Presentations at interview

[Selky]

If anyone has been on the other side of this, what are employers looking for, enthusiasm, ability to present?

It can't be to test actual powerpoint etc skills as I'm not allowed to use that?

Any ideas?

Partly to weed out candidates who can't be arsed preparing a presentation I think! DH has been to loads of presentation interviews where other candidates just haven't turned up because they have "car trouble" or are "ill".

What is the presentation on and what is the role? If the subject is you and your application generally - how you see yourself in the role etc., a presentation is a godsend opportunity to show off everything you know about the market, the role, the company and to showcase your own talents without having to try and squeeze them into your answers in the interview.

If its a sales role, presentation interviews are very common and recruiters will be looking to see how well you present information verbally and "sell" whatever it is you are presenting on.

The presentation is on

"Challenges in the "relevant sector" and how will this impact on funding in the next five years"

Its an accounting role.

I like doing presentations at interview lol, fills in the time brilliantly. I think it provides a chance to see presentation and organization skills, and can give an insight into personality, which you don't get with a panel questioning you.

It should be an excellent opportunity to showcase what you know/your research and presentation skills. Presumably you'd be client facing and also link up with other professional advisors, so presentations like this could easily be part of the marketing side (albeit not the main part) of the role. In that case you need good delivery as well as content so practice, practice, practice - film it on your phone and watch it back. Listen to the recording in the car, get some feedback from DP or friend.

Content is obviously going to be massively important as it is an opportunity for you to demonstrate what you bring to market in terms of knowledge, experience, contacts, commercial awareness.

Not my field, but I'd be looking at your ability (and willingness) to do the background research needed as well as your skills in engaging with an audience, to follow a brief (do make sure you actually answer the question set) and keep to the time set! There's nothing more annoying than a presentation overrunning.

Thanks all for you thoughts.

The only useful contribution DH has made is "Stand up straight."

The company i work for often does this for some of the professional/senior roles.
We are looking for the candidates that prepare well, have done a lot of research, can present the facts and opinions logically, clearly and give balance. We dont expect candidates to be experts on our specific company, although those that can demonstrate they have undertaken some research on us will obviously score favourably.
Sounds like they are looking for you to understand the key issues and to have some idea how that will impact the specific business and how you would approach that. What would be the commercial factors in it all and so on so they are testing not your accounting skills but your business acumen and how you apply that to situations.