Any hints on doing a presentation as part of an interview?

CathyMoran

Hi,

Shane and I have interviews later in the week (Thursday and Friday respectively). The thing is, we have to give a presentation first based on information we are given at the time. Does anyone have any presentation tips. I am petrified that I will forget what to say. Thanks.

Tom Dunne

CathyMoran wrote:

Hi,

Shane and I have interviews later in the week (Thursday and Friday respectively). The thing is, we have to give a presentation first based on information we are given at the time. Does anyone have any presentation tips. I am petrified that I will forget what to say. Thanks.

Preparation is key. Are you saying you are to present on a topic you will only be told about five minutes previously? That won't make for a good presentation.

What format is the presentation (i.e is it powerpoint, or overhead slides)? If so, use bullet points, don't clutter. Verbally expand on the bullet points. I've seen powerpoint slides that have used every inch of the slide for text - not very conducive to learning.

Eye contact - don't stare at one point for any length of time, that includes people or things. Don't turn your back on your audience for any length of time either.

Don't use terms such as "if you know what I mean" - they won't.

CathyMoran

We just literally get a flip chart, that is all. We are asked to decide on a particular course of action based on the information given and have to give a presentation on it with a Q and A afterwards. I am petrified of it. Afterwards we have an interview which should be a doddle in comparison, thing is, we really want these jobs. I am afraid that I will not remember what to say (does not help that I have chemo brain still )

Tom Dunne

Ouch, that's a tough one.

Obviously they are putting you on the spot and testing how you cope under pressure.

What I would do is take a few minutes to jot down some ideas, gather your thoughts and scribble out a rough plan. Then talk through it as best you can.

Nody

Every presentation needs the following:

1) Problem
2) Possible solutions
3) Outcome

Stick with these three and you should do reasonably well. The subject you're going to get will either be something you know or very limited in scoop. The point is not to make the "right" decision but to be able to motivate it and also point out possible alternatives and why this is the course you picked.

With this in mind take your flip chart and write on the front page:

Problem: What ever it is in one sentence
Possible solutions:


Outcome:

Now simply write in the last two parts as you go along. I'd aim for three possible solutions where one is leaving it as is.

If you start to wonder what's next simply take a quick look at the chart and you've got the basis you should be able to get back on track quickly and continue the presentation.

And don't forget the most important part of any presentation, they don't know what you planned on saying! I'd also ask in advance at what level your audience is on the subject (not their real level but the level they claim to be for the presentation) to allow you to adjust it accordingly.

information

CathyMoran wrote:

Hi,

Shane and I have interviews later in the week (Thursday and Friday respectively). The thing is, we have to give a presentation first based on information we are given at the time. Does anyone have any presentation tips. I am petrified that I will forget what to say. Thanks.

The presentation part is to see how good you are at presenting,
the content is not that important.

Speak, slowly, clearly, make eye contact with the people in the room and
don't jump around the place.

The only way to prepare for this is to practice, get your mates around
ask them to give you a topic and talk about it.

Slow Motion

KISS (Keep it simple stupid) Is good advice as well as the previous posters, also, don't sit down, if you're nervous hold on to the podium if there is one, or use simple hand gestures so you don't fidget. Don't know if this helps but I used to move around a bit when I was teaching to keep peoples attention on me. Eye contact is good but share it about otherwise it can make someone uneasy. Also use cards with points on them to refer to if you stall.

ChuckProphet

CathyMoran wrote:

Hi,

Shane and I have interviews later in the week (Thursday and Friday respectively). The thing is, we have to give a presentation first based on information we are given at the time. Does anyone have any presentation tips. I am petrified that I will forget what to say. Thanks.

is this for AO job in the civil service?

CathyMoran

Yes, why?

dudara

I had to do something similar when interviewing for my current job. I'd already lectured on a part-time basis for 2 years in an IT but it was still nerve wracking to analyse and present on the spot.

Some tips would be:

1. Take a few mins to draft your thoughts and an outline of the presentation. Keep it a max of 3 pages/slides with a definite topic to each page, ie introduction, analysis, recommendation

2. Keep any writing short and sweet. Use bullets points only and expand verbally. Try to draw a simple diagram to illustrate points, rather than a mess of words.

3. Try to keep your tone light. Don't stand in front of the projector/flipchart blocking the view of the people you're presenting to. Remember to look mainly at your audience with only the odd glance at the chart. If you can find a pointer/ruler, then you made find that useful to higlight certain areas.

druss

Done the AO presentation quite recently.

It's grand. And i haven't done much presentations recently!

You'll have 45 minutes preparation time, you can make notes from your preparation materials and your notes will then be brought into the room for you, so you won't lose your train of thought if you make orderly, neat notes.