Interview presentation advice

[Alex88]

Hi chaps,

You're a successful, clever bunch, right?

May I ask for your advice on this interview I have coming up, please?

I am onto the third and final stage of an interview process for a job I really want. Thing is, they have asked me to do a brief presentation on why I am the right person for it.

It's a 10 minute affair and being done remotely.

So far:

I've already made a good start, but don't have much time as they want me to send the slides over by Monday (second interview was only yesterday).

So, I'm using Google Slides as it seems to be a good basic app for this type of thing. Picked a pretty good template that is kind of in keeping with their own theme.

I've copied their logo and added it to each slide, I'm hoping it will be a nice little touch.

My structure so far is:

- Introduction/agenda
- My background
- experience
- achievements
- an overview of the job spec
- explain that I have demonstrated in previous slides that I am a great fit the role
- summarise presentation
- end/any questions

I am planning on using bullet points and keeping it very light on text, as I don't want to simply recite something that they can read on screen.

That's where I am so far, what do you guys think? I feel like I could flesh it out a bit more.

Cheers

[Sundayjumper]

Take my advice with a pinch of salt. Last interview I had where they wanted a presentation I told them I wasn’t doing it. I didn’t get the job

Anyway - I’m not sure I’d put their logo on your presentation. If the context isn’t clear it could seem presumptuous.

[GG.]

Addressing the narrow question of the logo - the way we do is to include "Presented to: [X client logo]" on the front page with the date of the presentation. That way its personalised but not like you're co-opting their own branding.

10 minutes is also not long and will pass quickly (you could spend half of that on the Q&A) so I would be tempted to try and reduce and consolidate the number of slides you have. Obvious point that jumps out to me is to have a single slide with the job spec and after each point link it to some part of your experience that shows how you can fulfil that part of the role/stood out in that aspect. Two or three of the slides could easily be amalgamated there potentially.

[Gavster]

My top advice would be to ensure you are using the word "you/your" instead/alongside "me" or "I" throughout your presentation.

For example, take the phrase "I'm exceptionally good at counting" and change it to "I will bring advanced counting skills to your team"

[Sundayjumper]

Addressing the narrow question of the logo - the way we do is to include "Presented to: [X client logo]" on the front page with the date of the presentation. That way its personalised but not like you're co-opting their own branding.

^^^ that

[Sundayjumper]

"I will bring advanced counting skills to your team"

^^^^
and that is the correct kind of presumptuous to use

[Beany]

Take my advice with a pinch of salt. Last interview I had where they wanted a presentation I told them I wasn’t doing it. I didn’t get the job

Anyway - I’m not sure I’d put their logo on your presentation. If the context isn’t clear it could seem presumptuous.

I'm on the same page re presentations at interview as SJ, honestly. Depending on how seriously you're taking it (or how well you think you're doing so far and what you can get away with, or would like to see if you can get away with in future....), make the Q&A for them - put them on the spot.

"And now we get to the audience participation part"
*confused, nervous collar tugging from interviewers*
"...lets begin!"

"What value do you get from expecting a presentation from interview candidates?"

"How many presentations do you expect candidates for this role to be doing? If it's important enough to be a core part of your hiring process, is it weekly at a minimum? If not, why are we doing this? Is it a power thing? You can hire people in 15 minute slots to help you with that, you realise?"

"Do you think this time could not have been better spent investigating the cultural fit of the company? As you're well aware that many people abhor doing presentations, what does this say about you as a company and your hiring practises?"

"If you expect regular presentations from staff, to the extent that it's part of your hiring process, do you lack the ability to train internally on how to present effectively? What does this say about your organisation from a continuous professional development perspective?"

That said I have stopped taking this company seriously from the standpoint of my highly immature narrative, which is probably why I'm not on the board of directors of anywhere yet

[240PP]

My structure so far is:

- Introduction/agenda
- My background
- experience
- achievements
- an overview of the job spec
- explain that I have demonstrated in previous slides that I am a great fit the role
- summarise presentation
- end/any questions

Is that not all stuff that would have been covered in the first two interviews? Or is it a different audience?

Or do they just want to see how you present something?

[scotta]

Last one of these I did was fucking awful. But i put that down to their interviewing skills rather than my presentation.

they wanted it to be in the format of a customer bid. So I had presentation slides and presented space for feedback during the presentation. They just wouldnt engage. "We'll ask questions at the end" was a really awkward interview. This isnt my style at all. i like to build a rapport with the client. I find that gets us over the line with bids much more successfully.

Im working currently on client work that has followed on from a bid i presented earlier in the year. I presented my report for this to a panel of about 8 of their senior folk. But kept it light and the session was really good. back and forward with questions. Try to take it that way would be my suggestion.

[Ascender]

Yeah, I'd remove their logo - presumptuous, inappropriate etc. On the title page just put your slide deck title and a subtitle of "Company Name Interview and Date" or something.

10 minutes is not long if you're prepared, but can be long if you're not! So rehearse, time, add presenter notes etc. I'd ask at the start if they don't ask, whether they want to ask questions as you go or wait until the end.

Like @GG. says - consolidate slides and presumably there''s still a number of you going for one position, I'd be tempted to not do the thing that everyone else will naturally do.

Not in a wacky, David Brent sort of a way, but maybe after the basics focus on your soft skills as well as stating experience - what you could bring to the role rather than just a run through your CV in slide format as they've seen your CV already.

And keep the words down, just nice short statements/bullet points you can use as points to talk about.

[Ascender]

They just wouldnt engage. "We'll ask questions at the end" was a really awkward interview. This isnt my style at all. i like to build a rapport with the client. I find that gets us over the line with bids much more successfully.

Im working currently on client work that has followed on from a bid i presented earlier in the year. I presented my report for this to a panel of about 8 of their senior folk. But kept it light and the session was really good. back and forward with questions. Try to take it that way would be my suggestion.

100%.

Nothing worse than you just talking to people you don't know and not getting anything back. So maybe get on the front foot and as part of your intro say you'd welcome questions as you go. Or even have a few points where you could ask them a couple of questions.

"In the past I've done this because of x. How does this thing work in your company or how do you do this?"

[Zonda_]

Difficult to know what to advise without knowing what the previous interviews covered and what the job is. As has been said, is presenting part of the role? My initial thoughts are if it's come so soon after the second interview it's a box ticking exercise.

[mik]

My structure so far is:

- Introduction/agenda
- My background
- experience
- achievements
- an overview of the job spec
- explain that I have demonstrated in previous slides that I am a great fit the role
- summarise presentation
- end/any questions

I am planning on using bullet points and keeping it very light on text, as I don't want to simply recite something that they can read on screen.

Looks good so far, but 10mins will dissapear very quickly. I'd only say:

1. Self-reflection is powerful and generally demonstrates maturity. We all know we have both strengths and weaknesses. I'd definitely keep your point "explain that I have demonstrated in previous slides that I am a great fit the role" but I'd try and be as reflective as possible. Talk about elements where your experience/knowledge/values are an obvious fit. Talk about elements that might not appear to be an obvious fit to them (maybe you don't have direct experience of one role element) but you feel your experience/skills in other related areas (mention them) would be very transferable. Talk about areas that you recognise will be new or a challenge, and what thoughts you've already had on how you could come up to speed quickly in those areas. (I'm always far happier progressing candidates who interview in this way rather than try to convince me they are a superhero - gives me confidence they have some balance of confidence and humility - which is needed to be effective in a team - and that they will be able to problem solve effectively (as they don't think they know all the answers already)).

2. Mention how you work effectively in a team. How you get inputs from others in the team, or stakeholders the team interfaces with. Possibly touch on how you influence others, or how you deal with conflict situations (where someone else's position differs from yours - not when you are fighting them) and how you negotiate/drive to a solution (being ready to yield on aspects that you feel aren't so important, but sticking firmly on aspects that you feel are essential).

[dinny_g]

As far as the structure of the Sides, there are a lot of good tips here so I won’t expand too much – but try to structure Experience as Achievements so for example, “I managed a 10 person Call Centre” as “The 10 person call centre I managed increased their Customer Satisfaction index from 6.5 to 9 in the first 12 months etc. Difficult but if possible.

I’ve done a lot of training on Presentation Skills so I can offer some guidance on the mechanics of delivering the presentation itself.

• Can feel very awkward but trust me, looks very good for the Audience is to try to keep your hands down by your side. Try not to gesticulate too much and avoid pointing at the screen – this diverts attention from what you want them to do which is to listen

• When you start making a point, try to retain eye contact with 1 person until you finish that point, then move onto someone else and repeat. Again, feels very awkward but it gives each individual interviewer a greater sense of involving them.

• And finally, if you’re given a drink, make sure you ask whare you can put the empty when you’re finished (according to TikTok)

Best of luck

[Alex88]

Thanks everyone! Some really useful stuff there.

I have removed the logo from the slides. I agree; it is presumptuous and could go down quite badly. Almost assuming that I have landed the role already..

I will instead only use their logo on the first page next to ‘presenting to’

I have been told that this exercise is to ascertain how well I present. The first interview was more of a conversation – outlining the role, who I am and what I do, etc. Second interview was with HR, but not particularly structured; more of a conversation again and then booking me in for the presentation.

I will definitely consolidate the slides. I think background/experience/achievements, all has a lot of crossover anyway.
I’ll maybe use a slide to focus on what I bring instead of just re-typing out the key points from my CV
Will link the job spec points – why my experience fits specifically
Use the ‘you’ and ‘your’. I’ll Make it clear that I bring value to them instead of only highlighting stuff

Also, I’ve never done a presentation before!

[Zonda_]

Thanks everyone! Some really useful stuff there.

I have removed the logo from the slides. I agree; it is presumptuous and could go down quite badly. Almost assuming that I have landed the role already..

I will instead only use their logo on the first page next to ‘presenting to’

I have been told that this exercise is to ascertain how well I present. The first interview was more of a conversation – outlining the role, who I am and what I do, etc. Second interview was with HR, but not particularly structured; more of a conversation again and then booking me in for the presentation.

I will definitely consolidate the slides. I think background/experience/achievements, all has a lot of crossover anyway.
I’ll maybe use a slide to focus on what I bring instead of just re-typing out the key points from my CV
Will link the job spec points – why my experience fits specifically
Use the ‘you’ and ‘your’. I’ll Make it clear that I bring value to them instead of only highlighting stuff

Also, I’ve never done a presentation before!

In that case I would video yourself doing it and watch how it comes across.

[Gavster]

Practice practice practice!

And a wee dab o'speed.

[mik]

And a wee dab o'speed.

[Beany]

On a more serious note - the not having done presentations before, I'd start with that.

I had to do my first presentations recently, career wise - a couple of years ago internally, and a few weeks ago to real customers who pay us money (I was due to do a customer facing one way earlier, but a venue failure caused me to be dropped from the roster ) and I started both of them along the lines of...

"Well I've never done a presentation ("before, ever" for the internal one/"in front of customers" for the customer one) so forgive any weird tangents as I fail to keep on topic, slightly drop out mentally as I try to remember what I'm actually doing, and do other things that people who do presentations regularly manage to avoid"

Set expectations.

Also, time yourself time yourself time yourself - I cannot stress how much timing is key. I mentioned strugging to make a fifteen min presentation fit into fifteen mins, but the same can work both ways.

I'd not suggest videoing yourself - it'll make you very self conscious. I tried that on the above noted event where the venue had a problem and I ended up not having to do it, but overthinking it and worrying about my appearance etc led to me spending most of that day edging a panic attack. I didn't do that for the most recent one (customer facing) and I barely thought about it - was much calmer.

Doing more presentations more often makes them way, way easier for reference. The first one is the hardest.

I forgot I had a presentation on Wednesday afternoon for work (I conflated it in my head with one I'd already done) which a couple of years ago would have made me run away screaming. I knocked the fucker up in 20mins and referenced the fact that I'd forgotten about it at the end, to applause ffs.

I kinda like doing presentations now, but the people I present to are generally also people who hate doing presentations so they quite enjoy it when I go a bit off the rails- that's probably not something to try at an interview though unless you're really confident about your chances

[Gavster]

And a wee dab o'speed.

Epic film Every time I get asked what my weaknesses are I quote that for the lols. Might explain why I’m self-employed