Job Applications - The Content of Your Presentation

By: Waller Jamison
Submitted: 2007-01-17 11:46:53
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

The content of your presentation will be based on a simple formula, one I’m sure you’ve come across in many contexts. The basic format is simple and is always the same:

Tell them what you’re going to tell them

Make your points

Tell them what you’ve just told them

In other words, an introduction which gives an overview of the presentation, followed by a short talk based on the points listed in the overview and to finish, a summary of the points you have just covered.

How you present the material will depend on the audio visual aids available and which you feel most comfortable with. Let’s say you choose Overhead Transparencies (OHTs).

Your overview will be an OHT with a list of topics to be covered. Then you will have one or two OHTs to illustrate each point. You can use the first OHT again to summarise, or if you feel it is more appropriate, a new one which sums up the conclusions you have come to in the talk.

Some Tips for using OHTs

Make sure you use the right sort of OHT – there are different OHTs for use with laser and inkjet printers and so be sure to get the type which matches the printer you’ll be using. Otherwise the result could be smudged or blurred.

Font size – don’t use anything under 24 points as this will be difficult to read.

Don’t put too much information on each OHT. About 6 well spaced out lines of text is enough.

Check the Overhead Projector before you begin and make sure you know how it works.

Use a pen or pencil and point to the actual OHT and not the screen onto which it has been projected.

Leave each transparency up long enough for everyone to read it, but if you are talking quite a bit in between OHTs, switch the projector off. This may not be necessary in a very short presentation. Use common sense.

Using Notes

If you have practised in advance and are familiar with your subject, notes should not be necessary. Use the OHTs or other visual aids to prompt you. If you are asked to do a longer presentation and feel you can’t do without notes, keep them brief and leave them on the table for emergencies. Remember, your presentation should never be a reading of your notes. You can read a quotation or figures which you might not be expected to remember, but never, ever simply stand there and read your notes from start to finish. Notes should be a prompt, used only if nerves get the better of you and cause you to dry up.

Prepare to do without Audio Visual Aids

The more technical the aids you use, the more likely they are to go wrong. So always be prepared to do the presentation without them. If you are using PowerPoint, print out your slides and make sure you have a copy for each member of the panel. If using OHTs, a whiteboard or a flipchart make some sort of handout to illustrate your points. It’s not only technology which can go wrong - interviews can be moved to a room without a whiteboard and people can forget to provide a flipchart.

Handouts

A professionally produced handout is a good way to round off a presentation. It gives you a chance to show that you know your subject or have done your homework on the company. Don’t make it too long or use dense text. A short, illustrated and relevant handout will make a good impression and if it’s touch and go between you and one other candidate, might just tip the balance in your favour.

© Waller Jamison 2005

Waller Jamison is a freelance careers advisor who has taught CV and job application skills to clients ranging from unemployed people to postgraduates. She also delivers academic writing sessions at the University of London. She is the author of an e-book “9 Steps to CV Success”, which includes information on completing UK Job Application Forms and is available at Job Applications For advice on career change go to: CoolerCareers

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Presentation category

  • Lamination For Artists - Laminating Your Paintings, Prints and Other Artwork - By: Jeff McRitchie
    Creation is a painful act, much like giving birth. Even after you come up with an original idea you will have to deal with the false starts, the screw-ups, and then, if you're lucky, you end up with a painting, drawing, or photograph that you don't hate. And then it happens, tragedy strikes: your gorgeous new masterpiece has fallen victim to a spilled cup of coffee. Or perhaps it gets ripped by the family dog. No matter how it happens, your art is ruined and you have to start all over again. But it doesn't have to be like this. You can laminate your creations which will ensure that your work will stand the test of time and not get ruined. Keep reading to find out what lamination can do for you, and your art.
  • Laminating Film For Beginners - By: Jeff McRitchie
    Roll laminators are awesome machines, but sometimes it can be difficult to know what supplies you need to use with your new laminating system. The most important supply you need is laminating film. Although you might be mystified and maybe even a little intimidated by all the different kinds of film available, buying laminating film doesn't need to be hard. This article will give you some idea of what you need to look for when purchasing film for your roll laminator.
  • Get the Word Out With Quartet Improv Signage - By: Jeff McRitchie
    When it comes to business, it's vital to make sure that your messages are presented in the best possible light. This is true whether you're sending an e-mail, distributing marketing materials, or creating a website. But it becomes even more important when dealing with signage. Luckily, office supply manufacturer Quartet produces a great line of signage products called the Improv line that can help you communicate more effectively. The display easels, signs, and frames in this line can enhance your message and draw in new customers, as well as possibly raise your profits. If you continue reading, you'll find out how Quartet Improv products can help you get the word out about your company.
  • Get Binding With Powis Parker Fastback - By: Jeff McRitchie
    There are many different binding methods available today, from the humble three-ring binder to plastic comb binding to binding with color coils and wire. One method that's sometimes overlooked is the Fastback binding method from Powis Parker. The Fastback is an innovative system with some great features and it definitely has some advantages over the tried-and-true binding methods. (We're looking at you, plastic comb binding.) Here are some of the great things Fastback can do and why this machine blows other binding methods out of the water.
  • Get Binding With Fellowes Thermal Binding Machines - By: Jeff McRitchie
    If you need a thermal binding machine for your office, there are a couple of machines made by Fellowes that you should really check out. They have two machines on the market: the TB250 and the TB450. Both of these machines are great units, but which one should you get? This article will discuss what each machine can do so you can choose the right thermal binding machine for your office.
  • Introducing the Intimus Line of Cardboard Shredders - By: Jeff McRitchie
    Corrugated cardboard boxes are very convenient when you need to move offices, ship your products, or store old files. But when it comes time to get rid of your old boxes, cardboard can be a real pain. After all, it's bulky, hard to cut up, and takes up a lot of room even when it's broken down. But did you know that there are machines that can help you dispose of your old cardboard - and even make it useful again? Intimus, a leading purveyor of paper shredders, has two cardboard shredders on the market that make it easy to deal with your unwanted cardboard. This article will fill you in on the details of the company's PacMate and PacMaster S 220v cardboard shredders, so you can quit wrestling with your old boxes and do something more productive.
  • Building a Custom Lanyard - Understanding the Options When Designing Customized Lanyards - By: Jeff McRitchie
    If you have been to a trade show or conference you probably have noticed that many of the representatives have their own custom lanyards. In the past, ordering custom lanyards was a painful process that required special quotes and a lengthy drawn out design process. However, many websites are now offering applications to design your own lanyards in real time. Still, you are going to need to make a number of decisions along the way. Here are some of the things that you will need to consider before ordering custom lanyards for your organization.
  • Go Green With Earth-Friendly Lanyards and ID Cards - By: Jeff McRitchie
    Just about every organization uses lanyards these days and often times, when one doesn't need his/her lanyard anymore, the thing winds up in the garbage. Depending on what the lanyard was made of, it could sit in a landfill for years, never decomposing because it was made from non-recyclable materials. It doesn't have to be like that though, thanks to a new lineup of earth-friendly products that allow you to have an ID card/lanyard solution and save the planet at the same time. Here's a look at these products that are good for the planet.
  • Hey, Libraries! Save Yourselves Some Cash With Powis Parker Fastback! - By: Jeff McRitchie
    Whenever times get tight, the first casualties of budget cuts usually have something to do with either education or the arts. Schools and libraries are often the ones that get the worse treatment, getting the short end of the stick over and over again. With tight budgets, it becomes difficult to not just buy new books, but replace the old ones, especially paperbacks that don't last nearly as long as a hardcover book. However, libraries (both public and school) can get some help from Powis Parker Fastback. A Fastback machine makes it possible for libraries to repair paperbacks, so they can save time and money. This article will look at the ways in which libraries can benefit from having access to a Fastback machine.
  • Reel in Your Identity With Badge Reels - By: Jeff McRitchie
    Badge reels are a popular way to display ID cards, badges, and proximity cards. If you don't know what a badge reel is, it is an item that attaches to an individual's clothing so that the person can wear his/her ID. The ID is attached to a retractable cord that makes it easy for the person to pull out his/her ID and swipe it for access to secured areas. There are a lot of different badge reels available these days, so this article will take a look at what's out there so you can choose the appropriate badge reels for your workplace or other organization.