You’ve superior by an preliminary interview (or a number of), and now you’ve been requested to provide a presentation. Congratulations! Let’s take a look at methods to make an interview presentation stand out and impress the hiring committee.
Select the suitable matter.
Even when your presentation “might be about something,” a well-chosen matter could make a giant distinction.
Put together to be calm and assured.
When you have any nervousness about public talking, take care of that first. My submit about overcoming interview nervousness is extremely related to displays. Additionally, many of the options that comply with will enable you to really feel extra assured, since you’ll be extra ready.
Converse conversationally.
Throw out many of the massive phrases and jargon, and don’t recite in a monotone. You understand how you communicate if you’re explaining one thing to a good friend? Take into consideration speaking that manner if you give a presentation.
Meet your viewers the place they’re.
When the interview is scheduled, ask the recruiter for the names and titles or roles of the folks you’ll be presenting to, so you may get an concept of their pursuits and experience. You don’t need to speak all the way down to a gaggle of consultants, nor to baffle a gaggle with terminology that’s over their heads. Analysis the interviewers through LinkedIn and the corporate web site.
Make it interactive.
Most candidates give one-way displays at interviews, so that you’ll stand out in the event you get the viewers concerned. A method to do that is to ask questions at a number of factors. Ask an open-ended query. To encourage participation, don’t ask “Do you’ve gotten any questions?” however as a substitute, “What questions do you’ve gotten (about one thing particular)?” Ask it with a smile and eye contact to indicate that you simply genuinely need to hear their ideas.
You may also ask for the viewers’s concepts. Simply don’t put them on the spot with troublesome or controversial questions. Purpose to make them snug.
Viewers participation does add a wild card to the scenario, so in the event you don’t have expertise facilitating teams, hold it easy. You may contain them at just one level, and in a restricted manner. For instance, you would say, “I’d wish to have just a few folks inform me one phrase every that describes a serious problem in Web safety as we speak.” If no person speaks up, wait just a few extra seconds. In the event that they’re nonetheless mum, immediate them. “So, chances are you’ll be pondering, AI, ransomware and Web of Issues…”
However, if somebody talks an excessive amount of, wait ‘til they take a breath, then proceed your presentation with, “Sure, thanks! And …” To make sure they really feel heard, seek advice from one thing they simply mentioned.
Use slides the suitable manner.
It’s tempting to make use of slides as a script, but it surely’s additionally an effective way to bore your viewers. Preserve written verbiage to a minimal, utilizing temporary phrases and colourful pictures to name out key factors that you simply develop upon verbally. Superior options like animation might be useful moderately, so long as they help what you’re speaking and don’t distract from it.
Be ready.
Okay, simply being ready may not stand out, but it surely’s essential. Be sure you’re clear on the way you’ll use your gear (and the corporate’s, if obligatory). Observe your presentation upfront—ideally in entrance of another person who may give you suggestions. Time it, however don’t be so certain it should take the identical period of time on interview day. Have a plan for adjusting the size on the spot if it’s essential.
Start effectively.
As an alternative of a boring begin like “I’m Terry Lee and my presentation is about gross sales enablement,” strive one thing extra intriguing. “How can gross sales groups obtain a tradition of collaborative competitors? I’m Terry Lee and as we speak I’m going to share three concepts I’ve discovered efficient.”
Or begin with a narrative, maybe with a bit of humor. “I’m Terry Lee and I’d wish to inform you a narrative about how I turned XYZ Inc.’s most sad consumer into one in every of its Most worthy–and the way it concerned gnomes.”
Finish effectively.
A great ending leaves an energized feeling within the room. Listed here are a number of potentialities:
- Full one thing, or reply one thing that you simply left open at the start—like why you talked about gnomes.
- Summarize what you’ve introduced, including a bit of humor or a memorable quote.
- Finish with a name to motion and an inspiring imaginative and prescient that gibes with the corporate’s targets. “I’d love to hitch your workforce. Let’s work collectively to make Product X the market chief inside two years.”
Make it clear that you simply’ve ended, so your viewers isn’t sitting there ready for extra. A smile and a “Thanks!” is an effective technique to sign that you simply’ve completed.
On this submit I’ve assumed that the presentation is required. You may also supply to current visuals or a portfolio as a technique to “go above and past” throughout a traditional interview.
Now you understand how to make your interview presentation stand out. Bear in mind, the effort and time you spend making ready won’t solely enable you to succeed on this interview. You’ll even be constructing presentation expertise that may repay for years to come back. (This submit has been up to date in 2025.)
