Presentation Interview

[Gandy]

I have been invited to a second interview for a job on Monday . This interview will consist partly of a presentation by myself on any subject. I haven't a clue what to do it on. My powerpoint/flash skills are technically up to the job but without content it is going to be a disaster.

Has anyone got any suggestions as to what I could base my 15 min presentation on?

[Harry Nuttal]

Come on, Gandy! What chance have we got of coming up with a good answer? We don't know what the job might entail; we don't know what interests or hobbies you might have. Give us a clue. Meanwhile, I'd forget all that power-point stuff. Boring and dull. Get a topic with which you are happy and about which you know something. Have some brief notes on postcards to use as aide memoires. The trick is a) Tell 'em briefly what you are going to tell 'em. b) Tell 'em, and c) Tell 'em fairly briefly what you've just told 'em. And if you aren't facing a po-faced lot then get a bit of humour in there. Spend hours practising in front of a mirror; don't shuffle from one foot to the other. And look confident even if your knees are rattling. Oh, and finally: Don't gabble. Everybody in this situation tends to talk too quickly; keep it steady and laid back. Knock 'em dead!

[pagey]

Do it on the topic you know best - this way you can speak most naturally and most comfortably. The key is to be relaxed - spend too long preparing and hyping it up!

[pagey]

I mean don't spend too long hyping it up.

[gammaray]

I suspect basing it anything to do with the sort of job your after may help. is this to be a practice pitch or a sell yourself type presentation?

[Gandy]

I think it's actually a test of delivery - I have delivered presentations on many occasions to between 2 and 50 people. As that's been work related I've always had a subjecy matter.

I'm keen to avoid the job I'm after as my subject as I suspect that other candidates may also pick this and I want mine to be remembered.

At present I'm working on a tounge in cheek presentation of my home town - Wolverhampton. I'm taking the angle of trying to persuade businesses to locate their operations in the town whilst pointing out the bad points of places like Paris, Rome, New York etc

[Cheekystar]

As a back up print a copy of your slides on OHP, as powerpoint can have a knack of failing!

A good presentation will have an intro, subject and summary, allow for questions at the end.

Avoid death by powerpoint, if the interview panel have sat through presentations all day via powerpoint they may need something to waken them up, makes yours different, interactive etc.

Good luck!

[Barryboy]

Just a suggestion here...

Why not use what we call "teaching aids",,, It is well documented that people like to use their hands to hold and touch something while listening. If nothing else it might make your presentation more memorable than the others.

I once did something similar at a Civil service interview when I took in a couple of old developing tanks and passed them out while I did ten minutes on how to develop black and white films. The feedback was excellent - I was marked very highly for originality and content. And no, I didn't get the job, but it did get me through to the final round of interviews.

[Gandy]

Thanks for the help everyone - I was offered the job on the spot!!!