Interview for big new job- worried about presentation!

[Lollypaloozy]

I have an interview next week for what could be my dream job. It's a huge step up and would be a 50% pay rise - utterly life changing. However part of the interview is a 10 min presentation on what I'd do in my first 3 months, and I'm stuck! I have extensive experience in doing this kind of (niche) role but I'm worried about making assumptions about what they might want me to deliver, and saying I'll do x, y, z only to find that's not what they want from me at all.

It's not a 'Head of EDI' job, but think along those lines in terms of kinds of stakeholders, activities, deliverables etc.

I'm stumped as to how to structure and deliver something that impresses, despite there being quite a few elements to the role that are actually still unclear (which I was hoping to get answers to at interview!). I guess part of my first 3 months would be learning and gathering the information I need. But does that look like I'm not someone who can hit the ground running?

So nervous now that Im rethinking the whole thing and starting to convince myself I'm not cut out for this. I want this job so badly and am so worried I'm going to mess it up for myself.

I have found that usually what they're looking for is that you have an understanding of short, mid and long term strategy/planning and that you don't plan to just walk in and 'revolutionise' everything.

My go to response to this kind of question is:

• first 3 months is understanding current business - identifying who the stakeholders are, assessing strengths and weaknesses, reviewing processes and ways of working, building relationships, determining who in the team has progression capability for succession planning.
• then I'd use that information to build my 3, 6 and 12 month plans, I like to break these down into the categories "Fix, Focus and Grow".
• what are short term fixes that would give quick wins and address immediate pain points.
• what activities need more focus, development and interaction from a wider stakeholder group.
• what are the long term plans that will grow the capabilities of the team, long term improve efficiency, productivity and quality but will require investment both financial and resource.

Thank you so much, Lettuce! That's incredibly helpful - much appreciated.

Assuming the role does include Equality, Diversity and Inclusion then you may want to talk about global benchmarks/standards as well.

Things like the UN Global Compact 10 principles and Sustainable Development goals.

Using those to develop and influence your long term goals as they are standardised industry guidelines and a long term goal could be to become a participant, issue transparency reports which enable industry recognition yadda yadda blah blah......

So first off, is there anyone you know who can give you some background prior to the interview? Don't just think of who works for the company - what about partners or clients? If you are in a related field, you may be able to glean some information. Also, do desk research, like any recent company announcements and annual reports. Try and find out as much as you can beforehand and refer back to it - if you've made assumptions, then you can justify where they came from.

Then I would think of it in terms of pillars.
What do you know - and what can you do immediately to get some quick wins early on? What are the foundations that must be in place?
What do you need to find out - show that you understand the nuances of the role, especially if it's a niche role, then highlight corresponding areas you have specific expertise. Suggest some best practices and how you could implement them.
What would be key longer-term plans - where is the industry heading, what strategic areas should they be considering, new legislation, training issues, market shifts?

Don't be afraid to include or flag areas where you have questions specific to their organisation or the role; preface it with 'In my experience, it's important for the Head of EDI to focus on XYZ, so I'm keen to understand how much progress has been made in this direction already, and how the implementation of XYZ is managed between this role and the Head of HR/Training/Comms role?

Some really insightful responses here. Thank you so much. I'm really lacking in confidence at the moment. Objectively speaking, I know I am an excellent fit in terms of past experience and industry knowledge. But I worry that my nerves and lack of confidence mean that I just don't inspire confidence in others. I've been in my current role for years. It's slowly chipped away at my confidence and self belief, and I need to get away from the toxicity of that environment. And yet, the thought frightens me - maybe a case of better the devil you know? I hope I can keep it together enough to do myself justice.

Sounds like, in parallel to your presentation, you need to boost your confidence over the coming days. Remember, they've asked you to come interview; they think you are worth their time to listen to. That long-standing job is going to give you the experience they need, so try and see the positives from it.

Different things work for different people. Personally, I love kick-ass music before an interview or big presentation, and I also rate those hypnosis apps you play at night. A friend loves affirmations, although they don't work for me. So you need to find something that helps you. And also, find your cheerleaders - who are the friends and family that boost you; make sure you spend time with them over the coming days to talk it through.

Good luck!