While most entry-level or non-managerial positions may not require them, jobs that are higher spec and demand strategy, stronger communication skills, and leadership ability, usually require the candidate preparing for the interview to also create and deliver a presentation to the interview panel. The presentation can be based on any given topic assigned by the hiring team and will require you to think creatively and logically to develop a solution or approach, based on a hypothetical scenario.
If you have an upcoming interview for a leadership or management role, and your interview invite includes a task or presentation requirement, read on to learn tips for developing and refining your presentation.
What is the hiring manager looking for?
The hiring manager sets this pre-interview task to gauge how clearly you think and organize ideas, assess your business strategy acumen, and test your communication and research skills under pressure.
Always remember to revert to the job description as you prepare, so that you do not wander off topic or out of the limits of your potential role. This will also guide you as you pull from the core competencies listed in the “Person Specification” section of the job advert and seek to demonstrate them throughout your presentation.
Start by establishing what is being requested in the prompt
Look carefully at what is being required of you in the interview invitation email you would have received. Carefully analyze and dissect the most pertinent information. Identify what knowledge gaps you may have regarding the business, market, or product, which could hinder you from delivering this presentation confidently, and start your research immediately so as not to burn time.
Create a presentation outline
Draft an outline, based on the requirements in the prompt, so you can structure and design your slide deck seamlessly. Your outline should always include:
- A title slide with the name of the role or presentation task
- An overview slide listing out the key points you will be covering
- The main body slides to address each focus area in the prompt task
- A conclusion slide briefly reiterating all points and your suitability for the role
Find relevant examples to back your points
It’s one thing to tell the hiring manager what your 3-month strategy would look like if you were successful in landing the role; but it takes it a step further and you get bonus points if you (briefly) relay specific examples of where you have implemented this successfully previously.
Note, make it brief, because you will typically be allotted no more than 10-15 minutes for the presentation. The worst thing you can do is dance around the topic and cover everything else except what has been asked of you.
Deliver a real-world taste of your expertise
Showcase how much of a great fit you are for their team by speaking in a positive, future-focused way, as if you were already hired! For example, if talking about an action plan you would like to implement for sales growth and business development, relay the bullet points for each step of the plan on a slide and assign an estimated date/month for completion next to each one.
Talk in-depth about how your plans could affect other dependencies within the business, based on your research. This helps the hiring panel visualize exactly what success will look like if they choose to hire you.
Make your slide deck visually appealing
We’ve all seen those blank, boring PowerPoint presentations that relay nothing except the bare facts in black and white, with perhaps a few misplaced photos and icons scattered throughout. Make yours exceptional and visually stunning.
Take time and care to align the color scheme of your presentation with your prospective employer’s brand colors; explore the plethora of templates available on Microsoft’s PowerPoint, Canva, or other creative presentation tools; use your imagination to make it clean, crisp, professional, high-quality, and engaging.
You can also use the “Designer” tool on PowerPoint to explore more design ideas related to your specific template and content.
When you take time to fully understand what the hiring manager is looking for, use this information to develop your outline, and link back to relevant examples, you can be sure to leave a favorable impression on your interviewers. Your challenge is to now take it a step further and grip their attention through utilizing powerful imagery and visual appeal, and a preview of how you would operate if you were hired.
Go ahead and craft that stellar presentation. You’re one step closer to landing your dream role.
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