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Original poster

Asked to do a presentation as part of interview

14 replies

Claireodon · 22/01/2010 12:24

Hi, I'm hoping someone can give me some advice please. I have been invited to an interview in 2 weeks and as part of the interview process they would like me to prepare a 10-15 min presentation which I will be asked to perform at the beginning of the interview. They have given me a topic. However, they have not specified whether candidates will be expected to use Powerpoint, flipcharts, etc. They just say 'contact me if you need any equipment for the presentation'. This is not a job involving IT knowledge or even presentation skills - the work will be working with people on a 1:1 basis on the whole. Do you think it will be expected that I use aids or will it be acceptable just to do a presentation with paper handouts done on PP? Should I get in touch with them to clarify this or will I look like a prat?

OP posts:
thirtysomething · 22/01/2010 12:28

Most people tend to do this kind of thing on PP or similar: do you have a lap-top? I guess they may provide a projector for slides - you could email and ask about what is available in the room? I've known not particularly suitable candidates on paper wow interviewers with flashy presentations and get the job.....it depends on the environment and how easily led they are....IME less computer-savvy interviewers (eg running a charity on a shoestring) are more easily "blinded" by a flashy presentation than those that work in a more tech-savvy environment...

WingedVictory · 22/01/2010 12:38

Do contact them to clarify what is available. Not doing so looks as though you do not plan well.

asquashandasqueeeze · 22/01/2010 12:40

we ask our candidates to do a presentation, and usually most do use powerpoint.

When I had my interview I didn't - I just talked for a few minutes. and got the job!

(and I work for a charity, and don't mind whether people use power point or not, the key point for me is whether they stick to the topic, and how they deliver the presentation).

LoveBeingAMummy · 22/01/2010 12:42

Is the subject related to the job you will be doing? I think gives you a clue as to wether its the content or the presentation that is key.

deloola · 22/01/2010 12:47

Use whatever you feel most comfortable with - if you don't use powerpoint regularly then you won't feel familiar enough to be able to concentrate fully on your presentation.

I would take a handout to leave with them (if appropriate)

Good luck.

GetOrfMoiLand · 22/01/2010 12:50

I think that they will assume powerpoint. To do anything else I think would be deemed unprofessional.

Do not assume that you will have to bring in your own laptop, I would say that is very unlikely. Email the interviewer and say that you will email the pp presentation to them and request that they set it up. This I think will be normal, they do not expect a nervous interviewee to faff around with laptops, cables etc with a system they are unfamiliar with.

Don't worry about being flashy with pp. Every job which I have had to prepare a presentaion I have got, I have never done anything very flashy (I personally view really ott pp's as rather juvenile).

With your topic have an intro, several slide discussing the main themes of the topic, and a plenary at the end where you discuss your conclusion. To be honest the presenation need be nothing more than a page with bullet points. The pp design os not what they are looking at, it will be your confidence in the presentation itself and your expertise in what you are saying.

Practice beforehand in front of your DP or somehting (my poor DP has had to sit there many times listening to what, to him, must be the most boring presentations in existence about subjects he knows nothing about. However it does help as it makes youi feel less nervous about standing there and talking to people who just seem to starte through you.

People who interview generally are not monsters and i am sure will be understanding re nerves etc.

Good luck.

Original poster
Claireodon · 22/01/2010 13:05

Thank you, I will contact them to ask what is available. Deloola - you're right. I'm not very familiar with PP and think I would be nervous about using it during a presentation tbh. My previous work has not involved presenting so I'm conscious that I will be nervous enough without adding extra complications.

The job is with a charity and the topic is related to the job - it is basically asking for your view on the best ways to achieve the aims of the service. Definitely seems to me that they are most concerned about the content.

OP posts:
GetOrfMoiLand · 22/01/2010 13:10

Claire seriously don;t worry - the first job I had to do one of these i was utterly terrified, I had never used pp before and I had to call my brother at uni and ask him what to do! tbh it is a very easy package to use, and there are loads of helpguides on the internet, and also the PP templates actually in the program themselves are very helpful also.

I would say if you have a 10-15 presentation to give you would need no more than say 3-4 slides, with an intro and conclusion as extra.

As long as you are confident in what you are actually saying it will be fine, best of luck I do know it is nervewracking.

deloola · 22/01/2010 13:15

If it's for a charity I'd suggest they will be looking equally at your preparation skills and how you perform under pressure - as well as your general manner as well as the content.

LoveBeingAMummy · 22/01/2010 19:29

I think that to do a presentation on pp if you have never used i before could add extra pressure you don't need. Do do a very short bullet point type presentation is very easy and can be done very quickly. I did a lunch time club at work on pp and the staff were able to get to grips with it during the hour (must be my teaching skills)

If you have someone that can help you, and you would feel confident opneing it up and starting then great, if not then go for handouts.

LoveBeingAMummy · 22/01/2010 19:30

..or flip chart or OHP.

asquashandasqueeeze · 23/01/2010 21:03

I think the key is that you are on topic, and also stick to the time limit.

I would expect a candidate to be nervous and that would be ok (within reason). As I said, I did a presentation for my present job (in a charity) and just came in with some handwritten notes - I was a sahm at the time and wouldn't have known how to do a pp presentation.

At a recent lot of interviews, we had a wide range of presentations, and people who had mis-read the topic list, or got something totally wrong were automatically scored low.

handouts are also fine, but if it were me, I would judge harshly on typos!

Original poster
Claireodon · 26/01/2010 15:55

Well, I followed your advice (thank you all)and emailed the company to find out what equipment is available for use to aid my presentation. Worst luck, their answer suggests the expectation is that people will use PP and I should save it on a memory stick and bring it with me to use on their laptop. Alternatively they have a white board and pens. Will be spending the next week trying to find out how to use PP because I am old and don't understand all this modern technology

OP posts:
GetOrfMoiLand · 26/01/2010 15:59

Claire - honestly you will be fine I am sure, if you can cobble something together on word tyou will be fine on PP. It is easier to use than word anyway.

Just don't get carried away and try and make it look to flashy with exuberant fonts and crappy clipart - which all looks naff anyway.

Use a template and just have bullets - resist the temptation to put a shedload of text up there and keep it simple. You will be fine.

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