Making the most of your interview presentation

Making the most of your interview presentation

Accountants are increasingly being called upon to give presentationswhen interviewed for a new job. Widget Finn advises on the best way toturn such nerve wracking experiences into career opportunities

Now, more than ever, presentations are increasingly being used as part of the selection process for a wide variety of jobs. When Emma Field was shortlisted for a post as fundraiser in a national children’s charity, she was asked to do a ten-minute presentation on how she would persuade a local supermarket to adopt the charity as its good cause.

‘It was a completely new area for me,’ says Field, who had been an accountant in a travel company before being made redundant. ‘I had a week in which to do my homework on the charity and plan a presentation on how to market it to a potential sponsor.’

The first rule in giving a presentation is to think about why you are giving it and the people in your audience, says Stewart Theobald of Talking Shop training consultancy.

‘When you do a presentation as part of a job interview you will be given a specific brief which helps to focus the mind,’ advises Theobald. ‘Remember that you are also selling yourself as the right person for the job, so you have to be convincing on two levels.’ Plan your presentation down to the last detail. You will be more confident if you know exactly what you want to say and how you’re going to put it across.

‘A strong structure is important for a good presentation,’ says John Hemingway, author of Video Art’s training booklet, ‘First time round, I wasn’t prepared for that. Allow at least ten times as long to prepare the presentation as it will take to deliver and even more if you need to do a lot of research.’

Make notes on index cards with trigger words. Writing out a script which you deliver verbatim is boring to listen to, and you run the danger of losing your place. Number the cards in case you drop them, and keep a photocopy for safety advises Hemingway. Use short sentences and plain English – it’s easier on the ear and the brain. And avoid jargon.

Visual aids can be helpful if used judiciously but they can be a disaster when they go wrong. Check the equipment beforehand, do a run-through (particularly if someone else will be operating it) and have a contingency plan in case the equipment breaks down.

Resist the temptation to simply read out the words on the screen – you’d save everyone’s time by just handing round notes. Visual aids must only be used to help explain the point you are making, or create a memorable image.

You are bound to feel nervous, even with the best-prepared presentation.

‘Nerves get the adrenalin moving, and help a performance,’ says Stewart Theobald. ‘But you need to feel in control. Arrive at the venue in plenty of time, and allow a few minutes to do some deep breathing and clear your mind.’

Talk directly to your audience and make eye contact – but don’t swivel your gaze around the room or you’ll look shifty. Deal with questions at the end if possible, so they don’t interrupt your flow. Pause and paraphrase the question to ensure that you have understood it – this also gives you time to think. At the end of your presentation, summarise it for your audience, and thank them for listening.

Emma Field didn’t get the job – but she claims that preparing the presentation was a useful experience. ‘Having done one presentation I’ll feel much more confident next time,’ says Field. ‘After all, practice makes perfect.’

Widget Finn is a freelance journalist.

Talking Shop Training: Tel: 0181-509 0595

‘I wasn’t prepared for that’ training video from Video Arts: Tel: 0171-637 7288.

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