Interview Presentation

[Simon-R]

I have had a telephone interview with HR for a role I have now been invited in for a face to face interview with the Head of Dept and I have been asked to do a presentation, see brief below:

Interview format: Please prepare a 10-15 minute presentation on something you are passionate about

The topic is the easy bit, I am mad about cycling so I will base the presentation around cycling. Current topics in my head are "The rise of the MAMIL" or "How to go faster and further on my Bike" The question is the supporting materials used for the presentation. Do I do a brief Power Point presentation mainly with pictures rather than lots of words or do I use printed images / text.

The role is as a Consultant for an IT software provider so they will be looking at presenting style.

Would be grateful for suggestions on supporting materials.

[Shirt587]

Presentations that involve any amount of presenting (as opposed to being sent to someone purely as a thing to read because embedding images and video into Word is hateful) should be image heavy, word light. Bullet points to talk to or key statistics/metrics that people might want to reference or follow up.

The worst presentations in the world are the ones where the guy just reads every word on the slide, because after the first slide you realise this and just read ahead of him which makes him redundant. As long as there's just bullet points or pictures you have to interact a bit with the presenter (or at least pay attention) in order to understand the content.

[Moonhawk]

Shirt587 said:

Presentations that involve any amount of presenting (as opposed to being sent to someone purely as a thing to read because embedding images and video into Word is hateful) should be image heavy, word light. Bullet points to talk to or key statistics/metrics that people might want to reference or follow up.

The worst presentations in the world are the ones where the guy just reads every word on the slide, because after the first slide you realise this and just read ahead of him which makes him redundant. As long as there's just bullet points or pictures you have to interact a bit with the presenter (or at least pay attention) in order to understand the content.

Yep this.

Also keep the number of slides relatively low. 10-15 minutes is no time at all and you should be looking at 5-7 slides tops. Leaving a slide on the screen with images helps to imprint the information you are talking about.

Use animations to reveal bullet points/images as you need them - and use them as prompts to keep your timing/rhythm.

Having few words on the slides but being able to talk around bullet points/images also shows you have a better understanding of the subject than merely reading a wall of text to your audience.

[deckster]

This is all presenting 101, but slides should have no words. You use a slide to illustrate your point; the slide itself is not the point. If you put words on a slide, people will read them - and every second your audience spends reading your slides is a second that they are not listening to you.

[Simon-R]

So the consensus is to put some images in a brief .ppt doc to be used as visuals to talk around.

thanks for the tips

[sinbaddio]

Death by Powerpoint to be avoided at all costs! be individual and stand out!

At my last interview, for a Business Dev Director's job, I was given a similar topic. 2 other people were in the frame, they'd both be doing a PPT without a doubt. I really wanted this job so decided against any form of PPT or tech driven presentations. I used a flipchart and props (mostly kids toys), and my 15 minute slot ran for 45 minutes due to the massive level of engagement.

I didn't get the job, they gave it to someone else. Instead they gave me a more senior position within another group business, stating it was the most imaginative presentation they'd seen. I was trumped a week later though by a girl who presented her hobby of horse riding. And took everyone into the car park to meet her horse!

[matrignano]

I would say, try to make the content relatable in some way to your future rule.
Could you try to talk about digital innovation in the cycling world? Use of IT/Innovation to improve bicycle design, to improve rider's performance, market growth etc?

[rog007]

matrignano said:

I would say, try to make the content relatable in some way to your future rule.
Could you try to talk about digital innovation in the cycling world? Use of IT/Innovation to improve bicycle design, to improve rider's performance, market growth etc?

Essential!

And as said before, use PP like everyone else and you’ll be remembered like everyone else.

I can also share that the most enlightened manager’s dislike having to sit through a PPP.

Either use it sparingly or not at all. A further bonus is that when the IT crashes (and it does!), it won’t affect you!

Good luck!

[StevieBee]

....and avoid using notes. Not even a prompt card.

They've asked you to speak about something you know, so you shouldn't need them.

Speaking 'freestyle' adds huge credibility.

[4x4Tyke]

Simon-R said:

I have had a telephone interview with HR for a role I have now been invited in for a face to face interview with the Head of Dept and I have been asked to do a presentation, see brief below:

Interview format: Please prepare a 10-15 minute presentation on something you are passionate about

The topic is the easy bit, I am mad about cycling so I will base the presentation around cycling. Current topics in my head are "The rise of the MAMIL" or "How to go faster and further on my Bike" The question is the supporting materials used for the presentation. Do I do a brief Power Point presentation mainly with pictures rather than lots of words or do I use printed images / text.

The role is as a Consultant for an IT software provider so they will be looking at presenting style.

Would be grateful for suggestions on supporting materials.

I would confine the presentation topic to something business related.

Follow normal best practice for presentations:
- Properly introduce yourself and the topic, use an ice breaker to improve engagement.
- Speak slowly to start and find a natural tempo, don't fear the pause, use it to your advantage, makes the think.
- Visually interesting but avoid over doing it, content is king.
- Avoid walls of text, limit yourself to a max of six bullet points per slide. People can typically juggle around 7 items in their short term memory and you want to stay inside that.
- You should be able to talk freely about the topic without needing to read your own slides.
- Introduce your main points, explain each point in detail, repeat your main points.
- Present rhetorical questions to pre-empt likely questions, answer those questions.
- Use engaging language, so instead of saying something flat like 'In situation X the solution is Y', use something to get their mind working, 'Imagine you are in situation X, what might you do? Well Y is one approach ...'.
- In a small group or with a single person, continuously ask if there are any questions, at a minimum, at the end of each slide. In a larger groups take questions at the end.

Props and flip are a supplement to the slides not a replacement.

Google Presentation makes a good alternative to Power Point and saves the problem of needing to take in a laptop, flash drive, version or video compatibility issues. https://www.google.com/slides/about/

[Troubleatmill]

Read this.
https://www.slideshare.net/thecroaker/death-by-pow...

They are there you see you speak and present.
Your slides should re-inforce your point.

[clio007]

As above really, keep it short with PPT - no more than 5 slides including a summary slide at the start and of course introduction.

My presenting style involves me asking alot of questions that I answer (I dont do it on purpose!) but it keeps people engaged. Im quite known for saying "Question" when im presenting and then following it up with a question I answer myself