Interview Presentation. To powerpoint or not?
Discussion
Have an interview next week and need to do a 15 minute presentation. They've offered projectors, flip-charts, laptops, macs etc but my preference would probably be to just stand in front of them for the presentation.
Last year I had to do something similar at another interview and, despite normally being a confident public speaker, I sped through my very well rehearsed talk. Using a pause to reinforce a point doesn't work at speed!
Guess it was nerves, but strange as I knew it wasn't the job for me before I did my talk.
I thought about maybe doing a 2-slide presentation.
Slide 1 "How many PP presentations that you've seen do you remember?"
Slide 2 "None!"
and then just talk, but might be too cheesy.
As with all my applications, I'm probably a wild-card, a disruptive force for change, so I'm already going to have a different background to the others, but I'm early on day 1 of 2 interview days (with a week between them), so want to be remembered.
Lunch with other applicants is something I've never seen on a schedule before!
Last year I had to do something similar at another interview and, despite normally being a confident public speaker, I sped through my very well rehearsed talk. Using a pause to reinforce a point doesn't work at speed!
Guess it was nerves, but strange as I knew it wasn't the job for me before I did my talk.
I thought about maybe doing a 2-slide presentation.
Slide 1 "How many PP presentations that you've seen do you remember?"
Slide 2 "None!"
and then just talk, but might be too cheesy.
As with all my applications, I'm probably a wild-card, a disruptive force for change, so I'm already going to have a different background to the others, but I'm early on day 1 of 2 interview days (with a week between them), so want to be remembered.
Lunch with other applicants is something I've never seen on a schedule before!
Unless it's about testing your PowerPoint skills, my advice is always that less is more in those situations.
If you think the wild card approach may spook them, then do PP but just one slide with your name and title and then forget about that and just brief them.
I've seen too many candidates spend more energy working out which slide is next, poorly constructed slides and talking to the screen; and that's just the ones who can get it to work on a compatible IT set up! I prefer candidates to look me in the eye and engage with me without the artificial PP crutch to support them.
Interestingly, I'm interviewing this week and hope I'm not going to be irritated and distracted by poorly prepared and delivered PP presentations.
Good luck!
If you think the wild card approach may spook them, then do PP but just one slide with your name and title and then forget about that and just brief them.
I've seen too many candidates spend more energy working out which slide is next, poorly constructed slides and talking to the screen; and that's just the ones who can get it to work on a compatible IT set up! I prefer candidates to look me in the eye and engage with me without the artificial PP crutch to support them.
Interestingly, I'm interviewing this week and hope I'm not going to be irritated and distracted by poorly prepared and delivered PP presentations.
Good luck!
I'll second what Rog says.
I've had loads of jobs over the years. Two of the best came about where the "presentation" aspect had to be done without the aid of Powerpoint.
1) They didn't have the screen promised - I had to busk it
2) They forgot to tell me a presentation would be required. I literally had to draw things on a whiteboard as I explained it.
Think about it this way - if you go for a role where they want, need and expect a fifteen slide powerpoint for every tiny little meeting, how long would you be able to tolerate working there?
I've had loads of jobs over the years. Two of the best came about where the "presentation" aspect had to be done without the aid of Powerpoint.
1) They didn't have the screen promised - I had to busk it
2) They forgot to tell me a presentation would be required. I literally had to draw things on a whiteboard as I explained it.
Think about it this way - if you go for a role where they want, need and expect a fifteen slide powerpoint for every tiny little meeting, how long would you be able to tolerate working there?
I'm reasonably good a presenting (i.e. I actually enjoy doing it)
I would always avoid PP unless:
1. There is something to be presented that you cannot draw/explain.
2. You really need it to guide you through the presentation.
Slide after slide of bullet points with the odd animation/chart thrown in is just dull.
I would always avoid PP unless:
1. There is something to be presented that you cannot draw/explain.
2. You really need it to guide you through the presentation.
Slide after slide of bullet points with the odd animation/chart thrown in is just dull.
Bertrum said:
Always draw as you explain if you can.
It engages the viewer more, and shows you truly know the subject.
Obviously don't stand for ages drawing something...
As long as your viewers can understand your diagrams etc.It engages the viewer more, and shows you truly know the subject.
Obviously don't stand for ages drawing something...
My boss does this all the time, does everyone's tits in because they are incomprehensible...
The style of interview and what they've offered you tells you more than anything they could say in the interview. They're safe, and probably old school. The presentation wont be remembered in any way, they'll pick through them from you and the others later on (or before if you send it to them in advance) to help their decision.
I've done them before, and tbh, the last 3 I just dragged out a fairly standard presentation that I have of first month/3 months/year. They dont care
I've done them before, and tbh, the last 3 I just dragged out a fairly standard presentation that I have of first month/3 months/year. They dont care
My advice would be minimal - 1 or 2 slides max. Smartly edited but reasonably plain (unless you're applying to be a graphic designer)
There are studies (which I believe are pretty credible) that the audience only focuses on doing one of two things. If they are focussing on reading your slides, what you are saying becomes largely irrelevant to them as they are reading not actively listening. As such it is not memorable. Therefore if the spoken word is filling the gaps between copious bullets, then you're losing out. Use the slide bullets to stay on track - these should be your key points/observations.
I use this approach at work - with reasonable success - and very rarely use more than 5 slides for an hour session.
There are studies (which I believe are pretty credible) that the audience only focuses on doing one of two things. If they are focussing on reading your slides, what you are saying becomes largely irrelevant to them as they are reading not actively listening. As such it is not memorable. Therefore if the spoken word is filling the gaps between copious bullets, then you're losing out. Use the slide bullets to stay on track - these should be your key points/observations.
I use this approach at work - with reasonable success - and very rarely use more than 5 slides for an hour session.
If you are going to use slides, don't use Power Point, use something like this instead:
https://prezi.com/
https://prezi.com/
Be careful of Prezi, eMaze and similar services. They require quite a bit of computing power to run smoothly, and you don't know the kind of office equipment and internet quality you'll get upon arrival.
Nothing to add about PP, personally I try to avoid it at all cost. One misaligned projector or slow computer and you lose your thunder. That's why a simple bullet point list in Word usually does the trick for me, and a portable flip chart from Staples completes the picture if drawings and schematics are necessary. More times than not, it's a welcome relief for people who watch presentations all day and now get the chance to have a conversation rather than just watching another show.
I'd avoid the cheeky attitude about 'how many people remember, etc.' - you only get one chance at a first impression, and this would be wasting it on cheap tricks when you could be conveying useful information instead. You don't know who's going to face you there, what their preferences are, and how well anything edgy would go down with them. For this reason, keeping it nice and simple would be the safe way to play it.
Also, not sure about your industry, but in most cases confidence is good, over-confidence is bad. You'd be surprised how many people would perceive you as a threat when you sound or act like you know your s
t, especially if it's not an act. So easy does it.
Nothing to add about PP, personally I try to avoid it at all cost. One misaligned projector or slow computer and you lose your thunder. That's why a simple bullet point list in Word usually does the trick for me, and a portable flip chart from Staples completes the picture if drawings and schematics are necessary. More times than not, it's a welcome relief for people who watch presentations all day and now get the chance to have a conversation rather than just watching another show.
I'd avoid the cheeky attitude about 'how many people remember, etc.' - you only get one chance at a first impression, and this would be wasting it on cheap tricks when you could be conveying useful information instead. You don't know who's going to face you there, what their preferences are, and how well anything edgy would go down with them. For this reason, keeping it nice and simple would be the safe way to play it.
Also, not sure about your industry, but in most cases confidence is good, over-confidence is bad. You'd be surprised how many people would perceive you as a threat when you sound or act like you know your s
t, especially if it's not an act. So easy does it. Thanks all. Wait ages for an interview and now have two next week. I'm glad the general opinion is to avoid PP and the such, this was my preference but wanted to check I wasn't missing a trick.
For this interview I've met the team before so should be relaxed. I'm normally quite naturally confident, but (hopefully) not arrogant with it.
The other vacancy I spotted a day after closing date and rang to ask (this was yesterday). Was sent an application which I quickly filled in and returned and got invited for interview next week (Weds). It's basically my dream job, so now I need to get motivated for the original interview (Thurs) which requires a bit more preparation.
For this interview I've met the team before so should be relaxed. I'm normally quite naturally confident, but (hopefully) not arrogant with it.
The other vacancy I spotted a day after closing date and rang to ask (this was yesterday). Was sent an application which I quickly filled in and returned and got invited for interview next week (Weds). It's basically my dream job, so now I need to get motivated for the original interview (Thurs) which requires a bit more preparation.
I would advise against PPT, or any other, at all costs unless you have something that only a visual will help to explain. If you have to use PPT then only use it at those moments when required. When you need the audience to focus on you, turn the screen black. You can do this by creating an all black slide so you don't need to fiddle with the laptop. Never be a slave to the PPT and I would not use it as guide either. We taught all our staff to present without aids, unless necessary, and engage the audience in a conversational style dialogue and to tell a story that people will remember. It worked with the majority. There are always some that will not dispense with the crutch.
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