Cancelling job interview because of the presentation?

[SanFranciscoCalling]

I have a job interview this week for a non-clinical role in the NHS. Part of the interview process is a 10 minute presentation. I've written it and designed the slides but for the life of me I can't memorise it at all. I have notes but from Googling it looks like interviewers are not keen on the use of notes. I'm 45 and menopausal which isn't helping. I feel like withdrawing as it's just going go be a waste of time. I'm so upset. Does anyone have any tips?

Thanks. I am normally OK with presentations on a day to day level but in interviews all my confidence disappears. If is for a band 5 role and I have included lots of images and visual prompts to help me. I have practiced in front of my husband using notes and he didn't think I was using them too much so hopefully I'm just panicking!

They are mostly looking to see if you can organise an argument logically and carry it out so that’s absolutely fine.

Good luck.

As an interviewer I don't want you to read or recite, and I wouldn't mind notes.

I want you to talk about the subject as naturally as possible, have clear points that you want to cover and get across, and a coherent structure.

I would have bullets on flashcards for all the key points you want to cover, and then just talk about all of those bullet points in the room.

If you're not a natural presenter I would say this might be a sign that the jobs not for you.

I thought it was mandatory for all NHS job interviews above a certain grading to include a presentation regardless of whether presentation skills are relevant to the role. So if you aren't expecting to present regularly in the role and you think its a good opportunity, it's worth pushing through this!

In addition to the many good tips here, plan and memorise the first couple of mins - once you’re in the swing of it and off to a good start, you’ll relax more. Good luck and don’t cancel!

Well it sounds like you’ve got it covered @SanFranciscoCalling Maybe concentrate on some mindfulness or breathing exercises for your nerves. Have you watched that Ted Talk about Power poses? Don’t laugh …. It’s really interesting.

https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_may_shape_who_you_are

Sounds great. Everyone thinks they are worse than they are.

Smile, breathe, pause if you need to. Pausing without apology makes you seem calmer than you are. And confident.

So funny I was going to mention standing like Wonder Woman in the loos beforehand. The research is probably not actually as robust as the TedTalk makes out. But if it helps, it helps!

How many times have you practiced it all the way through so far?

I find after about 20 times it begins to stick.

Please do go, at the very least it'll be good experience and could actually go the total opposite to how you're imagining!
Don't picture the other applicants as perfect, they may also be posting here feeling utterly shit-scared.
The very best of luck and we're all behind you

I thought it was mandatory for all NHS job interviews above a certain grading to include a presentation regardless of whether presentation skills are relevant to the role.

It’s not mandatory. I’ve only had one interview where I had an unseen presentation, there are band 7 jobs in my trust that don’t require a presentation. Maybe at band 8 level.

Not for Band 5 or 6 certainly where I work.

OP I wouldn’t mind you using notes at all. I’m interested in your thoughts and content much more than your ability to learn anything off by heart, or even your presentation skills.

Go for it, and make sure you keep to time.

Could you record yourself doing it, then keep listening to it back? And still use the flash cards?

Thanks all, lots of brilliant tips. I've recorded my presentation and will listen to it on loop for the next few days!

@SanFranciscoCalling how did it go?

I am using google to create slideshows at the mo and there is an option to write speaker notes on each slide. So the notes are on the computer but the viewers can't see them. Would that help?