Interview presentation preparation tips

The interview presentation is becoming more common in the hiring process. It gives employers a better overview of your general aptitude and provides you with an opportunity to showcase your skills, knowledge, and experience. But how should you prepare for an interview presentation? What should you include? What if it goes wrong?

A man confidently gives an interview presentation.

4th Jun, 2021

Olivia Maguire

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What is an interview presentation?

As you progress further in your career, particularly to executive level, you may be asked to give a presentation for interview. Perhaps you’ve been asked to conduct research and present your findings to a panel, complete a task and show how you approached it, put together a business plan and present your ideas, or even give a presentation about yourself and how you would excel in the role. Whatever you are presenting about, how you approach it should remain the same.

Many people find giving presentations intimidating, especially during an interview when you’re already nervous, but it’s something that you may have to do throughout your career – the sooner you tackle this skill, the better.

Why are you being asked to do a presentation for a job interview?

Many employers opt for a presentation-style interview as it gives a better overview of your general aptitude when compared to, or combined with, a traditional question and answer interview, like a competency-based interview . The interviewer is looking for proof that you can do the job and that you possess the required skills and traits.

Additionally, if you put time and effort into your presentation, this will highlight to the hiring manager that you are committed to the role and enthusiastic about joining the company. How many times have you been asked in an interview ‘Why do you want this position?’ or ‘What is it about this role that attracted you to it?’. They want to know how much you want this position, rather than just any position.

How to prepare a presentation for an interview

Where do you start? What should you include? The presentation is your opportunity to showcase your knowledge, experience, and communication skills as well as your organisational skills and diligence – so start with the job description and person specification and pick out key skills and traits that the company is looking for. Then you can prepare your presentation around what they want to see.

For example, if the business is looking for someone creative, pay great attention to the style of your presentation. If it is looking for someone who is a confident public speaker, spend more time perfecting your speech. If attention to detail is paramount in the role, double and triple check your spelling and grammar. This is a great starting point and gives you something to build your presentation around.

What to include in an interview presentation

Although you may be tempted to go all out and show your potential employer that you are committed to the job, don’t fall into the trap of creating a 30-slide presentation with reams of text. Try to keep each slide short and significant and aim for no more than 10 slides. This ensures the information you deliver is memorable and will help you to stand out from other interviewees. Some interviewers may even give you a specific amount of time for your presentation, make sure you factor this in and don’t go over the time limit – otherwise you may appear to have poor time management skills.

Another way to make sure your presentation engages hiring managers is to include a range of formats to help you illustrate your points. Include graphs, statistics, diagrams, video clips, and images to help break up large volumes of text and maintain the attention of the interviewers.

If you are conducting research as part of your presentation, include quotes from industry leaders and/or research pieces. This gives your points authority and demonstrates your commercial awareness.

You should also try to incorporate the company’s colours, fonts, or style in your presentation. This will show that you have done your research and highlights your brand awareness.

Finally, check your spelling and grammar thoroughly! Small mistakes can really undermine the content of your presentation.

Tips for presenting at the interview

Presenting is a skill which can be learnt. Even if you are not a confident public speaker, the more you practice, the better you will become.

Present confidently and enthusiastically - Remember to speak clearly, make eye contact, and use open body language.

Don’t just read the slides - There is nothing worse than watching a presentation where the presenter has their back to you the whole time just reading reams of text from their PowerPoint notes.

Try not to talk too fast - Make sure you breathe, and take your time.

Practice, practice, practice - Ensure you are well rehearsed so that you are familiar with the structure of your presentation and are able to deliver it smoothly. If possible, practice your presentation with family members or friends to get used to speaking in front of other people.

Arrive early to give yourself time to set up the presentation and settle any nerves - Get comfortable with PowerPoint and presentation equipment. Make sure you know how to work any projectors, screens, or remote controls before you begin to avoid any awkward stumbles or pauses.

Stay within the allocated time - If you have not been given guidance on length, aim for the 10-minute mark. Time your presentation when you are practising to make sure it will fit within the time limit. If you need to reduce the content of your presentation, cut out the least relevant or weakest points.

Be prepared to adapt - You may have practised your presentation in a certain way, but the interviewer might not respond accordingly. Be prepared to be interrupted by questions or further discussion unexpectedly.

Breathe and try to enjoy it - By relaxing, you will find yourself presenting better and, if you enjoy it, your interviewers will respond to that and be better engaged with what you are saying.

Tips for keeping the interview presentation simple

It can take a lot of work to make something simple, yet effective, and when it comes to interview presentations less is often more. Keep it short - As previously mentioned, try to keep each slide short and aim for no more than 10 slides in total.

One idea per slide - To make sure your presentation is clear and concise, each slide should represent a different point/idea you want to make.

Stick to the important bits only - If you don’t think it’s important enough to spend time on, don’t have it on your slide.

Use the 4x6 rule - Aim for either four bullet points with six words per bullet point, or six bullet points with four words per bullet point. This way, your slides won’t look too busy.

Minimal text - Instead of writing paragraphs of text, use bullet points and a minimum font size of 24.

What's better for your interview presentation? Cue cards or presenting from memory?

Should you use cue cards in your presentation for interview or try to present from memory?

The answer to this question depends on what you feel most comfortable doing. If you find that having cue cards will help ease your nerves and ensure that you don’t forget your speech, then there is nothing wrong with that.

However, if you choose to use cue cards, you should not rely too heavily on them. You shouldn’t stand in front of the interviewers and look down at the cards continuously, neither should you write your whole speech out on the cards and read directly from them. They are cue cards for a reason and should only give you prompts on what to talk about. If your interview presentation has a lot of statistics on, using cue cards to remember the figures if you are unable to memorise them all is an excellent strategy.

What to do when things go wrong

You can practice your interview presentation as much as possible, but something may still go wrong and it’s important to be prepared for this eventuality. Here are some things that could go wrong and how to deal with them: Technical issues

There is not a lot you can do to prevent technical issues, especially if you are using someone else’s computer. But there are ways you can prepare just in case. Ensuring you have access to multiple sources of your presentation is key. Email the file to yourself and the recruiter, bring a copy on a USB stick and printed handouts. This way you are covered if anything goes wrong with the file you’re intending to use.

Your mind goes blank

Even those who are pros at presenting can sometimes lose their train of thought and find that their mind goes blank. The key here is not to panic. If possible, take a bottle or glass of water in with you and use this chance to take a sip, breathe and try to relax. Then look at your presentation slide or your cue cards and pick up where you left off. It may be helpful to repeat the last point you made as saying it out loud could spark your memory for your next point.

You are asked a question that you don’t know how to respond to

If you have allotted time at the end of your presentation to allow the interviewer to ask any questions (which is recommended), don’t worry if someone asks a question that you are not sure on. It may be that the interviewer is looking to see how you respond to a challenging question, so how you react is often more important than the answer itself.

If you do not understand the question, ask the person to explain. There is nothing wrong with doing this and shows more confidence than just saying that you don’t know. If you understand the question but are not sure of the answer, then admit that you don’t have the full answer, provide what information you do have, and offer to come back to them at a later date with a complete answer.

10-minute interview presentation template

Below is a presentation for interview example. Use this as a baseline and adapt or reorder where appropriate based on the task you have been set by the interviewer. Slide 1 - Introduction – Reiterate the objectives you have been set and lay out the structure of your presentation so that the interviewers know what to expect. Slide 2 - About you – Detail your professional experience, skills and working style. Slide 3 - Company history – Give a brief summary of the company history, any milestones or awards. Slides 4-7 - Answering the brief – Give your responses to questions you’ve been asked to answer, the benefits and limitations of your suggestions. Slide 8 - Question and answers – Include a slide titled ‘questions and answers’ as a cue to pause for interaction. Slide 9 - Conclusion – Sum up the key points you have made, reach a decision, and explain your reasoning. Slide 10 - Personal achievements – End the interview on a high with a brief slide highlighting achievements that show how you will succeed in the role.

For more information on how to ace your interview, download our free guide, ‘ Getting the best from your interview: Candidate interview tips and tricks ’, or contact your local recruitment specialist today.

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Frequently Asked Questions

A job interview presentation is all about selling yourself. Be confident, speak clearly, and make eye contact with the interviewer. Don’t be afraid to promote yourself and highlight your achievements. This is your chance to really show the interviewer that you are capable and have the necessary skills to do the job. By putting time and effort into your presentation, you can show them how dedicated you are to the role and the company. For more information on how to ace your interview, download our free guide, ‘ Getting the best from your interview: Candidate interview tips and tricks ’.

Using cue cards can support you with your interview presentation, as long as you use them for their intended purpose. Do not write your entire presentation for interview out on cards and read from them word for word or constantly hold them in your hand and fail to make eye contact with the interviewer. Use them only to prompt you or for remembering key facts and figures. For more tips, read our article on ‘interview tips & questions’ .

If you have been sent a presentation brief that you do not understand – don’t panic. If there are words that you are not sure about, do some research and try your best to figure out what the organisation is asking of you. If you are still unsure, you could ask your recruiter as they may have seen this brief before and can give you an idea. If you are dealing directly with the hiring manager, then it may be worth checking that your interpretation of the brief is correct.

It is better to ask the question than present on something completely different to what the interviewer has asked. However, instead of saying to them that you don’t understand the brief and leaving it at that, tell them your understanding of it and ask if this is correct. This will show that even though you are unsure, you have taken the time to try to come to a conclusion yourself before asking for help. Download our free interviewing guide for more tips and advice.

How long your job interview presentation should last depends on what guidance you have been given. Thoroughly read the brief, as the recruiter or hiring manager may have specified the length of time you have for your presentation. If they haven’t given any indication, you should aim for 10 minutes, including time for questions and answers. For more tips on interviewing, read our article on ‘interview tips & questions’ .

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Home Blog Presentation Ideas How to Give A Compelling Interview Presentation: Tips, Examples and Topic Ideas

How to Give A Compelling Interview Presentation: Tips, Examples and Topic Ideas

How to Give A Compelling Interview Presentation

Interview presentations have now become the new norm for most industries. They are popular for sales, marketing, technology, and academic positions. If you have been asked to deliver one for your job interview presentation, prepare to build a strong case for yourself as a candidate.

Giving a general presentation is already daunting. But selling yourself is always the hardest. Spectacular credentials and stellar expertise don’t count much if you cannot present them clearly, which you are expected to do during your interview presentation.

So, let’s prime you up for the challenge. This post is action-packed with job interview PowerPoint presentation examples and will teach you the best way to do a presentation without stressing too much!

Table of Contents

What is an Interview Presentation?

What should an interview presentation look like, how to prepare for a job interview presentation: the basics, define your structure, what slides to include, how to come up with 15-minute interview presentation ideas, how to conclude your interview presentation, how to prepare for an interview: the final tips, what to do at the first interaction with the company elevator pitch for interview, presentation design tips, how to overcome presentation anxiety, tips on maintaining positive body language throughout the presentation, your final act.

An interview presentation, also known as a job interview presentation or interview portfolio, is a formal and structured way for candidates to showcase their skills, qualifications, and suitability for a specific job position during an interview. It goes beyond the typical Q&A format of interviews, allowing candidates to demonstrate their expertise through a prepared presentation. Employers commonly request interview presentations in various industries, such as sales, marketing, technology, academia, and management roles. These presentations serve several important purposes: assessing communication skills, evaluating cultural fit, measuring expertise, analyzing problem-solving skills, and observing presentation skills. While the specific format and requirements of interview presentations vary widely, candidates typically receive guidelines from the employer regarding the topic, duration, and any specific criteria to be addressed. In essence, an interview presentation is an opportunity for candidates to make a compelling case for their candidacy, showcasing their qualifications, experience, and suitability for the job. It requires careful preparation, effective communication, and the ability to engage and persuade the interview panel. A successful interview presentation can significantly enhance a candidate’s chances of securing the desired position.

Think of your interview presentation as a sales pitch.

Your goal is to convince the human resources team that you are the best candidate. The kick here is that you will present to a warm audience – you already impressed them enough with your resume to be called in for an interview. We recommend generating a strategy and presentation based on a 30 60 90 Day Plan .

Employers request interview presentations for a few simple reasons:

  • To assess your communication and public speaking skills.
  • To understand whether you are the right cultural fit for the company.
  • To develop a better sense of how well-versed you are in the domain .

So, your first job is ensuring your presentation fits the criteria. Review the company’s job description again and jot down all the candidate requirements. Take the time to read about their company values and mission. Be proactive and ask precisely what you should cover during your presentation.

Most interview presentations will differ in content and style, but here’s a quick example to give you more context:

Iterview PowerPoint template design

[ Use This Template ]

Before you get elbow-deep in designing that PowerPoint for a job interview presentation, do some scouting and reach out to the HR team with a few questions.

You want your presentation to be on-point and technically accurate, so ask your contact the following:

  • How long should an interview presentation be? Fifteen minutes is the golden standard, though some employers may ask to cut it down to just 10 minutes or extend it to 20-25.
  • Who exactly will be present? A conversational presentation would undoubtedly be welcomed by your peers and a team leader but may appear too casual for the senior managers or board of directors.
  • Does the HR team have a particular agenda in mind? Ask some leading questions to understand what kind of skills/experience they want you to demonstrate. If needed, use a proper agenda slide to include your content.
  • What’s the IT setup? Should you bring your laptop? Do you need an adapter to connect to their projector? What kind of presentation software have they installed – PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides?

Everyone appreciates clarity.

In fact, 89% of professionals state their ability to communicate with clarity directly impacts their career and income.

Your presentation should flow, not rumble. Make sure that your story is easy to follow and your key message is easy to digest, remember, and pass on. If you want people to retain your main points, opt for the following structure:

3D Ladder with arrow PowerPoint infographic

Source: this infographic was created with  3 Steps Editable 3D Ladder Infographic

Here’s an interview presentation example styled in this fashion.

What is: The company’s presence in the Middle East is low. Only 15% of revenues come from the top markets.

Why this matters: The UAE fashion market alone is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21% during the next five years.

What could be: I have helped my previous employer open a flagship store in Dubai, have a lot of industry contacts, and am familiar with the local legislature. Your brand can expect a 17% revenue growth within one year of opening.

You can find even more ideas for designing your presentations in this post .

The choice of slides will largely depend on whether you are asked to talk about yourself or present on some task that you will be required to do as part of your job (e.g., create marketing campaigns).

Most interview presentation templates feature the following slides:

  • Opening Slide
  • Quick Bio/Personal Summary
  • Career Path
  • Education timeline
  • Key Skills and Expertise
  • Case studies/examples of the problems you have solved at your past jobs
  • Your vision for your future role.
  • What exactly can you bring in as the candidate (we will come back to this one later on!)

Can’t figure out where to start? Swipe either of the following job interview presentation samples (or download a job interview template ):

Typically, a talent acquisition team will suggest broad interview presentation topics for you. For example, if you are applying for a sales position, they may ask you to develop a sales presentation for some product (real or imaginary).

Some employers will request a short presentation about you or your hobbies to understand whether you are a good “fit” for the team and share the company’s values. Remember this: your audience will be assessing your aptitude for the role, no matter which topic you were given.

In fact, the interviewers at this point don’t care that much about your experience and skills. They want to know how you can apply those to solve the company’s pressing problems – meet sales targets, improve ROI from social media marketing or help them earn more revenue.

Your job is to make an educated guess… predict the most wrenching problem, and pitch your “magic pill” during your interview presentation.

I know what you are thinking – but how do I find the right opportunity/problem to tackle?

Businesses across different industries pretty much struggle with the same generic challenges related to either of the following:

Your topic should clearly address one of these areas and offer a potential roadmap for solving some specific problem within it.

Let’s say that you are applying for a sales role. Clearly, you will want to tackle the “customer audience” set of problems. To refine your idea, ask yourself the following questions:

  • Can you think of a new customer segment the company should target? Who are they, what do they want, and how you can help the company reach them?
  • Do you have a network or experience to identify and pitch new clients?
  • Can you think of new collaboration opportunities the company could use to attract a whole new niche of customers?

So a sample job interview presentation about yourself should include a series of Problem & Solution Slides , showing exactly how you will address that issue if the company hires you.

Here’s another PowerPoint presentation about yourself for job interview example worth using – incorporate a case study slide, showing how you have successfully solved a similar problem for your past employer.

Wrap up your presentation by laying out the key steps the company needs to take. Give an estimate of how much time it will take to tackle the problem, and what changes/investments should be made.

Your conclusion should tell this: “Hire me and I will solve this problem for you in no time!”.

How to Prepare for an Interview: The Final Tips

Source: StockSnap

Dial-Up Your Power

Take a deep breath and strike a “power pose” before you enter the room.

According to her research, power posers performed better during interviews and were more likely to get hired. Another study also proved this theory: unaware judges gave major preference to the power-primed applicants. So yes, pep talks do work!

The first 30 Seconds Count The Most

What you do and say in the first 30 seconds will make the most impact. Psychological  research  shows that listeners form opinions about your personality and intelligence in the first 30 seconds of the interview. So be sure to start with a compelling opening, framing exactly how you want to be perceived.

Try To Appear Similar to the Interviewer

Lauren Rivera, a professor from Kellogg School,  came to the conclusion that interviewers tend to hire “people like them” .

Even the top human resource management folks fall for this bias and tend to base their evaluations on how similar a candidate is to them, instead of trying to decide whether the person’s skill set is ideal for the position. So to be liked, you will have to act relatable.

Back up your statements with facts

To deliver a presentation with a bang, you can make use of pre-analyzed facts to support your hypothesis. Make sure to do your homework, study the company and its competitive landscape, and do the professional work you would have done as a member of the company crew. At some point in your interview presentation, you go “off the script”, and pull out a bunch of documents, supporting your statements.

best way to do a presentation in an interview

For example, you can give away a quick plan indicating a number of things the employer could do today to save money, even if they don’t hire you. Make sure to be meticulous; your work will speak for you. But giving away this work will show the employer your commitment, skills, and focus.

And that’s exactly how to make your job interview presentation stand out. Most candidates just ramble about their skills and past career moves. You bring specificity and proof to the platter, showing exactly what makes you a great hire fair and square.

Within a selection process, there are many interactions (interviews and dynamics) that you must successfully complete in order to be the next selected candidate. One of your objectives in this first interaction should be to generate a great first impression in the company. For this, we recommend using the Elevator Pitch for Interview technique.

The Elevator Pitch for Interview will allow you to present yourself in a solid and professional way in less than 60 seconds, in order to generate an outstanding first impression.

What is an Elevator Pitch for an Interview?

The Elevator Pitch is a condensed speech about yourself that aims to generate engagement in no more than 60 seconds. Entrepreneurs widely use this type of speech to persuade investors and job seekers in job interviews. Your Elevator Pitch for the Interview will generate a great first impression to the employer and be better positioned than other candidates. If your goal is to make a convincing presentation in a job interview, your Elevator Pitch needs to be well crafted.

How to Make an Elevator Pitch for an Interview

There are many ways and tips to make an excellent Elevator Pitch for a job interview. This section provides you with essential advice to make your interview more convincing.

Identify your target

You need to know to whom you are presenting yourself. Is it a recruiter? or an executive?. Your Elevator Pitch will change depending on the receiver.

Comprehend the needs of the hiring company

Make an advanced study about the search requirements for the job position. Identify your strengths. Highlight them. Demonstrate your experience. Identify your weaknesses. Show that you have a profile that seeks constant improvement

Create a clear, concise, and truthful Elevator Pitch

This point is critical. Your Elevator Pitch must be clear, concise, genuine, and impactful. Go from less to more. Generate a real hook in your audience. Try not to go off-topic or talk too much, and be brief in everything you want to say.

Speak naturally and confidently

If you can speak fluently and naturally, you can show a confident profile. Show you know what you are talking about and what you want.

Elevator Pitch Example for Job Seekers

This section illustrates an Elevator Pitch Example targeted to Recruiters. It will help you put together your own.

“My name is [NAME]. After graduating with a degree in Business Administration, I have spent the last five years accumulating professional experience as a Project Assistant and Project Manager. I have successfully managed intangible products’ planning, strategy, and launch these past few years. I was excited to learn about this opportunity in Big Data – I’ve always been passionate about how technology and the use of information can greatly improve the way we live. I would love the opportunity to bring my project management and leadership skills to this position.”

Ways to avoid common mistakes in your Elevator Pitch

Keep in mind the following points to avoid making mistakes in your Elevator Pitch for an Interview.

Don’t hurry to make your Elevator Pitch

The Elevator Pitch lasts approximately 60 seconds. Do it on your own time and naturally, as long as you make it clear and concise.

Do not always use the same Elevator Pitch for all cases

One recommendation is not to repeat the same Elevator Pitch in all your interviews. Make changes. Try new options and ways of saying the information. Try different versions and check with your experience which generates more engagement and persuasion.

Make it easy to understand

Articulate your pitch as a story. Think that the person in front of you does not know you and is interested in learning more about your profile. Don’t make your Elevator Pitch challenging to appear more sophisticated. Simply generate a clear and easy-to-understand narrative, where all the data you tell is factual and verifiable.

Don’t forget to practice it

Practice is the key to success. Your Elevator Pitch for Interview will become more professional, convincing, and natural with practice.

How to End an Elevator Pitch?

An essential aspect of ending an Elevator Pitch for an Interview is demonstrating interest and passion for the position. You have already presented yourself and established that you have the necessary background for the job. Closing with phrases revealing passion and attitude will help reinforce your pitch.

We recommend you use expressions such as:

“I have always been interested and curious about the area in which the company operates, and it would be a great challenge for me to be able to perform in this position.”

“I have been interested in moving into your company for a while, and I love what your team is doing in IT.”

“I would like to advance my career with an employer with the same values. I know that thanks to my profile and experience, I can make excellent contributions to your company.”

Keep It Visual: Use visuals like images, graphs, and charts to convey your points effectively. Visuals can make complex information more accessible and engaging. Consistency Matters: Maintain a consistent design throughout your presentation. Use the same fonts, color schemes, and formatting to create a cohesive look. Practice Timing: Be mindful of the allotted time for your presentation. Practice to ensure you can comfortably cover your content within the time limit. Engage the Audience: Incorporate elements that engage the audience, such as questions, anecdotes, or real-world examples. Interaction keeps the interview panel interested. Use White Space: Avoid cluttered slides. Use white space to create a clean and uncluttered design that enhances readability.

Presenting during a job interview can be nerve-wracking. Here are some strategies to overcome presentation anxiety:

  • Practice: Practice your presentation multiple times, ideally in front of a friend or mentor. The more you rehearse, the more confident you’ll become.
  • Visualization: Visualize yourself by giving a successful presentation. Imagine yourself speaking confidently and engaging the audience.
  • Breathing Techniques: Deep breathing can help calm nerves. Take slow, deep breaths before and during your presentation to reduce anxiety.
  • Positive Self-Talk: Replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations. Remind yourself of your qualifications and the value you bring to the role.
  • Focus on the Message: Concentrate on delivering your message rather than dwelling on your anxiety. Remember that the interviewers want to learn about your skills and experiences.
  • Arrive Early: Arrive at the interview location early. This gives you time to get comfortable with the environment and set up any technical equipment you use.

Maintain Good Posture: Stand or sit up straight with your shoulders back. Good posture conveys confidence and attentiveness. Make Eye Contact: Establish and maintain eye contact with your audience to show confidence and engagement. Use Open Gestures: Employ open gestures, like open palms and expansive arm movements, to convey enthusiasm and openness. Smile and Show Enthusiasm: Genuine smiles and enthusiastic facial expressions demonstrate passion and eagerness. Control Nervous Habits: Be mindful of nervous habits like tapping or fidgeting, which can distract your audience and convey anxiety.

Stop fretting and start prepping for your interview presentation. You now have all the nitty-gritty presentation tips to ace that interview. If you are feeling overwhelmed with the design part, browse our extensive gallery of PowerPoint templates and cherry-pick specific elements ( diagrams , shapes , and data charts ) to give your interview presentation the top visual appeal.

Here you can see some 100% editable templates available on SlideModel that could be useful for preparing an interview presentation.

1. Versatile Self-Introduction PowerPoint Template

best way to do a presentation in an interview

Use This Template

2. Professional Curriculum Vitae PowerPoint Template

best way to do a presentation in an interview

This a sample of PowerPoint presentation template that you can use to present a curriculum and prepare for a job interview presentation. The PPT template is compatible with PowerPoint but also with Google Slides.

3. Modern 1-Page Resume Template for PowerPoint

best way to do a presentation in an interview

4. Multi-Slide Resume PowerPoint Template

best way to do a presentation in an interview

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Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks at Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. Jan 15, 2013.

Eight tips on how to make your interview presentation shine

Excellent communication is a key skill in any role. To find the best candidates, employers may ask you to present your ideas

  • How to prepare for weird interview questions
  • What to wear for a job interview
  • Looking for a job? Explore the range of vacancies on Guardian Jobs and find the perfect role for you

Today, 89% of global professionals believe that communicating with clarity directly impacts their career and income , so with the high number of candidates vying for jobs, it is more important than ever to feel confident about sharing or pitching ideas – particularly in pressurised interview scenarios.

As you face the interview stage, it’s increasingly likely that an employer will ask you to visualise your achievements and skill set in the form of a live presentation. Sales, marketing, public relations and teaching are just some of the careers which often request that candidates prepare a presentation to deliver live during the job interview. While you should not expect to give a presentation for entry-level jobs, they are becoming a staple in more senior roles across industries. If presenting and clear communication are part of the job role, there is a strong chance that you may be asked to provide a flavour of what you can do.

It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the prospect of presenting at a job interview, and even a little intimidated. Creating a dynamic and engaging presentation that effectively communicates your ideas is often easier said than done, and this is a frequent frustration shared by jobseekers when applying for roles. It is not just sales professionals that are required to update their CVs and make them more visually compelling and memorable. Presentations are necessary for a wide range of industries, including fashion, graphic design, education and financial services.

Regardless of the job you are applying for, candidates are keen to make their presentations both memorable and engaging. However, many often fall at the first hurdle and overdo it by creating an extraneous deck of long static slides. But don’t fear – there is a wide range of alternatives now available that can help even those with limited technological skills get their point across and dazzle their interviewer.

Here are eight expert tips on how to make your ideas shine through preparing and delivering a world class presentation:

1. Brainstorm without borders

From the outset, it is important to set aside time for brainstorming. Running your ideas past a friend or partner is a useful way to gain a fresh perspective, but you may find you need some additional help from elsewhere along the way. Many cloud based presentation software packages allow real time collaboration between users online, so ideas can be shared instantly and inspiration can be gained from the work of others across the globe.

2. Choose the right technology

It is important that you choose a mode of presentation that you can operate with ease. You can make the ideas flow better by keeping the work in a platform or programme that guides the entire process, from preparation through to presentation. However, make sure you take care with appearances – there are a range of tools that are certain to impress more than the tried and tested traditional style of PowerPoint, and different programmes reflect different skills.

For example, PowToon is a free animated presentation software that may be best put to the test by animators or graphic designers. Another option is Prezi, an online tool which offers a 3D open canvas for presentations. For a more simplified version of PowerPoint, Google Drive Presentation allows multiple users to view or collaborate on the document online.

3. Have a clear structure

Structure can go a long way to boost your confidence and ensure you give a stellar performance. Make sure from the outset that you have a clear understanding of each of the relevant sections of the presentation. Each part of the presentation should naturally follow from the other. Introduce the subject: tell the audience what your presentation is about. Explain the points you wish to convey. End with a summary of your points.

4. Rehearse

Rehearsing is essential to feeling energetic on the day. Find what works best for you: speaking out loud to yourself in the shower, snatching up presentation tactics from Ted videos or familiarising yourself with your presentation over and over. Keep it short and sweet. Remember to check with your interviewer if they’d prefer to keep the presentation open to questions anytime, or save them until the end.

5. Learn to channel nervous energy

Be wary of becoming too animated – waving hands can distract from your idea. The key is to relax but stay alert. Remaining calm, composed and confident in your delivery will help keep your audience’s attention on the content.

6. Talk naturally

Reading words off static slides is nobody’s idea of an exciting presentation. Prepare in advance and talk to your audience in a conversational (but not too chatty) tone. Even though the floor is yours, think of the presentation as a two-way conversation as your interviewer is following your chain of ideas.

7. Make eye contact

Connecting with your audience is essential to retain their interest. Once you start making eye contact, it will also make the presentation more comfortable for you – you can feel that you are truly part of an exchange of ideas.

8. Answer questions honestly and concisely

This is your chance to gauge the interest of your interviewer and explore knowledge and ideas that you could not fit into the presentation. However, if you don’t know the answer to a question, it is perfectly fine and even appreciated to say so, and offer to provide further information at a later date.

The key to effectively communicating ideas is translating them into a narrative that captivates or persuades your audience. For inspiration, go online and learn from others who do this well. There is no harm in using online resources to collaborate on a global scale.

Drew Banks is head of international at Prezi .

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You’ve applied to what feels like (and may literally be) 101 different companies and you’ve finally landed that all important interview. Great! The only problem is, they’ve asked you to give a presentation about why they should hire you…

What makes a killer presentation? What will separate you from all of the other candidates?

Follow these tips to learn how to craft and deliver that perfect presentation.

1. Preparation, preparation, preparation

A good presentation can’t be knocked together in 5 minutes. It just can’t.

Your audience will be able to tell if you just threw some images you pinched from the web onto slides. They might just start to wonder whether, if you can’t be bothered to put the effort into preparing your presentation, you will put any effort in if they hire you… Once they start questioning that, you’ve lost them.

Make sure you set aside more time than you think you will need (this will take you hours, not minutes) and when the presentation is built, practice, practice, practice! (For some advice on making a great, visual presentation – and why that’s important – check out the free online tutorial: Better Presenter – Myths & Tips )

At this stage, it’s also worth thinking about the technology behind your presentation? Think about the font you are using: is it standard? If not, you need to embed it or it may not look right during the interview. Do you need to take your presentation to the interview on a USB stick (in which case, make sure you have a backup in the cloud/on your email in case something goes wrong with the stick); or are they expecting you to bring a laptop (in which case, it is probably worth sending a quick email ahead of time to find out what connectors you will need to connect to the projector and whether you are expected to supply them).

A slick presentation takes quite a bit of effort, but it will be worth it if you land that job.

2. Do your homework on the company and the role

It sounds obvious, I know, but find out what the company you are interviewing for actually does.

Yes, check their website and social media feeds, but every candidate worth their salt will also be doing that. To land the job you need to go that extra mile. Learn what you can about the people who will be interviewing you. There might not be much information available about the HR person you’re in contact with, but try to learn more about the other staff. Check out their LinkedIn profiles, have they written any books, or authored a guest blog post anywhere? Is the company referenced or reviewed anywhere? Try to get a clear picture of what the company does.

It’s also critically important that you find out what the company expect of you . Read the job description closely. Try to find profiles of current company members who are in a similar role and learn more about them.

So, you’ve done your research – now what? Now you need to weave the things that you’ve learnt that are important to the company, and the key skills that they want from someone applying for the role, into your presentation. And yes, this does mean that you will need a different presentation for every interview. Sorry!

Make sure your presentation is reflecting what is important to the people interviewing you. Which leads me on nicely to…

3. It’s not all about you

OK, so it is kind of about you. But my point is that the interviewer is not meeting with you simply to hear about how wonderful you are.

What the interviewer is trying to do is find someone who will benefit the company. It's important that your presentation is focused on how you would help them achieve what that company wants.

Not sure what they want? Read the job description again – there it is. There are your key words.

Your presentation shouldn’t simply list your accomplishments, it should be tailored to those key requirements on the job description. If they say in the job description they are looking for someone who is self-motivated, make sure you cover that in your presentation. You might have brilliant design skills, but if that is not part of your prospective role within the company, it shouldn’t be a key point in your presentation.

You need to tell the people interviewing you how you fit in with what they need.

4. What’s the proof?

You’ve read the job description and you now know the key words the company wants to hear from you.  However, it’s not enough to say,

“I know that you are looking for someone who is self-motivated. I am.”

You need to prove it.

“I know that you are looking for someone who is self-motivated. When I was researching my thesis, I worked independently for two months, gathering the research and writing the thesis. This meant I had to be self-motivated and disciplined in my approach. Ultimately, I gained a first for the piece of work so my self-motivation paid off.”

In that example, you are both mentioning the skill they are looking for (multiple times) and giving a concrete example of when you did it.

Often, people will talk about a STAR approach (so giving the S ituation, then the T ask, then the A ction and finally the R esult) – and this can be a good way to approach it.

Have a relevant (and, ideally, interesting!) story to illustrate each of the key points you are covering. If you miss one of them out – they will notice!

5. Don’t forget to smile…

Ok, so pieces on interviews always offer advice like smile, dress smartly etc. etc. but it is important.

You’ve spent hours crafting that perfect presentation, make sure you do it justice.

First, as I said above, practice your presentation. Make sure you know exactly what you want to say for each slide (this doesn’t need to be a script, just the key points) and when all of the animations occur. Many people talk faster and either louder or softer when they are nervous. If you’re one of them (or you think you might be), when you’re rehearsing your presentation think about how you are speaking; record your attempts if you need to see for yourself. Practice putting pauses into what you are saying. It can be intimidating to leave silences when you’re giving a presentation, but they allow your audience to keep up, and ultimately make the presentation more effective.

When it comes to the big day, if you can, stand to give your presentation. This simple act can make you seem more confident (even if you are shaking inside). Interact with your slides – you’ve spent a long time making them, don’t just ignore them.

And finally, fake it till you make it. The act of pretending that you are calm and confident will often help you feel that bit more calm and confident. You’ve put all that hard work into the preparation – you can do this bit!

The Skills You Need Guide to Getting a Job

Further Reading from Skills You Need

The Skills You Need Guide to Getting a Job

Develop the skills you need to get that job.

This eBook is essential reading for potential job-seekers. Not only does it cover identifying your skills but also the mechanics of applying for a job, writing a CV or resume and attending interviews.

Interviews are scary. Everyone knows they are scary. The people interviewing you know they are scary and are probably feeling a little bit sorry for you.

However, if you prepare properly, do your homework on the company, focus on how the company will benefit from hiring you, prove the skills you have and come across well while doing so, you will have a much better chance at landing that job.

Now it’s up to you…

About the Author

Emma Trantham works as a Communication Consultant at BrightCarbon where she spends her time turning dense, technical information into compelling visuals, presentations and e-learning.

Continue to: Effective Interview Presentations Overcoming Presentation Nerves

See also: Personal Presentation Skills Self-Presentation in Presentations Employability Skills

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4 ways to wow with your interview presentation

19 May 2017

Have you been asked to do an interview presentation? They can be daunting prospects, but Hays’ Karen Young has some pointers that should help you deliver yours like a pro.

You were already feeling pretty nervous about your upcoming interview. Then you were asked to give an interview presentation. It’s one thing preparing  to answer some tricky questions , but preparing to give a presentation as well? Well, that’s less familiar territory for most people.

As you progress higher up in your career and into more senior roles, interview presentations are something that you will encounter more and more. In fact, we are now seeing recruiters building in interview presentations for a number of roles at entry level and upwards.

For the sake of your current and future interview success, it is important that you tackle this skill sooner rather than later.

Why am I being asked to give an interview presentation?

By asking a candidate to deliver a presentation as part of the interview process, the interviewer is looking for proof that he or she can do the job, has strong communication skills, is organised and is diligent. If you take the time and effort to prepare a presentation that showcases all of the above, you will also demonstrate your commitment to the process and enthusiasm for the role. With this in mind, how can you deliver the best interview presentation possible?

1. Prove you can do the job

One of the reasons you have been asked to give a presentation in your interview is so that the interviewer can feel confident in your ability to do the job at hand. You therefore need to use the presentation to demonstrate just that. Where do you even start?

  • Understand the task.  Before you do anything else, make sure you are absolutely clear on what you are being asked to do and what question you are required to answer via the presentation. You must re-read the brief and double-check with the recruiter that you have interpreted it correctly – don’t hesitate to ask them any questions. The recruiter will be in regular contact with your interviewer and can help clarify anything you’re not sure of. Better to check now than not check at all.
  • Demonstrate your skills.  This presentation is testing for key competencies. Which competencies are these? Revisit the job description, highlight the required skills and incorporate these into your presentation.
  • Do your research.  Now look at the business objectives of the company and, if possible, what has and hasn’t worked for them before. For example, are there any major industry or company changes that would affect the way in which somebody would usually approach this assignment?

Take the time to understand this task and tailor your approach according to the skills required and the company information to hand. This will prove your suitability for both the role and the organisation.

2. Demonstrate your written communication skills

Now you know what you want to say during your interview presentation, think about how you are going to say it using your presentation slides. Even if it’s not a core part of your role, written communication skills will prove important to many day-to-day tasks, such as sending emails, giving presentations, setting meeting agendas or putting together briefs for a project.

  • Structure your presentation. The first slide should give an overview of the contents of your presentation. Your introductory slide following this could contain a ‘grabber’, ie an interesting fact, quote or statistic relating to your presentation topic that will make the interviewer sit up and take notice. Each slide following that should provide a headline of what that slide is about, then either a great visual (the preferable option, in my view) or a few succinct bullet points that you are able to talk around and provide further detail on.
  • Keep it concise.  When I say ‘succinct bullet points’, I mean one to two sentences per slide and no more. Someone once told me that presentation slides should be like road signs. They should contain enough information to get people’s attention, but not so much that they are distracted.
  • Know your audience . You may be presenting to an interview panel with different areas of expertise, so research what these areas are, and make sure that what you have written is relevant and engaging for all. For this purpose, keep the language simple and avoid using too much jargon.
  • Double-check the contents.  Next, always ask somebody else to check over what you have written and to check that the purpose of what you are trying to communicate on each slide is clear.

In doing the above, you can make sure the contents of your presentation are clear, informative and a reflection of your strong written communication skills.

3. Showcase your verbal communication skills

It’s one thing having good written communication skills, or being good at putting an impactful slide deck together, but all of this will go to waste without a strong delivery. Being able to communicate clearly and in a verbally engaging way is important, and your interviewer will be assessing your face-to-face communication skills throughout your interview presentation.

  • Don’t read from a script.   Instead, reiterate the key points from each slide and then talk around them in more detail. If you practise what you are going to say beforehand, this should become ingrained, but bring verbal prompts in the form of cue cards just in case. By avoiding spending the whole presentation reading from a piece of paper or slide, you will allow yourself to make eye contact and gesticulate as you talk, thus engaging the interviewers and further building rapport. At the end of the presentation, reiterate and sum up the key messages you want the interviewer to remember.
  • Practise your delivery.  When working on your delivery, I would recommend either practising your presentation in front of someone who can give you feedback, recording yourself speak or delivering it to yourself in front of a mirror. Critically assess the  indicators of confident communication , including speaking pace, tone and body language. Time how long it takes you to deliver so you have a reference on where you should be at which points in your presentation. This will help you avoid over-running on your time slot. If you do, you may lose the full impact of your presentation and thus affect your overall performance in the interview.
  • Calm your nerves.  If you get nervous when speaking publicly, take steps to calm these nerves both when practising and on the day of the interview. Take deep breaths, don’t rush your sentences and remind yourself that the interviewers are just people who have been in your shoes before. What’s more, they’re not trying to trip you up. They want you to succeed, not least because sitting through a bad presentation is awkward and a waste of time! But they also have faith in you and your strengths as a successful candidate. Why else would they invite you in for an interview?

In practising and getting into the right mindset before your presentation, you can communicate with conviction and engage the people in front of you.

4. Show that you are diligent

Finally, the interviewer will want to see evidence during your interview presentation that you are diligent, organised and conscientious in the way you approach tasks, and that you have fantastic attention to detail.

  • Plan for the technology.  Will you be using their devices or one of your own? Make sure you ascertain this beforehand, and know how to use whatever device you will be working on. Ask someone to check your slide deck (if using one) beforehand to ensure that everything works.
  • Bring a backup with you.  Even if you are presenting this slide deck on your own device, take a backup copy on your USB. Email it to yourself and the recruiter to pass onto the client. You should also bring printed copies to hand out to all of the interviewers. In the worst-case scenario, this means you have a Plan B and could still deliver your presentation effectively.
  • Stay conscious of time.  Find out how long the presentation needs to be and make sure you don’t run over. When practising your presentation, remember to time it and leave room for questions at the end.
  • Try to be on brand.  Look at the fonts and colours on the company website and use these in your presentation. You could also try to find existing presentations and webinars on their website and match the format.
  • Double-check everything , from the formatting to the layout, as well as the spelling and grammar. Get somebody else to proof your presentation for you, too.

The above tips all hinge on giving yourself enough time to prepare, get feedback and ask questions on anything you’re unsure of. In taking the time to plan a well-researched, tailored and strongly delivered interview presentation, you demonstrate to the interviewer just how passionate you are about this role. Moreover, you demonstrate why they should be just as passionate about you!

By Karen Young

Karen Young is director at Hays UK. Young is responsible for the company’s UK finance recruitment business. Her knowledge covers finance appointments across sectors, and she is an expert in talent acquisition methods.

A version of this article originally appeared on Hays’ Viewpoint blog .

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How to Start a Presentation for an Interview

Interviews can be really tense situations. Throwing a presentation into the mix only adds to that pressure. What can you do to ease those nerves and start your presentation in a calm and confident manner? How can you captivate your audience and help assure them that you’re the right candidate for the job? This article outlines a number of useful tips to guide your interview preparation and address these important questions.

Preparing a Presentation – Where to Begin?

If you plan your presentation in advance you’ll increase your likelihood of success. Make sure you know what type of message you want to convey and think about the most effective way to deliver this message.

Ready? Take a look at our six preparation tips below.

1. Tell a personal story

Presentations can often be over-professional, impersonal affairs. But they don’t have to be.

Adding a storytelling element to your presentation can ensure that your delivery is both down-to-earth and professional at the same time, which will make your presentation a whole lot more engaging overall.

Think of any personal experiences of your own that are applicable to the content of your presentation. Do you have anything of value that could aid the delivery and help with engagement?

Example: Say you have an interview for a HR role at an international corporation HQ in the city. You’ve been told that you need to deliver a presentation on how you manage conflict in the workplace (we’ll use this example throughout).

By opening with a relevant story of your own about a time when you successfully and diplomatically resolved a conflict outside of the workplace – at home, or wherever it may be – you’ll:

  • Demonstrate your competency in this area
  • Ease any tension that is characteristic to the situation
  • Capture your audience’s attention with an account that can only be delivered by you – making it unique and remarkable
  • Openly display your personality and values, enabling the employer to make a better informed selection decision – beneficial for everyone involved

interviewwoman

2. Use media

Starting your presentation can be the most difficult bit.

You’re tongue-tied, stumbling over words and your heart is beating so fast.

Give yourself the opportunity to collect yourself by using some form of media early on in the presentation.

Begin your presentation with a quick introduction to who you are and what the presentation is about (use a title slide and a ‘What I’ll cover’ slide, for example) and then incorporate a media break.

Use video, music, an infographic – whatever, as long it’s suitable and on-topic, use any form of media that allows you to have a breather and recover from that all too familiar fear of public speaking.

Example: so here we are again – biting your lips and fumbling with your hands as you wait to open your presentation for the HR role.

Your presentation is on conflict management, a fairly sensitive topic, which you’ll want to get right. But don’t sweat it; simply introduce yourself and your specific presentation details/content, then bring in an attention-consuming piece of useful media.

In our case, it could be a funny clip of workplace conflict from a TV Program such as The Office* – this will lighten the mood and create a talking point. You’ll be back in the driver’s seat, and you’ll be surprised by how quickly those nerves calmed down.

* Disclaimer: implement with appropriateness! Only you can decide on what sort of media will be acceptable to use in your situation, so think about this one carefully.

using_media_presentation

3. All eyes on you

Feeling a little more confident?

Create a memorable moment by temporarily presenting without the aid of a prompt.

Open your presentation with conviction by using a blank slide as your second slide.

Once you’ve introduced yourself and the topic of your presentation, most people will expect a thoroughly professional delivery from there on in.

Surprise them; switch the attention to you, shatter expectations, disrupt conventional presentation practice and display clear confidence in your ability to speak independently.

Using such a brave tactic will help in stimulating and retaining interest in your presentation throughout, and perhaps keep you top of mind when the employer is making a selection decision.

It will also show your potential employer just how much you know about the topic at hand.

Example: Conflict solving requires someone with a calm temperament and an almost instinctive ability to thoroughly – and empathetically – understand the issues faced by people other than yourself.

Show that you’re able to remain calm under scrutiny with all eyes in the room on you and truly understand a topic without any form of prompt using this tactic.

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4. Incorporate props

Presentations can sometimes be a little boring to watch and listen to.

That’s no fault of your own; one person talking for a prolonged period of time is not a normal situation – how often does that actually happen in everyday life?

Engaging your audience during a presentation is a common problem that is widely discussed. I won’t go into it here as that’s not the core purpose of this post.

(This post from American Express details  nine simple tips for preparing an engaging presentation if you’re interested).

So what props should I use? Think what you can use/bring that will be both relevant and add value to your presentation.

If you can’t think of anything, then don’t bother – this tip will only work in set situations.

Example: For your conflict resolution presentation, you could bring in something that will create a talking point and engage your audience.

In this situation, we’ll go with a newspaper – you could start a debate about a widely discussed controversial topic, and use this quick exercise as an illustration of how you’re able to apply your conflict solving ability in any circumstance.

using_props_interview_presentation

5. Start with something you know

It’s natural to be concerned about freezing and making mistakes in the presentation that you’re preparing for.

If that were to occur, it’d be likely to happen at or near the beginning of your presentation when your emotions are at their highest.

To ease those nerves and open in a calm and confident manner, it might be advisable to use content that you know inside-out – that way, you’ll feel more secure in the first few minutes of your delivery.

Once you’ve sailed effortlessly through that first part of the presentation, you’ll find the remainder of your content will flow just as easily now that you’ve settled those self-doubts.

Example: Your presentation on workplace conflict is expected to last 20 minutes – that’s a lot of content to get through!

Before you find yourself scrambling for the right words, simply introduce yourself and the topic of your presentation, then start with something such as:

  • Simple conflict stats that are easy to memorise
  • An article or study that you really like and have read a few times
  • Cornerstone conflict management knowledge that’s embedded deep in your brain

presentation_delivery_interview

6. Engage your audience with an activity

A presentation is all about you.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be though.

By introducing an activity for your audience to get involved in, you can take the spotlight off you temporarily, and seize a rare opportunity to connect with your audience in a candid manner.

It’s pleasing just how much this strategy can reduce tension when starting your interview presentation. Once you’re able to start a dialogue with your audience, the unnatural situation becomes significantly more manageable.

Example: Well, you could make this one real interesting. Why not initiate a role play of a common workplace conflict, and then show the potential employers how you would deal with said conflict?

This is a fun exercise that shows your ability to apply the knowledge that you possess and will hopefully put your potential employers in a better mood for the rest of your delivery!

presentation_interview

All of the techniques I’ve outlined above could be applied to almost any interview situation in which a presentation is required – now it’s over to you to get creative with how you’re going to actually implement these ideas!

In writing this post I made a conscious effort to consider different personality types in the interview presentation opening tips that I have suggested.

But these actionable methods represent only a very small proportion of ideas that you can utilise for making a lasting impression in your interview presentation.

Further Resources:

  • Communication Skills Quiz
  • How to Write a Business Letter & Envelope
  • Presentation Skills Training

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Jordan Bradley

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Four tips for delivering the best job interview presentation possible

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Karen Young

26 Apr 2017

You were already feeling pretty nervous about your upcoming job interview. Then you were asked to give an interview presentation. It’s one thing preparing to answer some tricky questions , but preparing to give a presentation as well? Well, that’s less familiar territory for most people.

As you progress higher up in your career into more senior roles, interview presentations are something which will become more of a regular occurrence. In fact, we are now seeing recruiters building in use of interview presentations for a number of roles at entry level upwards. Therefore, for the sake of your current and future interview success, it is important that you tackle this skill sooner rather than later.

So, why are you being asked to give an interview presentation?

By asking candidates to deliver an interview presentation as part of the process, the interviewer is looking for proof that you 1. Can do the job, 2. Have strong communication skills, 3. Are organised and 4. Are diligent. Moreover, if you take the time and effort to prepare a presentation that showcases all of the above, you will also demonstrate your commitment to the process and enthusiasm for the role. With this in mind, how can you deliver the best interview presentation possible?

1. Prove you can do the job

One of the reasons you have been asked to give a presentation in your interview is so that the interviewer can feel confident in your ability to do the job at hand. You, therefore, need to use the presentation to demonstrate just that. Where do you even start?

  • Understand the task: Before you do anything else, make sure you are absolutely clear on what you are being asked to do and what question you are required to answer via the presentation. You must re-read the brief, double check with the recruiter that you have interpreted it correctly and don’t hesitate to ask them any questions. The recruiter will be in regular contact with your interviewer and can help clarify anything you’re not sure of. Better to check now than not check at all.
  • Demonstrate your skills: As I mentioned before, this presentation is testing for key competencies. Which competencies are these? Revisit the job description, highlight the required skills and incorporate these into your presentation.
  • Do your research: Now look at the business objectives of the company, and if possible what has worked/hasn’t worked before. For example, are there any major industry or company changes that would affect the way in which somebody would usually approach this assignment?

Take the time to understand this task and tailor your approach according to the skills required and the company information to hand. This will prove your suitability for both the role and the organisation.

Download your free job interview guide from Hays

2. Demonstrate your written communication skills

Now you know what you want to say during your interview presentation, think about how you are going to say it using your presentation slides. Even if it’s not a core part of your role, written communication skills will prove important to many day to day tasks, for example when sending emails, giving presentations, setting meeting agendas or putting together briefs for a project.

  • Structure your presentation: The first slide should give an overview of the contents of your presentation. Your introductory slide following this could contain a “grabber” i.e. – an interesting fact, quote or statistic relating to your presentation topic which will make the interviewer sit up and take notice. Each slide following that should provide a headline of what that slide is about, then either a great visual (preferably in my view) or a few succinct bullet points which you are able to talk around and provide further detail on.
  • Keep it concise: When I say succinct bullet points, I mean one-two sentences per slide and no more. Someone once told me that presentation slides should be like road signs. They should contain enough information to get people’s attention, but not so much that they are distracted.
  • Know your audience : You may be presenting to an interview panel with different areas of expertise, so research what these areas are, and make sure what you have written is relevant and engaging for all. For this purpose, keep the language simple and avoid using too much jargon.
  • Double check the contents: Next, always ask somebody else to check over what you have written and that the purpose of what you are trying to communicate on each slide is clear.

In doing the above, you can make sure the contents of your presentation are clear, informative and a reflection of your strong written communication skills.

3. Showcase your verbal communication skills

It’s one thing having good written communication skills or being good at putting a slide deck with impact together, but all of this will go to waste without a strong delivery. Being able to communicate clearly and in an engaging way verbally is important to all of us, and your interviewer will be assessing your face to face communication skills throughout your interview presentation.

  • Don’t read from a script:   Instead, reiterate the key points from each slide, and then talk around them in more detail. If you practice what you are going to say beforehand, this should become ingrained, but bring verbal prompts in the form of cue cards just in case.  By avoiding spending the whole presentation reading from a piece of paper or slide, you will allow yourself to make eye contact and gesticulate as you talk, thus engaging the interviewers and further building rapport. At the end of the presentation, reiterate and sum up the key messages you want the interviewer to remember.
  • Practice your delivery: When looking at your delivery, I would recommend either practicing your presentation in front of someone who can give you feedback, or simply recording yourself speak or even delivering it to yourself in front of a mirror. Critically assess the indicators of confident communication ; for example speaking pace, tone and body language. Time how long it takes you to deliver so you have a reference on where you should be at which points in your presentation so that you don’t over-run on your time slot. If you do, you may lose the full impact of your presentation and thus affect your overall performance in the interview.
  • Calm your nerves: If you get nervous when speaking publicly, take steps to calm these nerves both when practicing and on the day of the interview. Take deep breaths, don’t rush your sentences, and remind yourself that the interviewers are just people who have been in your shoes before. What’s more, they’re not trying to trip you up. They want you to succeed, not least because sitting through a bad presentation is awkward and a waste of time! But also because they have faith in you and your strengths as a successful candidate. Why else would they invite you in for an interview?

In practicing and getting into the right mind-set before your presentation, you can communicate with conviction and engage the people in front of you.

4. Show that you are diligent

Finally, the interviewer will want to see evidence during your interview presentation that you are diligent, organised and conscientious in the way you approach tasks, and that you have high attention to detail.

  • Plan for the technology: Will you be using their devices or one of your own? Make sure you ascertain this beforehand, and know how to use this device. Ask someone to have checked your slide deck (if using one) beforehand to ensure everything works.
  • Bring a back-up with you: Even if you are presenting this slide deck on your own device, take a backup copy on your USB and email it to both yourself, and to the recruiter to pass onto the client. You should also bring printed copies to hand out to all of the interviewers. In the worst scenario this means you have a Plan B and could still deliver your presentation effectively.
  • Stay conscious of time : Find out how long the presentation needs to be and make sure you don’t run over. When practicing your presentation, remember to time it and leave room for questions at the end.
  • Try to be on brand: Look at the fonts and colours on the company website and use these in your presentation. You could also try to find existing presentations and webinars on their website and match the format.
  • Double check everything:  From the formatting, to the layout, as well as the spelling and grammar. Get somebody else to proof your presentation for you too.

The above tips all hinge on giving yourself enough time to prepare, get feedback and ask questions on anything you’re unsure of. In taking the time to plan a well-researched, tailored and strongly delivered interview presentation, you demonstrate to the interviewer just how passionate you are about this role, moreover, why they should be just as passionate about you too!

  • Careers Advice Podcast 42: How to improve your presentation skills
  • Got a second interview? Here’s what to expect

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Karen is a Director and recruiting expert at Hays Accountancy & Finance for UK&I. She provides strategic leadership to a team of over 300 accountancy and finance recruitment professionals across nearly 100 offices. With 25 years of finance recruitment experience, Karen has a track record of recruiting top finance talent for businesses across a range of industry sectors, and is a trusted industry voice on recruitment, career planning and market insights.

Karen also leads development and delivery of social and environmental purpose at Hays UK&I. This focuses on how the business supports local communities with a particular focus on improving skills and employability, as well as steps to safeguard the natural environment. Karen leads a Hays UK Charity partnership with End Youth Homelessness focusing on strategic input to the employability element of the EYH Independent Futures programme, that supports young people into work and independent living.

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10 Top Tips for Interview Presentations

top tips interview presentations

If you have succeeded in getting to final interview for a professional job in Higher Education , the chances are that you will be asked to deliver a short presentation to the panel.  You will usually be given a specific topic to prepare: typically this might be to address a current issue and make recommendations on how you would tackle this issue in the post.  For teaching positions, you may be asked to deliver a class to an invited audience or to the panel.

The panel is usually judging:

  • The quality of your ideas
  • The clarity of your thinking – for example, if you are able to take a strategic perspective
  • Your verbal communications skills, especially your ability to influence and engage your audience.
  • Your organisation skills: how well you prepare beforehand and manage your time within the presentation
  • Your formal presentation skills where this is a key part of the job.

Quite a tall order in 5 or 10 minutes!

Here are our top tips for how to prepare effectively and deliver a presentation with impact.

1. Have a Clear Message

Work out what you want to say in two or three sentences before elaborating your ideas.  In order to make an impact, you need to have clear recommendations, backed up by convincing arguments.

2. Structure your Presentation

Make sure the structure of your presentation is clear. You need:

  • A short introduction explaining what the presentation is about and what you are going to cover.
  • Clear sections or themes within the presentation (there might be one slide per theme), ensuring your argument has a logical structure
  • A summary of your arguments
  • A clear conclusion with specific recommendations,  identifying the resources required to deliver them.

3.  Less Is More

It is better to keep your presentation succinct and allow the audience to ask follow-up questions at the end rather than rushing through a mound of information.  It is especially important that any slides you use are visually clear and not text-heavy. Restrict slides to 3 or 4 for a 5-minute presentation, and 6 or 7 for a 10-minute presentation.

Remember, you don’t have to put all your points onto your slides – it is fine to put some top-line points on a slide but then elaborate on them verbally. If your presentation requires more detail, this can be given as a supporting hard copy handout.

4.  Manage your Time

It is important that your presentation lasts the amount of time you have been given – too short and you can appear a lightweight candidate; too long and you seem poorly organised – and you may be cut off halfway through. It is always a good idea to have a timed run-through of your finished presentation but this is not always foolproof (nerves often lead people to speed up). Give yourself some flexibility by having an extra slide or two up your sleeve to add in if you are running ahead of time and/ or decide in advance on a slide which you will be able to skip if you are running over.

5. Do Your Research

Make sure you have researched your topic thoroughly.  Find out how the institution or department have handled this issue in the past. Research what their competitor institutions are doing in this field. And have some relevant facts and figures to illustrate key trends at your fingertips – this can enhance your credibility and show impressive levels of preparation.

6. Know your Audience

Before writing your presentation, consider your panel members.  What are their job responsibilities, priorities, professional backgrounds and interests? You can find out a lot through online research on sites such as LinkedIn , or ask others who work for and with those individuals.  Think about your presentation from their individual perspective and consider what aspects of the topic will most interest them. Give some thought to any internal politics between members of the panel and how you might deal with these diplomatically.

7.  Predict Follow Up Questions

Go through your presentation and work out what questions the panel might ask, especially given their job roles and personal perspectives.  Make sure you have an answer ready for these questions.  Typical follow-up questions might include: Why are you recommending x option and not y? What resources would be required to implement this? How would you go about getting a sign on to your recommendations with key stakeholders? What are the risks of this plan of action and how would you minimise them? How do your recommendations fit with the institution’s wider activities and strategies?

8. Test It Out

It is a good idea to run through your ideas for the presentation with colleagues who are well informed about the topic before you finalise the content. Gathering views can help you discover if there is something obvious you have neglected to mention and to ensure your ideas are well understood by others.  Ask your colleagues to test you with follow up questions and see how well prepared you are.

9. Take Back Up

Always make sure you have a Plan B if the technology is not working or a vital piece of equipment is not available. If you are delivering a powerpoint presentation, email it to yourself as well as taking it on a stick just in case. It can also be helpful to print off some hard copies in case there are problems with the projector. You may wish to take a small clock in case the room doesn’t have one, and you don’t wish to keep checking your watch.

10. Build Rapport

The more familiar you are with your material and the more thorough your research, the more confident you will feel.  The best way to engage your audience is to maintain strong eye contact; avoid looking at the screen or reading notes.  Use keywords on a card as prompts rather than memorising sentences as a ‘speech’ as this will appear more natural. Remember to smile and to pause at key points. Address panel members by name when answering their questions.  Remember to take your time and enjoy it! It’s not often you get to be the centre of attention and are able to put your views directly to senior members of staff.

Find more interview tips here:

  • Video Interviews – How to Prepare
  • Tips For Dealing With Pre-Interview Nerves
  • What Are Employers Looking For?
  • Interview question: What’s your biggest weakness?

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Don't start your work presentations by simply saying 'hello.' Here's how to be more engaging in the conference room.

  • I'm a public-speaking expert, and I've trained many executives and senior teams.
  • I tell all of them to stop starting work presentations with a salutation or a "hello."
  • Instead, you should engage your audience by telling a story or asking a question.

Insider Today

I'm sure you've sat through plenty of presentations where the presenter starts with a polite salutation like, "Hello, thank you for having me here today," or, "I am so glad to be here" — often followed by their name and professional résumé . Sometimes, if it's an internal meeting, you get the same salutations followed by an agenda slide with bullet points and the presenter narrating it.

As a public-speaking coach who has worked with many executives and senior teams, I know how to make work presentations more engaging. Here's how you should change your approach.

If you stick to your old ways, you aren't leaving a memorable first impression

Your audience is thinking three things when you walk into that conference room or onto that stage: Who is this person, why should I care, and how are they going to solve my problem?

Let's face it: Most people are more interested in how you will solve their problem than in you and your professional résumé. So let's flip the script a bit. Start with the solution to their problem, briefly talk about yourself for credibility, and then give them a reason to care.

Instead, try to capture their attention

Begin your presentation with a hook or a story — something that grabs their attention right from the start. For instance, your hook might be, "Did you know this?" or "What if that?" It could also be a short story that humanizes your services or products.

Most presentations are predictable; wouldn't it be better for both your time and your audience if you could introduce an element of surprise?

Some might feel it rude not to thank the organizer or greet the audience, so I suggest finding another place in your presentation for this. Here's a good structure:

Intro: "What if you could be a more confident and credible presenter? What if you could engage with your audience so they remember your products or services?"

Credibility: "My name is Meridith, and I've been coaching entrepreneurs and executives on how to speak with spark for over a decade, and I am really excited to be here. I want to thank [insert name] for inviting me to share the afternoon with you."

Solution: "Today, I will give you three ways to make your audience remember your products and services, helping you stand out in a competitive market. Let's get this party started!"

You could also try to form a personal connection

Often, presentations lack a personal touch. Try sharing a relevant personal anecdote or experience that relates to your topic. This not only makes your work presentation more relatable but also helps to establish a deeper connection with your audience.

For example, you could say: "When I was younger, I often hid in the back of the classroom, hoping the teacher wouldn't call on me because I didn't want to sound stupid or have the wrong answer. Later in life, I discovered acting and improv comedy . It was through the practice of these two art forms that I developed my confidence and learned how to engage more courageously with others. Today, I will give you solutions for how you can also better engage your audience with spark."

Try to encourage interaction

At the very least, you should try to engage your audience from the beginning — whether in person or on virtual calls. You can ask a thought-provoking question or propose a challenge that involves them directly. This approach shifts the dynamic to more interactive and engaging sessions.

If you implement any of these suggestions, you can make your presentation memorable and impactful immediately. And you'll most likely get a larger return on your investment of time and energy.

In today's fast-paced world, where attention spans are increasingly shorter than ever, it's crucial to grab and hold your audience's attention from the very beginning. By doing so, you set the stage for a more engaging and productive interaction. So challenge yourself to break free from presentation norms and embrace a style that resonates deeply with your audience and leaves a lasting impression.

best way to do a presentation in an interview

Watch: A public speaking champion reveals 3 keys to nailing your business presentation

best way to do a presentation in an interview

  • Main content

FDA approves groundbreaking treatment for advanced melanoma

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved a new cancer therapy that could one day transform the way a majority of aggressive and advanced tumors are treated.

The treatment, called Amtagvi, from Iovance Biotherapeutics , is for metastatic melanoma patients who have already tried and failed other drugs. It’s known as TIL therapy and involves boosting the number of immune cells inside tumors, harnessing their power to fight the cancer.

It’s the first time a cellular therapy has been approved to treat solid tumors. The drug was given a fast-track approval based on the results of a phase 2 clinical trial. The company is conducting a larger phase 3 trial to confirm the treatment’s benefits. The therapy’s list price — the price before insurance and other potential discounts — is $515,000 per patient. 

“This is going to be huge,” said Dr. Elizabeth Buchbinder, a senior physician at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Melanoma is “not one of those cancers where there’s like 20 different” possible treatments, she said. “You start running out of options fast.” 

Dan Bennett, 59, credits TIL therapy with allowing him to beat the slim odds of long-term survival of stage 4 melanoma. His daughter, Faith Bennett, 29, first noticed a suspicious mole on Bennett's neck in 2011.

Friday’s approval is only for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer , but experts say it holds promise for treating other solid tumors, which account for 90% of all cancers. 

“It is our hope that future iterations of TIL therapy will be important for lung cancer, colon cancer , head and neck cancer, bladder cancer and many other cancer types,” said Dr. Patrick Hwu, chief executive of the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. Moffitt has been involved with Iovance’s clinical trials of TIL therapy.

TIL stands for tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, which are immune cells that exist within tumors . But there are nowhere nearly enough of those cells to effectively fight off cancer cells. TIL therapy involves, in part, extracting some of those immune cells from the patient’s tumor and replicating them billions of times in a lab, then reinfusing them back into the patient. 

It’s similar to CAR-T cell therapy, where healthy cells are taken out of a person’s body and then modified in a lab to fight cancers. That’s usually used for hard-to-treat blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. With TIL therapy, the cells used are already programmed to recognize cancer — no lab modifications needed — they just need a boost in numbers to fight it. 

Like CAR-T, TIL therapy is a one-time treatment, though the entire process can take up to eight weeks. The TIL cells are first harvested from the tumor through a minimally invasive procedure and then grown and multiplied in the lab, a process that takes 22 days, according to Iovance. 

While that’s happening, patients are given chemotherapy to clear out their immune cells to make room for the billions of new melanoma-fighting TIL cells. Once the TIL cells are reinfused back into the body, patients get a drug called interleukin-2 to further stimulate those cells. 

Hwu said that most side effects in patients undergoing TIL therapy are not from the reinfusion of cells, but from the chemotherapy and the interleukin-2. These can include nausea and extreme fatigue, and patients are also vulnerable to other illnesses because the body is depleted of disease-fighting white blood cells. 

Putting billions of cells back into the body is not entirely risk-free, however, said Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer of the American Cancer Society. It’s possible that the body’s immune system could overreact in what’s known as a cytokine storm, which can cause flu-like symptoms, low blood pressure and organ damage.   “There are risks for immune-related side effects, which could be serious,” he said.

Common side effects associated with Amtagvi can include abnormally fast heart rate, fluid buildup, rash, hair loss and feeling short of breath, the FDA said.

Those side effects can be managed, said Dr. Steven Rosenberg, chief of the surgery branch at the National Cancer Institute. “They’re a small price to pay for a growing cancer that would otherwise be lethal.”

Overall, Dahut said the approval of TIL therapy is “meaningful.”

“What’s nice about this is that patients will receive a wide variety of tumor fighting lymphocytes that will be able to have the capacity to overcome resistance and actually be a living therapy over time, too, to target additional cancer cells should they develop,” Dahut said.

In addition to melanoma, Dahut said that TIL therapy is most likely to be useful in cancers that respond to drugs that “take the brakes off the immune system,” called checkpoint inhibitors .

“Those would be things like non-small cell lung cancer, kidney cancer, maybe bladder cancer, that we know are responsive to immune-based therapies to begin with,” he said. “Many of those patients relapse, so another immune-based therapy that works in a different way, seems to me, the most likely way for this to be effective.”

Much more research is needed, and it may be years before TIL therapy is approved for other types of cancer.

One of Iovance’s clinical trials investigating TIL therapy for non-small cell lung cancer was forced to pause when a participant died. While the death is under investigation, the company said it may have been the result of either chemotherapy or interleukin 2 — therapies meant to knock down each patients’ immune system before they can get the reinfusion of their TIL cells. 

The therapy is not expected to work for every metastatic melanoma patient. Clinical trial data that Iovance submitted to the FDA showed that tumors shrank in about a third of patients who received TIL therapy. 

Of those patients, about half saw their tumors shrink for at least one year, Dr. Friedrich Graf Finckenstein, chief medical officer of Iovance Biotherapeutics. “Some of these patients even had their tumor completely disappear,” he said. 

Another study, conducted in the Netherlands , did a head-to-head analysis of TIL therapy and another form of immunotherapy, called ipilimumab. Twenty percent of the patients who received TIL had complete remissions, compared with 7% of patients who got ipilimumab. Iovance was not involved with the Dutch trial.

The goal of the therapy, Hwu said, “is to get rid of the cancer and have it stay away. These immune cells stay in the body and live in the body for decades.”

The technology has been in development and studied for nearly 40 years. It was Rosenberg who pioneered TIL therapy — first describing how it could shrink melanoma tumors in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1988 .

“I’ve been waiting for a very long time to see this given to patients, because I know that it can cure some patients that have metastatic melanoma that cannot be affected by any other treatment,” Rosenberg said.

It’s worked so far for Dan Bennett, 59, of Clermont, Florida. Bennett was diagnosed with melanoma in 2011 after his daughter noticed a suspicious mole on his neck that had changed color. 

Despite surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, his cancer kept returning. In 2014, his doctors at Moffitt recommended he try TIL therapy.

“At first, we were pretty leery about it because it was unproven,” Bennett said. Ten years later, Bennett is convinced the TIL therapy is the reason he has survived so long with stage 4 melanoma, which usually has a five-year survival rate of 22.5% . 

“I would recommend any experimental drug if it’s your last opportunity,” he said. “You owe it to yourself and your family to do whatever you can to stay alive and to be a productive member of society.”

Buchbinder, the Dana-Faber doctor, was not involved with Iovance’s TIL therapy trial for melanoma, but she is scheduled to begin similar trials with other drugmakers. 

“We literally have patients right now waiting for approval because they are hoping they’ll be able to go on it,” Buchbinder said. “It is definitely a practice-changing therapy.”

best way to do a presentation in an interview

Erika Edwards is a health and medical news writer and reporter for NBC News and "TODAY."

best way to do a presentation in an interview

Anne Thompson is NBC News’ chief environmental affairs correspondent. 

Marina Kopf is an associate producer with the NBC News Health and Medical Unit.

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