Surprise presentation at interview - Aaagghh

[crumpetsolo]

I have an interview on Friday where I will have to give a 5 - 10 minute presentation on a SURPRISE topic (broadly related to the job). There's an hour to prepare beforehand after they give you the topic. I am TERRIFIED!

Has anyone been to this kind of interview before? Any tips? I'm swotting up on relevant topical stuff but anything else I can do to prepare?

what area do you work in?

Yes, i had an interview like this.
I had 30 minutes to prepare a 15 minute presentation.

For me it was a case study.

Can you give us a clue to the area of work?

Charity law - I'm going to read loads of updates from law firms, can't really think of what else I can do. I'm half - YAY, my dream job and half - Maybe I just won't go!

they want to know what you can do, not what you have mugged up on. do deep thought on your previous experience and what was wildly successful.

hmm, mine was health so i'm not sure i can help.

sounds like an interesting job though - definitely go!

I have done this before - both as interviewee and interviewer... always case studies.

If it is a case study, as an interviewer I look for clear thought processes, good decision making and good communication skills. Whether or not the decision made is the one I would have taken is broadly irrelevant, as long as the candidate has clear rationale and sound judgement. The case studies tend not to have 'right or wrong' answers and don't test knowledge, but softer skills / attitude and behaviours. The key is simple - don't panic and read all the info given a couple of times before starting to do any analysis or decisions.

Occasionally (depending on the vacancy) I ask for a presentation on a particular topic, but I never get the candidate to do that cold - they get 7-10 days to prepare in advance. I would be surprised if they asked you to do that tbh. But, if they do, fishie is right - they will be more interested in what you can do, your relevant experience and how you can apply that to this job. I don't think revising/cramming would necessarily be very useful. I would actually phone them tomorrow and ask if there is any preparation you can do in advance for the presentation - they may be able to give you some guidance without divulging the topic.

Of course you should go though - nothing to lose and a hell of a lot to gain. Good luck

Agree with notastepfordwife they are more likely to be looking for clear analysis and decision making, than detailed subject knowledge.

You can make it easier for yourself by preparing different structures for your answers. So whatever they ask you you are using a familiar structure and approach to consider the issues and develop your presentation e.g. for management of people structure your answer to cover Task, Team and Individual (John Adair); for problem solving try: data collection, analysis, options, decision making, implementation and management of change, monitoring and review; for change management try the change curve (bereavement model) and match it with required management styles (sell, tell, instruct, impose, facilitate, empower). (or any other management models that you are familiar with)

Use the swotting up you are doing to provide relevant examples, without putting pressure on yourself to know absolutely everything about the subject.

So how did you get on today op?