NHS Interview and presentation

lisa21

Hi, I have an interview later this week for the NHS, it's a customer service management role and I have to do a 10 min presentation. I have the brief for this already as it has to be prepared in advance.

I'm hoping someone could give me some advice on what is best to use for the presentation. I called and asked about what is available, they said they don't provide a flipchart but I could bring one (who has a flipchart at home??!!) or use Powerpoint but it must be version 2002. I don't have powerpoint, I have it at work but I'm pretty sure it's 2007.

Would it be totally rubbish if I took copies of my presentation to give to the interviewers and just spoke without a flipchart or powerpoint? I think I'd feel most comfortable doing this. I hardly ever use powerpoint for work so I'm not that familiar with it.

Hope someone can offer me some advice, I only got the details yesterday so I'm panicking a bit now :eek: xx

Emmzi

I would use powerpoint. They probably want to see how you do on yur feet talking through something.

You can use "save as" to convert to Powerpoint 2002 compatible. Just don't use the fancy bits klike embedded video and you should be fine.

Emmzi

oh - and take copies of your slides as well in case of tech failure!!

lisa21

thanks Emmzi. I'll try for powerpoint then....just not ideal doing it at my current job!! will have to stay late tomorrow I suppose!!

RosaBernicia

I would suggest PowerPoint as well, it's really the standard method of presentation now.

You might be able to get a free trial version by download, or an alternative... a quick Google gave me this http://www.presentationmagazine.com/free-powerpoint-download-51.htm

Good luck

Rosa xx

Emmzi

or openoffice. which also converts to powerpoint and is free

dickydonkin

lisa21 wrote: »

Hi, I have an interview later this week for the NHS, it's a customer service management role and I have to do a 10 min presentation. I have the brief for this already as it has to be prepared in advance.

I'm hoping someone could give me some advice on what is best to use for the presentation. I called and asked about what is available, they said they don't provide a flipchart but I could bring one (who has a flipchart at home??!!) or use Powerpoint but it must be version 2002. I don't have powerpoint, I have it at work but I'm pretty sure it's 2007.

Would it be totally rubbish if I took copies of my presentation to give to the interviewers and just spoke without a flipchart or powerpoint? I think I'd feel most comfortable doing this. I hardly ever use powerpoint for work so I'm not that familiar with it.

so I'm panicking a bit now :eek: xx

Reminds me when I had to do a PP presentation at an interview - TOTAL DISASTER.

I prepared my presentation with the new Microsoft Office 2007 onto a flashstick. Unfortunately, the computer that was being used for the presentation which was hitched up to the projector, must have been one of the first computers the organisation had and was obviously very very old.

The 3 inch coating of nicotine on the equipment only confirmed my assertion.

Unfortunately, my version of PP was not compatible and after fiddling around trying to get it working, I gave up. Great start to an interview!

Fortunately, I had my laptop and I had to use this to continue with the presentation - hardly ideal.

I am sure you will be fine.

No - I did not get the job - unsurprisingly!:(

oh - and take copies of your slides as well in case of tech failure!!

Well said Emmzi - I should have done that!

Good luck anyway!

Misshomme

Go with the one you feel most comfortable with, but if you do use handouts it might be a bit boring for the interviewer if they read the hand out and you talk about pretty much the same thing. You need to think outside the box for this one. I think you could make some great and interesting presentations on PP, however if you're creative enough you could make the handouts interesting too. I would have suggested an interaction type exercise with them, but it might be a bit risky in an interview. Be prepared for questions on your presentation and how you will deal with them if you do not have an answer. They might try to catch you out with that. If you do not know the answer be honest. Good luck

There's some good info on this site. http://www.presentationmagazine.com/presentation_interview.htm

olly300

Be prepared for technical failure.

So go with your presentation as powerpoint in 2002 format and take handouts with you in case the projector/computer doesn't work.

Don't give the handouts out unless the projector/computer doesn't work.

lisa21

thanks everyone. I will go with powerpoint. I'm just drafting it up now then I'll do a few slides. Hope mine goes better than yours dpassmore :rotfl:

thanks for the info too RosaBernicia and Misshomme, I will check out the links.

I am so not looking forward to this!!!

SueC_2

Do whatever you are most comfortable presenting.

It's far better to be comprehensive, interesting, engaging and fluent without the use of technological wizzardry than to subject your audience to 'Death by Powerpoint', where you stutter and stammer, spend the whole time fumbling with the keyboard and mumbling into your chest as a result.

Unless they have asked you to demonstrate your skills with Powerpoint, they are more interested in YOUR ability to present, not your computer's. In too many instances a Powerpoint presentation distracts from this rather than enhances it.

PS. The fact that they are still using the 2002 version tells me they're not too into Powerpoint either!