasons for why NATO and why this internship for the recorded interview. If you are also applying to the YPP, your practice carries straight over.
FAQ
Is the NATO Internship assessment the same as the YPP?
In practice yes: the internship first round uses the same reported HireVue-style games, Portrait-style work preference task and recorded motivation interview as the Young Professionals Programme. The exact games can vary by intake, so follow your official invitation.
How do I prepare for the NATO Internship assessment?
Practise the reported game mechanics under a timer where applicable, answer Portrait naturally, target your weakest game, and rehearse your motivation answer out loud for the recorded interview.