To cancel a job interview

[OngoingCrisis]

I'm probably being irrational and overthinking but this job interview is making me so anxious. I've had one interview with the same company and I've made it to the second interview. I have to do a 10 minute presentation via teams, they've scheduled one hour for the teams meeting so not sure what else to expect beyond the presentation. I'm very close to pulling out of it as I'm so anxious, I want this job so badly but I'm scared that the presentation will let me down.

AIBU to cancel my interview?

If the presentation is on teams, you can maybe tape key words somewhere out of the screen shot as an auto-cue, if you forget. Rehearse it with someone on the other side of a teams call seeing if you look natural.

Practice practice practice. I always memorise the first 3 minutes and run through that over and over again so that I start well. Then as I get more confident through the presentation and nerves calm down from a strong start, I can ad lib more.

Will you be sharing slides on your screen? Even better, because the screen on your face to the slide is small. You can stare at the slides while presenting. That looks natural to the other side. It is like having flash cards right in front of your face.

@EarringsandLipstick thank you for answering I've taken on what you've said and I feel a bit better as I thought the main focus was the content, apparently not (yay). My interview is on Monday. I wanted to email my presentation to my lecturer but she's on holiday

@ThinWomansBrain hi, so this presentation is the second interview so I must have done something right. What do you usually look for from interviewees when presenting?

@blueshoes yes I was thinking putting post-it notes on my laptop screen. rehearsing the first 3 minutes is a good idea, will deffo do that. yes I think I will be sharing my screen so I feel a bit better

Also, will I be penalised if I don't make it to the 10 minute mark? I rehearsed it and recorded myself and only made it to 7 minutes

If I was an interviewer who asked for a presentation (I have never asked for one but do interview from time to time), I would want to see a good set of slides (no typos), well thought out. Mostly that thought and effort has gone into it and a genuine effort to address the topic. Once you have that, it is a lot of the battle won because the interviewer would already have a favourable impression of you and will be willing you to succeed. You will have the wind behind your back.

When presenting, try to speak slower than you normally would. Do not be afraid of pauses especially if you miss your cue. It feels like a pause lasts forever but when you are listening, it is not and often welcome because the listener can use it to catch up. Get back on and continue. Try not to use fillers like 'er' or 'em'. Silence is fine. Less is more. No need for waffle or elaborating any points. If you have a concise well prepared script, you will get through the 10 minutes and sound super confident.

Not sure if the interviewers will ask questions. But if they do, prepare answers to possible questions in advance. Don't be afraid to ask them to repeat or rephrase questions. The interviewers will be impressed you are trying to answer the question not spewing nonsense at them. hth.

7 mins is fine. As mentioned, speak slower. It always takes slightly longer anywhen you present anyway, and gives time for questions or diversions.

yes, definitely the second stage of the process - with the first interviews your only looking for the best of what you see to bring back for the second stage.
Generally, I'd expect candidates to be nervous, so I don't get too fussed if they are. I'd expect what the presented to be reasonably succinct, and cover the topic set.
If you are nervous, it's easy to speak quickly - take deep breaths! - but it can mean you finish sooner than you expect to - don't worry about that - if it's notably earlier, just wind up with "do you have any questions leading on from my presentation?"
Also good to introduce your self at the start, and what you're going to speak about. They know who you are and the topic, and you know - but it gives you something to start with that you absolutely can't be flustered about, and a brief into is something you'd expect at any presentation. (and takes 15 seconds with a pause before you start the presentation itself if your concerned about timing) - Something along the lines of "Hello, I'm Ongoing Crisis, thank you for inviting me to speak to you today about Presentation Technique"
Have notes - you might want to write your presentation out in full for practice, but for the presentation itself, the full thing written out verbatim is likely to hinder and make you seem stilted - a short list of headings is great for if you stumble and need a quick reminder. If it's on teams, you can always offer to email them your notes after the presentation (another 10 seconds 😁)
Hope it goes well.

Just read the post above - I'd be wary of slides.
Face to face, I've had too many candidates faffing about with the tech, but on teams, they want to see you presenting, which they won't if you screen share.
I did a presentation once, started off with "I've not done slides" which was met with 'thank goodness' - when I was in the job I soon learned that they had a dread of what they referred to as "Death by power point" :)

You're doing the interview via Teams? That's perfect! You can have your notes on screen or on your desk in front of you where only you can see them... so if you forget what you need to say you've got prompts to support you.

I get your point about slides, but they are good for nervous candidates. On Teams, the interviewers will still see a small screen of the OP on the right column so it is not just slides. If there aren't slides, then the eye gaze might get a bit intense. When presenting, I get weirded out whether I am presenting to the camera or to the persons on the screen (that may just be me). It won't be death by power point because the presentation is only 10 (7) mins.

OP, whatever it is, don't be shy to find out in advance whether you will be allowed to share slides on screen or if they have a preference. If you are allowed to screen share, practice ahead of time doing the screen share and getting the slides on in presenting mode. Move the slides back and forth. Remember to close down all other windows before the interview! With practice and prep, you will have a slick presentation.

If you are not allowed to screen share, then practice your presentation with sticking your notes on the laptop or just behind the camera.

Smile, Wonder woman pose. You will be great!

https://www.cognism.com/blog/detaching-from-the-outcome-regain-cold-calling-mojo

If you have time read this article. I have PTSD and general anxiety from the past and I have found it really useful to detach from the outcome. The only positive outcome in your situation isn't that you get the job so don't make that the focus.

A massive positive is just doing it. Another is you are more prepared for next time. You have learnt valuable skills on the way. Detach from the outcome and enjoy the process

You've already had some great advice but just wanted to say good luck! Most people don't get a second interview so they obviously like you and will be willing you on. They will almost certainly ask questions afterwards, but again that will be to show interest and give you an opportunity to clarify.

Agree with post-its near your screen as prompts. Have you thought about likely questions they might ask in the rest of the interview?

Can you get Propanolol? DH has used it for big meetings, it's for situational anxiety so exactly situations like this.

Have you presented on Teams before? I've been in a few meetings when PowerPoint hasn't worked properly for some reason so could be worth practising on a test call or a friend/colleague to make sure it works. When it has happened in my meetings we always make a joke about technology which eases the tension

Hi everyone thank you for your advice. I will prepare some notes or write down key words to prompt me and stick them on my laptop or mirror. Not sure if it's relevant but the job focuses on a lot of legislation so I plan to look at some case studies and bring them up and discuss how it breaches legislation, but I will discuss it in more of a "conversational" way just to fill some time :)

@BraveMaeve I'm not too sure on what questions to expect as this is my first ever interview process for this sector as it is a graduate role so I'm pretty nervous about that

In my speakers notes I always have [BREATHE] so I remember to pause. It definitely helps.

Just do the presentation, you'll feel better if you do. And you might get a job the other end of it. If you pull out then you definitely won't.

Good luck!

This is getting a regular thing for interviews. I had to do one and was so anxious like you, to be fair they’re often not looking for the best zingy presentation, more you can hold yourself, speak clearly and organised.

you will be amazing and next year will look back and laugh.

So I totally get where you're coming from. Having to interview or present fills me with dread. Luckily for me I've been in the same job for 13 years 😅 these 2 things may or may not be related...

Just remember - even if you make a fool of yourself what's the worst that can happen? These people aren't your friends, you don't have to see them. And you know what? They will have seen far worse before. Just the pure fact that you're fretting says that you're going to put some effort into this. Think of all those confident wasters they've encountered before. Remember - they already like you, that's why they've asked you back! Have a bit of confidence in yourself xx

If you're at 7mins, you're pretty much there. Check if you're actually at 10mins but just talking at 100mph!

If you're doing PowerPoint, there's also a function called "rehearse with coach" - where you run through your presentation and it gives you pointers on how you did.

Also, if you can bear it, record yourself (eg on your computer or your phone) so that you can listen back to how you sound and see where you are better/worse so you can improve accordingly.

And - again, if you're doing PowerPoint - remember less is more when it comes to slides. Don't have too many slides (10 is more than enough. If you have 15, you have too many) and don't have too much content on the slides themselves: only very brief bullet points and/or the simplest of diagrams/charts/graphs..

Finally, don't panic. For my last job interview, I had a 10min presentation, too.
I ran slightly over, so my last slide was a bit garbled and I was actually out-of-step with a couple of my earlier slides and I still got the job offer.

(In your notes or post-it cues, put reminders for breathing/pauses if you have a tendency to garble)

Good luck.

Good luck for tomorrow! One other tip - before the call, stand in a “super hero” pose for 2 mins. Hands on hips, back straight, head high. There’s a study that shows this helps you with confidence and success! I tried it for my last interview at work and never had an interview go so well.

Remember they're 2nd interviewing because they want you... They see something in you they like

You're not at this stage by chance.

Good luck OP

Afternoon guys, I showed my presentation to my manager as he gets people to present for his interviews and he said it was good so I'm feeling pretty calm. I'm going to go over my slides today but I dont want it to seem too practiced. I won't say everything that I've put on my slides as to not bore the interviewers, will just use my bullet points as prompts.

I'm feeling less nervous but I really want this job. I'm also nervous about questions they may ask me as I'm absolutely clueless as to what they could ask. The only interviews I've ever had are for retail jobs so you kinda know what to expect with those, this is totally different.

Thanks for all your great advise guys, just need to remember they're not trying to catch me out and the content isn't the main focus :)

If you don't attend the interviews why did you even bother applying? It's idiotic to go to all that trouble then wimp out like a little cry baby at the last difficult bit.

Sounds like a plan. Good luck with it.

One thing I am not sure of is how you can show your manager presentation slides for another job that you are interviewing for? Your manager must be particularly forgiving.

Good luck tomorrow op..you got this ...you prepared and ready to go. Take your time talking, don't rush it and enjoy it. They want you or else why they ask you for second interview....