Using notes in an interview presentation - yay or nay?

[DuctTapeDuchess]

I am due to give a big presentation as part of an interview next week, and there's a lot of research and info that I want to ensure I'm conveying - i dont want to forget anything!

I'll be connecting my laptop to a big screen for the interview panel, so i'm planning to use the presentation mode so that I can a) control the moving on of slides and b) have my notes visible only to me.

It is a bit of a comfort blanket for me, I admit.

I am absolutely au-fait with presenting and have done it for some large audiences, but to 'wing it'with no notes or prompts is something im not comfortable with and truth be told, not good at.

This is a senior position where presenting is very much a part of the role, so if you were the interviewer, would you take issue with notes being used? To be clear, I wouldn't be reading verbatim, but having my notes would help my nerves, even if I dont need them much.

Thoughts?

I think that’s fine. I’ve always used notes in interview presentations and I’ve sat on recruitment panels and always assumed interviewees used notes.

Personally, I think someone who came to an interview with the attitude of winging it and presenting off the cuff has quite a cavalier attitude. While I couldn’t really base a decision on that, I’d see that as the candidate not really putting the time and effort into preparation.

I don’t know much about senior roles which involve presenting, but I would also see it as a positive and a sign of having prepared well

I always learn the presentation or put prompts on the slides, but it wouldn’t bother me if a candidate used notes.

Use notes, but learn great chunks of it. Practice until you can recite most of it in your sleep, and use the notes putting relevant phrases to ensure you keep on track.

Of course you should use notes!
As others have pointed out, it shows youve done your prep.

Try not to let it be “death by PowerPoint” of course but every presentation I’ve done or heard, it’s been aided by notes.

Good luck.

By contrast, where I work (and recruit for) we’re expected to excel at presenting and using notes during your presentation would be very much frowned upon. Fine to have them with you as a last minute pre-interview refresh but we wouldn’t expect you to refer to them during the actual interview unless you had a complete brain freeze moment (and that itself might be enough to stop you progressing). Presenting is a key part of our role(s) though.

How long do you have to present for? I tend to learn my speech though repetition and re-reading many times. That way I know the flow of the presentation, what I must cover for each bullet / figure etc and use the slides as prompts.

Bullet points notes ok and comfort blanket
Reading them will be frowned upon and you will miss eye contact.

A bit different, but I recently interviewed for an NHS position and had to do a fake examination- on my feedback chat they recommended using notes, to keep you focused and confident.

Yes, notes to support you but making sure you engage with the ‘audience’ and don't just read. You are experienced, I'm sure you won't.

I'm also impressed when interviewees take notes during interview questions, taking time to think through their answers. Shows strategy and planning of key points to share.