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How to Crush Your Job Interview Presentation: 5 Essential Tips

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Ankush Dahiya
5 Essential Tips to Crush Your Job Interview Presentation
How to Crush Your Job Interview Presentation: 5 Essential Tips

TL;DR:SlideShare Nail your interview presentation job with these five essential tips. First, research the company thoroughly to understand its industry, current challenges, and market position. This knowledge allows you to tailor your presentation effectively and demonstrate your insight into the company's needs. Next, highlight your strengths that align with the company's requirements. Clearly connect your skills and experiences to the potential problems or goals the company has, showing how you can be part of the solution.

Structure your presentation using the PCS format: start by identifying a problem the company faces, discuss the consequences of not addressing this problem, and propose your solution. This format not only organises your presentation but also showcases your problem-solving abilities and proactive thinking.

Design your PowerPoint slides to be professional and focused. Consistency in colours, fonts, and layout is crucial, as it ensures your audience is not distracted and can easily follow your key messages. Keep slides simple and relevant, avoiding unnecessary embellishments.

Finally, deliver your presentation with confidence. Make eye contact, use clear and steady speech, and engage your audience from the start. Your confidence in delivery will significantly impact how your message is received. By preparing thoroughly and following these tips, you can present yourself effectively in your interview and increase your chances of landing the job.

Interview Presentation Tip 1: Do Plenty of Research on the Company You’re Interviewing For

Man excitedly reads 'new job' sign, smiling

Before you even open up PowerPoint, you first need to do some extensive research on the company you are interviewing for. This means it’s time to put on your Sherlock Holmes hat and start your investigation…

Here, you really need to know what your company’s industry is all about, including things like:

  • The latest trends
  • The latest news
  • The latest challenges or issues

You also want to know what is going on within the company as well:

  • What kind of products do they sell?
  • What are their services?
  • Who are their customers?
  • What have they achieved?
  • What are the problems or issues they are dealing with?

The goal here is to know as much about the company as possible. You want to come across as knowledgeable about the company because when you give the presentation, you have to talk about, guess what… the company!

Remember, when you’re doing an interview, the focus should really be on the company and what value you will add to the company. It’s also a good idea to find out the knowledge or expertise level of your audience. Your HR contact should be able to provide you with that info. Will your audience consist of your colleagues, bosses, or potential clients? Knowing this will help you determine how to pitch your presentation, what focus you should take, and what tone will be most appropriate.

Interview Presentation Tip 2: Present Your Strengths That Are Related to the Company

Beyond doing your homework on the company, your next challenge is to know your own strengths that are related to the company. The big question you need to answer here is: What can you do that will help the company to either improve or get over those problems or challenges that you identified in your research?

You may want to consider adding a slide or two that talks about your background and previous roles that relate to the job description.

Interview Presentation Tip 3: Structure Your Presentation Using the “PCS Format”

Woman sitting on chair with laptop and chart, working on data analysis.

Once you’ve identified the purpose and key message of your presentation, you then need to structure it. Developing a clear structure will help you stay on point and help your audience follow you.

The best way to structure your interview presentation is to use the “PCS” format:

  • P – Stands for problem
  • C – Stands for consequences
  • S – Stands for solution

So let’s start with the problem: When you give your presentation to your potential employer, you want to begin by identifying a problem or challenge that the company is currently facing or maybe a problem that they will face in the future as they move forward with one of their goals.

Next, you want to talk about the consequences: Here you want to talk about what happens if a particular goal is not achieved or the consequences of failing in some way. In other words, you want to show them that if they don’t do/achieve _____ then _____ is what could happen.

The final part is to talk about a solution: Here you want to outline very clearly what you think the company should do. Keep in mind that when you talk about your solution, it doesn’t have to be right. In other words, it doesn’t have to be a perfect solution that you guarantee is going to work. Instead, what you are trying to show here is that you are CREATIVE and a PROBLEM SOLVER. You want to show the company that you know what they are going through and what they will go through if they don’t solve the problem and how they could possibly achieve the result that they want.

Interview Presentation Tip 4: Make a Beautiful PowerPoint Presentation

If you have been following our weekly presentation tips, you have been presented with a ton of design tips to create awesome slides. No matter how exceptional a public speaker you are, almost all presentations benefit tremendously from awesome-looking slides. All of these slides can be created directly in PowerPoint. To save tons of time and make sure your design looks awesome, you may want to invest in a professional presentation template.

Most of the PowerPoint templates available on the internet are pretty lousy. Fortunately, there are some good resources available for finding good ones, such as GraphicRiver. Regardless of whether you are going to download a professional PowerPoint template or make your own, keep in mind that your presentation’s design needs to be SIMPLE. In other words, the template should not distract the audience in any way. Here are three important things to keep in mind:

  1. Consistency is key. Make sure all of your colors, fonts, font sizes, and graphical treatment stays consistent throughout the entire slide deck.
  2. Delete or hide distracting elements that are not essential to the key point you are making on the slide.
  3. Less is more. Enough said!

Of course, these are just a few tips. For a complete arsenal of presentation design tips and resources that will turn you into a PowerPoint pro, click here.

Interview Presentation Tip 5: Nail the Delivery of Your Presentation

Man presenting with green and orange backdrop

A great delivery of your presentation begins before you even walk in the room. Here are some great tips for making sure your delivery goes well:

  1. Don’t forget the interview basics – dress professionally, carry yourself with confidence, and wear a smile on your face.
  2. Pay attention to your body language – You should ideally be standing as you speak. This way, your audience can see your gestures, stance, and confidence.
  3. Speak with confidence – Make eye contact with different members of the audience to draw them in and engage them in what you’re saying. Remind yourself to take a few deep breaths at various points—this will help you stay calm and will also naturally slow your speech a bit (most people tend to speak quickly when giving a presentation).
  4. Start your presentation with a bang – make sure you start your presentation like a pro so that your audience is engaged and excited right from the beginning.
  5. Know your audience – are you presenting to senior executives or lower-level managers? For both audiences, your presentation has to rock but senior executives will want your key points driven home even faster!

Conclusion

So those were my five tips for doing great in your next job interview presentation. Presentations are always nerve-wracking, but it’s important to keep in mind that your interview panel wants you to succeed. They invited you to the interview because they think you have something to offer, and they want to see more. Follow the presentation tips above and show them exactly what you can bring to the table!

Here’s my question for you… What has worked really well for you with an interview that has involved a presentation?

Lastly, do you have a friend that could benefit from how to succeed with an interview presentation? If so, email them the link to this post. Thanks for sharing and be sure to post this article on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or your other favourite social media spot using the sharing buttons to the left!

FAQs

  1. What should I research about the company before my interview presentation?
    It's important to understand the company's industry trends, challenges, products, services, and achievements. This knowledge will allow you to tailor your presentation and show that you are well-prepared.
  2. How can I effectively highlight my strengths in the presentation?
    Focus on your skills and experiences that directly relate to the company's needs. Include relevant past roles and accomplishments that demonstrate your capability to contribute to the company's goals.
  3. What is the PCS format for structuring a presentation?
    The PCS format stands for Problem, Consequences, and Solution. Start by identifying a problem the company faces, discuss the consequences of not addressing it, and propose a solution that showcases your problem-solving skills.
  4. How important is the design of my PowerPoint slides in an interview presentation?
    Professional-looking slides can greatly enhance your presentation. Ensure your slides are consistent in design, avoid distractions, and keep them simple and focused on your key points.
  5. What delivery tips can help me during my interview presentation?
    Start confidently, make eye contact, use clear and calm speech, and be mindful of your body language. Engage your audience from the beginning and be prepared to adapt your presentation to your audience's level.
  6. What should I do if I'm nervous about presenting in an interview?
    Practice thoroughly, start with a deep breath to calm your nerves, and remind yourself that the interview panel is interested in your skills. Confidence comes from preparation and understanding the content of your presentation

Call to Action

Ready to ace your job interview presentation? Follow these essential tips to impress your interview panel and secure the job! Start by researching the company to tailor your presentation effectively, showcase your strengths in alignment with the company's needs, and structure your content clearly using the PCS format. Design professional slides that complement your spoken content, and practice delivering your presentation with confidence. Don’t forget, a well-prepared presentation can make a lasting impression.

Need more help or inspiration for your next interview? Visit our website for more tips and resources to perfect your presentation skills. Share this guide with friends who might benefit from it, and don't forget to engage with us on social media. Connect, learn, and succeed in your career journey!

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About the Author

Ankush Dahiya - Unleashing Possibilities

My journey is all about forging connections and unleashing the potential of our ventures. Whether it's nurturing partnerships, shaping strategies, or discovering new horizons for our business, I'm your go-to person.

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