Need to prepare a PowerPoint presentation for an interview. How do II make it stand out?

[imstilljenny2]

I've applied for a new job (work in a hospital) and as part of my interview I will be asked to do a 5 or 10 min presentation on the role. I use PowerPoint a bit in work but want to really make a great presentation and stand out from the rest of the applicants. I really want the job!
Any PP experts out there with some advice? Or any presentation advice in general? The interview is on Teams so I'm hoping this will help with nerves. Thanks!

Advice in general, don't just read out what is on the slides, and allow time for Teams to have a wobble, so don't log on last minute.

Thanks. I have a feeling the share screen function won't work on Teams. That will stress me out I think. And yes I'm def going to try and not just read out each slide.

As tempting as it might be don’t put too much animation on the slides. If you do put animation on it just put one type.
Keep the information on the slides to the point and talk around the points.

Don’t choose something funky ‘just because’. And don’t go nuts with transitions and animations. Just keep it simple, very short bullet points, no more than 3 words per point. They’re employing you, not your presentation. Good luck!

Keep it simple. Clean slides, max 1 per minute. Not too many words or daft effects.
Have a summary slide.

Thanks everyone, great advice.

Hi, this is a great video to watch, Death by PowerPoint by David Phillip's. He has some great advice on how to use your slides.

My advice would be to make sure your structure your presentation with your audience in mind, what do they need to know? what will be of interest to them? Keep your slides clear without too much text.

Do you have the chance to practice with Teams beforehand? The new standout mode will really make your presentation memorable, but only use it if you have a chance to practise with it first.

Good luck

@Randommother brilliant thanks. I'll definitely watch this. I haven't heard of the Standout mode on Teams but I'll have a look and a go if I think it will help.

Keep it simple, have plenty of notes to refer to in case you dry up, keep it genuine.

Practice practice practice. Time yourself and practice the whole presentation several times. That will really pay off. Speak slowly and don’t rush. Keep smiling and in case you are stuck take a sip of water and look at your notes. You can have notes up on your screen with the presentation that only you see. And obviously check your camera height, background, lightning, microphone and decent internet connection!

Do you need to use PowerPoint? I was at a group interview for teaching where we were asked to do a 5-10 minute talk as part of process. Almost everyone used PowerPoint and read from slides. I tend to read from slides too when I use PowerPoint so didn’t do a PowerPoint and just….spoke. I didn’t need to worry about tech glitches and felt like I stood out more as i didn’t do the same as everyone else.

@Glitterkitten24 yes I think I do need to use PP. I'm applying for a more senior pharmacist post and we love PowerPoint. We are very dull and love slides with bullet points 😂

Also send a copy of the presentation to HR or the interviewer in advance in case of teams problems.

@RestingPandaFace good idea. Thanks

Make sure you have a paper copy in case tech fails and you have to deliver without it.

@franbrad yes I'll do that. God I'm getting nervous now!

Really focus on the brief/question and make sure you are answering it. Tailor it to the new team and sumarise at the end.

Ask a friend to meet with you on teams in advance to make sure you have all the issues ironed out and can move straight into and out of the presentation knowing which buttons to click.
And keep your pets out of the room.
Good luck

Less is more.
Each slide should be a billboard not an essay (eg able to read it when driving past it - so no detail just prompts)
YOU are the presentation, not the tech. Be able to speak without notes, but use slides as prompts for you. They want to see and hear from you, not see how PowerPoint works.
Good luck!

Practice. Smile. Make yourself talk slowly because you will speed up because of nerves. Don't read - either off the slides or off notes. Out very few words or a simple diagram on each slide. You want them to be listening to what you're saying, not reading the slides. Graphics are better than words if you can illustrate your point. Don't use animation or anything fancy id you're not confident. They're hiring you (hopefully!) for your ability to do the job, not your ppt skills. Make sure you have a beginning and an end.

For the Teams bit, you can blur your background so that they can up just see you. Practice using sharing (with a friend) so that you can be totally slick and the tech won't faze you.

Good luck!

They will be more interested in the content and what you are saying than the actual
Presention.

I had to do this recently, 7 slides, sent it before, was expecting to have to actually present, they asked me questions ok it rather than presenting it which in hindsight makes sense. It threw me a bit at first to be fair

I interview a lot as part of my job and sometimes ask candidates to create and present a powerpoint to a brief. I would recommend:

• making / using a simple template (with border, logo etc) so all slides are uniform
• using the notes function for reminders but not just reading straight from them
• structure - introduction, content, summary
• speaking slower than you think
• practice for timing then keep track of time when doing it for real, if brief is 5-10 mins maybe aim for 8 so not too short or long
• practice sharing and un-sharing your screen with a friend or colleague beforehand
• add pictures and possibly some small element of interactivity such as a question to the interviewers
• be prepared to say what sources you used to create your content (websites, journals etc)
• don’t skip through slides too quickly
• be ready to send a copy afterwards in case interviewers want to refer to this when scoring

Good luck!!

Do a voice recording alongside the presentation, you can just press and go!

Be mega self critical.
Have you actually answered the question you were asked?
What questions would you ask if you had watched the presentation?
What questions would your boss ask.
Also typos, typos, typos.
It's the basic stuff that distracts.

@bimbimbap that's so helpful. Thank you for this 🙏

Proof read. Proof read. Proof read.

And try and keep the style uncluttered and consistent throughout each slide.