Top Tips for delivering a successful presentation in an interview
A job interview is often the most nerve-wracking of events. No matter how well prepared or briefed we might feel beforehand, often the stress of having to impress an interview panel can lead to a very poor performance and, unfortunately, no success in being hired. There are some presentation skills and simple techniques interviewees can adopt to make the interview process a more seamless and professional one.
Follow these 7 tips to delivering a successful presentation in an interview and put your career on the right track.
1. Be confident.
An interview is an opportunity for you to sell yourself, your skills, your ability and your knowledge. It is essential to project your personality (without going over the top) and convince the panel of your competence.
2. Before you speak, take two deep breaths!
This will calm you and allow you to concentrate fully on what you want to say. Speak clearly at a normal pace and if you feel you are speaking too quickly, slow down and relax by taking another deep breath. Presentation skills are about making what you say more important than how you say it but, you need your audience to understand you, too.
3. Be prepared.
A prospective employer will want you to demonstrate that you have done your homework on their business. Provide examples that show you know exactly what kind of organisation you hope to join and what will be expected of you in the vacant role.
4. Pay attention to timing.
Make your points in full but don’t labour points unnecessarily or you will risk losing the attention of your audience.
5. Imagine the interview as a conversation in a lift.
It’s not as ludicrous an idea as you might think. Travelling from ground floor to 10th floor in a lift will only take
a matter of minutes so consider those few minutes all the time you have to impart everything you want to say to your interviewers. It will help concentrate the mind and help you focus on the most important issues and information.
6. Be succinct in your presentation materials.
If using, for example, PowerPoint, to illustrate a point or present data in graphical form, keep your slides as simple as possible. Content is king so keep the bells and whistles to a minimum – that will also reduce the chances of things going wrong.
7. Leave time for questions at the end of your presentation.
You are demonstrating confidence in your subject matter but, also showing the panel common courtesy because they have listened to you and now, it’s your turn to listen to them.
Nerves will often get the better of many of us in a stressful situation such as a job interview but by using these 7 tips to focus your mind on what’s important, you are on your way to delivering a successful presentation and that new job.



