PREPARE YOUR PRESENTATION

WHY DO THEY WANT YOU TO DO A PRESENTATION?

Presentations are a vital test of your ability to analyse and structure information and to communicate effectively.

There are 5 key steps to a successful presentation in interviews

1. PLANNING

2. CREATING

3. PREPARING

4. DELIVERING

5. CLOSING

Let's take a closer look at what you would do in the planning stage.

PLANNING YOUR PRESENTATION

​​​​Firstly, you must be clear about what is required and what you hope to achieve. Here is what you need to do.

Study the brief given to you and ensure you fully understand what they are looking for.

  • Are they asking you to inform, report, inspire, gather support or sell an idea?

  • Once clear, then define the objectives of your presentation

  • Decide what information you intend to communicate to your audience.

  • Please find out how long you have to communicate it.

  • Remember, your presentation should be relevant, simple and to the point. At every stage, remain focused on your main purpose.

Who is your audience

In most interview situations, you will present to a panel of interviewers. Try to find out who the panel members are in advance, as this will help you assess their technical knowledge and areas of special interest. What are they expecting, their concerns, and what will pique their interest? By discovering this, you can adjust the content and your language accordingly.

What are the Logistics

Find out what tools or equipment they want you to use. PowerPoint or just notes?

It is better to know in advance rather than arrive and find you cannot deliver your presentation as planned.

CREATING YOUR PRESENTATION

Research

  • Where you have the presentation question in advance, you will have the luxury of time to research and construct the presentation. 

  • Use online and offline resources to generate content. Recent reports, newspaper articles and published research are all valuable sources of information and will help bring your presentation to life.

If you are given the topic on the day, we suggest doing the following:

  • Reading the brief carefully, and as you do, rapidly brainstorm ideas, and jot them down. 

  • If allowed, use your phone to gather as much information as possible. 

  • Ignore Structure at this initial stage, as your aim is to generate as much data as possible. 

  • When complete, organise your ideas into categories, keeping your previously defined objectives in mind.

Bring Structure to your presentation.

It would be best if you thought of your presentation as a story, and it should have a clearly defined beginning, middle and end. Start your presentation with an:

  • Opening or introduction: 15% Tell them what you will tell them - For example, you can begin by saying, Hello, my name is .......Today I am giving a presentation on A plus B, and C.

  • Content: 70% Tell them everything they want to know about A, B and C

  • Closure: 15% Summarise by telling them what you have told them about A, B and C.

Review

Now you can review your presentation and ask yourself the following questions:

  • Is there a logical sequence? If you don't feel this is the case, rearrange your content to suit.

  • Is it easy to follow? Rehearse it with a friend or family member and ask them to give you feedback. 

  • Does it make sense? Same as above. Does it make sense to you or someone else you trust?

  • Does it achieve its objective? Does it answer the questions asked of you by the interviewers?

PRACTISING YOUR PRESENTATION

Practising is vital to a successful presentation and allows you to present fluently without relying too much on your notes. 

By practising, you can check the pace and timing. 

It will also help you to identify any problems before the actual presentation.

These tips will help you perfect your presentation practice: 

  • Start by reading through your presentation script.

  • Next, switch to practising in front of the mirror.

  • Finally, build up to rehearsing in front of a friend or relative.

  • When rehearsing, make a note of your posture; hold yourself upright as this portrays an image of confidence.

  • Your self-belief will be enhanced, and the clarity of your voice will be improved.

  • Making the right first impression is vital to your success, so walk, speak, and stand confidently.

  • Plan your outfit and ensure it is appropriate, clean, and well-ironed.

With each rehearsal, your confidence will build, your nerves will be reduced, and you will be well prepared and ready for the actual presentation.

Remember, your audience will have confidence in you if you are confident with your material.

WHAT TO DO ON THE DAY

Start your presentation strong. 

  • Introduce yourself and remind the audience of your experience and achievements. This will allow you to establish your authority and enhance your credibility. You will come across as someone capable of taking charge.

  • Smile, greet your audience and introduce yourself.

  • Explain what your presentation is about.

  • Tell them how long it will take and how it is structured. Be careful not to go over the allotted time as this will indicate poor organisational skills. Tell them also when you will be answering questions and for how long.

  • State that there will be an opportunity for questions at the end.

Practice this introduction until perfect; this will help you overcome any nerves you may feel.

Cue Cards

  • It is okay to use Cue cards during your presentation. They can be a valuable aid when delivering your speech.

  • Be careful not to use total pages and avoid the temptation just to read from a script. This will come across as stilted, and you will appear to lack confidence.

  • Your cue cards should be postcard-sized and contain only bullet points or key phrases.

Your Voice

  • It is vital that your audience can hear you clearly throughout your presentation.

  • Speak slowly and concisely and avoid the temptation to rush to fit everything in.

  • Make sure you vary your voice's tone at intervals to keep your audience's interest.

Your Body Language

Be aware of the message you are portraying with your body language.

  • Keep an open posture at all times and avoid crossing your arms.

  • Use simple hand movements to emphasise a point.

  • Stand up straight with a relaxed posture as this conveys confidence

  • Make eye contact with each of your audience, as this is a compelling way of developing rapport.

  • Face your audience at all times

Finish strongly and on a high. To do this, keep in mind the following guidelines:

  • Restate the topic and your position on the subject

  • Emphasise keywords you want them to remember

  • Pause between your summary and the question and answer session so that the audience has time to absorb what you have said.

Taking questions from the panel:

  • Thank your audience for their attention and say you are now pleased to take their questions.

  • As part of your preparation, try to anticipate questions which may be asked and prepare answers in advance.

  • If you need time to come up with an answer, use the phrase, 'That is a good question...' to give yourself time to think.

  • Don't waffle - if you don't know the answer, say, 'That is a good question, and I will need to conduct more research to give you a thorough explanation.

  • When you have finished answering questions, thank the audience again for their time. 

  • Remember, a presentation is a communication exercise, and by following the tips we have given you in this section, you will find that you can deliver presentations with real impact.