Presentation at an interview

[kprm77]

I have an interview tomorrow, and have been asked to "Prepare and deliver a 10 minute presentation" during the interview. I've never been asked to do this in an interview, and am not sure exactly what they want. Do interviewers expect a powerpoint or flip chart type thing (detest both!) This is for an IT techy role - not sales, so not sure why this is needed. It is customer facing though.

Ever since I found out about the presentation, I've been thinking about cancelling. I've done the job before and have no problems at all with the customer facing part, but I really do not want to stand there making a pratt of myself in the interview (I'm no salesman).

[ScoobyDood]

Subject of the presentation is.......?

[kprm77]

It's a Presentation on Technical Consultancy which demonstrates that I have "behaviours" / qualities that are relevant / required for the job. Don't want to put the exact wording here in case they read this!

[ScoobyDood]

Despite the article's age, the basics are there for knocking out a 10 minute powerpoint especially if you combine it with your niche expertise.....

http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=29...

[rhinochopig]

I have had to do a few over the years. The best piece of advice I can give you is practise it to death as for everyone I've had to do they've warned they would stop you dead on 10 minutes.

I've always tended to run them like this:

1 minutes to describe scope and introduction

6 minutes technical detail

2 minutes to summarise key points and draw conclusion

1 minute contingency - I've always found I slow down rather than speed up in an Interview presentation.

Make sure if you're struggling to fit everything in you mention what you've left out and state that you're happy to discuss anything further in greater detail.

[kprm77]

Thanks for the replies

rhinochopig said:

Make sure if you're struggling to fit everything in you mention what you've left out and state that you're happy to discuss anything further in greater detail.

Timed my first attempt, and it was only 3 minutes. Though I've never done this before so I had to have a starting point - looks like I need to beef it out a good bit.

For once I have experience / skills in all of the areas they have requested. Usually have 50% or more. Suppose I need to use this presentation to show them this..

[rhinochopig]

kprm77 said:

Timed my first attempt, and it was only 3 minutes. Though I've never done this before so I had to have a starting point - looks like I need to beef it out a good bit.

For once I have experience / skills in all of the areas they have requested. Usually have 50% or more. Suppose I need to use this presentation to show them this..

Easiest way to scope it is to use the job requirements as the key headings, i.e. must be able to programme in C++ You give an overview of your knowledge in this area and then provide verbal evidence, i.e. C++ was used on x project.

The job description will effectively give you your presentation structure. Job done

[Frik]

Remember with PowerPoint: The fewer slides with fewer words on them the better.

[ScoobyDood]

Frik said:

Remember with PowerPoint: The fewer slides with fewer words on them the better.

Sort of true - stick a few 'bullets' on each slide and then talk around them in detail to emphasise your expertise and show you haven't just cut/pasted from t'interweb. Use sufficient slides to get the point across. Always do a Head-Body-Tail structure i.e. Intro, meaty stuff and wrap-up. Make it 9 minutes and give them a minute for questions

Pace yourself, breath a lot, insert pauses for emphasis etc etc etc

[ewenm]

Also take backup paper copies of slides in case of hardware/software failure etc.

[kprm77]

I've just found out that they won't be expecting a PowerPoint presentation, so I'll just be speaking to them from my notes.

Now I'm thinking about it more, it is getting easier to come up with some decent content. The way I'm going I think I'll be trimming back to 10 minutes

[Odie]

Think about using some props

[williamp]

kprm77 said:

Now I'm thinking about it more, it is getting easier to come up with some decent content. The way I'm going I think I'll be trimming back to 10 minutes

with the exception of rhinochopig, everyone speeds up when they present, and a 10 min presenation quickly becommes 5 with a long q&a at the end. So practice, pace yourself, and pause often. I write hints on index cards which fit into my hand. I pause inbetween each one, so I can make sure I have said enough.

[98elise]

make sure its almost exactly 10 minutes, and tell them you will take answers at the end. If they ask questions mid way it will mess up your time, and make you look bad.

If you are presenting without powerpoint make sure you are aware of your body language. They will be watching you, not the slides, so work out what you are going to do with you arms/hands. If you are not used to presenting, they seem to have no natural purpose once you stand up to speak

[andy-xr]

I watched a video of myself presenting a few years ago and I thought I was moving around a bit when I delivered it, in reality I was more or less rooted to the spot I started in.

It pisses me off when presenters run around everywhere (especially if they stand in the way of the presentation screen!) but some movement is good and keeps people alert. Hand movements are good, interaction (show of hands) can also work well, as can some middle of the road dry wit. Just remember it's not a best mans speech though! Good luck!

[carmonk]

kprm77 said:

I have an interview tomorrow, and have been asked to "Prepare and deliver a 10 minute presentation" during the interview. I've never been asked to do this in an interview, and am not sure exactly what they want. Do interviewers expect a powerpoint or flip chart type thing (detest both!) This is for an IT techy role - not sales, so not sure why this is needed.

It's needed because your potential employers don't know how to interview or select a candidate. It's not a relevant skill for your role and it provides no useful input whatsoever to the interview process. In fact, I've never met a good IT techie who can do a slick presentation, the skills tend to be mutually exclusive.

[kprm77]

carmonk said:

It's needed because your potential employers don't know how to interview or select a candidate. It's not a relevant skill for your role and it provides no useful input whatsoever to the interview process. In fact, I've never met a good IT techie who can do a slick presentation, the skills tend to be mutually exclusive.

Don't think you're too far off the mark there - had the interview and he had a lot less questions to ask than I had prepared for.

Thanks for everyone's advice - it definitely was a help

[Odie]

kprm77 said:

carmonk said:

It's needed because your potential employers don't know how to interview or select a candidate. It's not a relevant skill for your role and it provides no useful input whatsoever to the interview process. In fact, I've never met a good IT techie who can do a slick presentation, the skills tend to be mutually exclusive.

Don't think you're too far off the mark there - had the interview and he had a lot less questions to ask than I had prepared for.

Thanks for everyone's advice - it definitely was a help

Just out of curiousity, what questions did you ask them? and if your offered it will you accept?

[BE57 TOY]

kprm77 said:

I have an interview tomorrow, and have been asked to "Prepare and deliver a 10 minute presentation" during the interview. I've never been asked to do this in an interview, and am not sure exactly what they want. Do interviewers expect a powerpoint or flip chart type thing (detest both!) This is for an IT techy role - not sales, so not sure why this is needed. It is customer facing though.

Ever since I found out about the presentation, I've been thinking about cancelling. I've done the job before and have no problems at all with the customer facing part, but I really do not want to stand there making a pratt of myself in the interview (I'm no salesman).

I had an interview like this in the past and got the job.

I took my laptop and presented it on PowerPoint while talking through the slides. I gave each of the panel a hard copy for their retention.

Wasn't really an issue.