Presentation for Interview..

[LukeFR]

Hi All,

I need PH help!

I have an interview at a IT company and been asked to do a 10 minute presentation of my choice. What should I choose? I was thinking of doing it on myself - basically selling what I'm good at, the job experience I have had and so on.

Anymore thoughts?

Thanks

[stevenjhepburn]

Tell them why they should hire you, but not by converting your CV to PowerPoint and talking them through it. Tell them how you improved things at the last place you worked and/or how you would improve them at this place.

Start with a strong, bold statement. Maybe something like "I believe that the IT department can improve your company's bottom line. This presentation will tell you how I plan to make this true, if it isn't already". Then everything you say should back up your opening statement.

Edited by stevenjhepburn on Wednesday 2nd October 22:22

[STW2010]

I would have a slide on 'notable achievements'. Here I would very concisely bullet-point a few major work-related stories.

So a list like (I don't work in IT, so guessing here)-

1. Introduced new system for payroll
2. Installed....
3. Improved...

Then tell them in your own words (avoiding the need to read from the slides- I hate this) about each one. Talk about the challenge, the need for what you did, what you learned (new skills) and the improvements made (time saved, efficiency, money saved etc).

The following slide would then summarise your qualifications and experience (from previous slide), and this would be where I drilled the message home that I was a flexible and innovative thinker. Essentially, you will be saying 'after all you just saw, what I can bring to this job is awesomeness!'

[Previous]

Remember - 10 mins isnt that long.

Dont try to fill it cram packed full of content,

Given that its allowed to be based on anything of your choice chances are they will be assessing your communication ability & style more than the actual content itself.

Keep to clear concise points, if they want more detail they will ask you to elaborate.


What level is the role at? Senior management would more likely be expected to be very specific to abilities and what they can bring to the role, lower / more junior levels have a complete freedom -

If they've already got your CV, and are planning a seperate session for interview and if they have told you to present anything of your choice It would probably be worth presenting about something completeley non work related, perhaps a hobby or something you are particullarly skilled at in which you can present with real passion and enthusiasm.

E.G
Transferrable skills gained from Bungee jumping

Edited by Previous on Thursday 3rd October 10:40

[GlenMH]

Wise words ^^^^^^^^^^

It needs to be memorable and well rehearsed too. Remember: they are aiming to 'buy' you NOT your powerpoint skills.

[Odie]

Do it on something you have real passion for.

[richatnort]

The trick is not to go to fast. Everyone panics and rushes through it. If you keep an eye out if your doing it just slow down.

I did a similar thing but I did some research on the company and did a presentation on something new they could introduce into the business. Maybe mix that you did this in your old company and it could work here because of this reason.

What's the job for if you don't mind me asking?

[Bullett]

I've done 2 recently.

One was very tightly defined, present our technology back to us as a potential customer. really tough when there is not really that much info available publically about the tech.

The other was more general (but I only had overnight to prep) I did future industry trends.

[rog007]

Some good bits of advice above. However, there are 100 ways of interpreting their offer; and possibly 99 ways of getting it wrong. My advice would be: as you've clearly been shortlisted you meet their essential criteria so anything you do around your CV could be a wasted opportunity. At this point, if you haven't already, go in and meet the hiring manager to find out more about the role and the organisation. At this point, you could ask what the expectations are for this presentation piece. You will hopefully get an answer that reduces the risk of getting it wrong. Good luck!

[Butter Face]

I once had to do similar for an interview and I did a walk around of my town, with pictures of me standing in the foreground pointing at stuff. Then I pointed at the presentation in the same manner.

They loved it and it got me the job.

[Munter]

Butter Face said:

I once had to do similar for an interview and I did a walk around of my town, with pictures of me standing in the foreground pointing at stuff. Then I pointed at the presentation in the same manner.

They loved it and it got me the job.

I did the history of the internal combustion engine.

But I knew one had a tvr and a second was restoring a 40s Bentley, and the 3rd was clueless about cars and they took the pee out of him about it. He's the ceo now....

Anyway, make it fun if you can.

[LukeFR]

Thanks for all the help so far guys, really appreciate it.

I had done a presentation on myself, skills and qualities. Instead I have decided to do a presentation on a hobby and something I researched a lot - DPFs!

Wish me luck...

[aspender]

As in Diesel Particulate Filters? To an IT company?

Assuming I've interpreted your acronym/hobby correctly, I'd seriously consider a re-think and to do something on an IT technology. You don't specify what type of IT but for example if going for a software engineering job you'd really want to be taking about something that shows you like to keep up to date with latest developments e.g. ten minutes on reactive programming or similar.

They are testing your passion and enthusiasm for the particular relevant branch of IT, not just your presentation and communication skills.

[mph1977]

As written in the OP, the OP has been asked to a presentation lasting 10 minutes but has not been given a topic.

My first response is to ensure this is actually the case, and perhaps if in contact with appointing manager all ready just do a little digging as to what is expected .

It is entirely possible they have set the presentation without a topic as they were becoming bored of the same recycled approaches to presentations set to a topic.

It may be that they have set it without a topic 'just' to see what your skills are as a presenter - There are lots of roles where havign good presentation making and given skills will be useful - to seel a product, to train users etc etc etc