To ask for last minute job interview help! Civil service presentation….

[HooplaTrapeze]

Hi, I have an interview tomorrow for a PSO role- first interview in 10 years as have been in my current job for a long time.

I have to deliver a 10 min presentation, no PowerPoint or props allowed.

I keep timing myself and I've only got 6min max....is this ok or will they think I'm a lightweight candidate? Only got a few more hours to tinker/prep before DC are home from school

I've been so confident up to now and now having a last minute wobble!

Better to be under time than over with these things.

most importantly, have you looked at civil service behavioural framework and prepared decent examples for the competencies they will be assessing you against? These should be in the job advert.

good luck!

Have you outlined your presentation at the start and summarised at the end?
Generally when under pressure you may go faster but if you pause to have a drink after every slide that will slow you down.
Invite questions through the presentation or say that as part of the 10 mins say you have assigned 2 mins for questions at the end.

Thank you!

yes have outlined and summarised and happy with the framework/competencies/skills and I’ve got solid evidence and examples of all the essential criterial, it’s just this presentation that’s worrying me.

ooh assigning time for questions at the end is good, that turns it into 8 minutes and gives me back some ‘control’ rather than just standing there like a lemon,

If they've asked for 10 I would try and have 8 ish minutes of content at least or otherwise it will feel a bit 'light' - however it might take you a bit longer on the day due to nerves/tech jitters etc and you'll need to remind yourself to go slow and speak clearly so def better to be under than over when practicing...

If it's def only 6 mins ATM can you add a little bit more to your presentation even if it's slightly extra detail or a sidenote - I know no Powerpoint allowed but I always think in slide terms and usually prepare them even if I won't use to present on the day, 1 additional 'slide' with a diagram or picture and couple of bullet points will usually take me 2 mins to present so if you can add that much to what you want to say that will bring you up to the 8 minute mark and still allows a margin of error and for questions? Obviously I don't know the topic but a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) or PESTLE (Politics, Economics, Social, Technical, Legal, Environment) analysis are beloved CS tools, not saying you need to do a full analysis but just some themes you can think about? Or if you can somehow shoehorn in something on equality and diversity that's a very hot topic these days?