Learning to walk before I run

AgathaSquirrel

Record yourself presenting as if you were in interview. It’s the only way to determine if you are within the timescale. 2 minutes on a slide, 30 seconds per bullet point is fine. Not all slides will require the same length of time.

rtandon27

@edinburgher - I'm not sure if this helps, but I always tell my team that slides are meant to support the presentation and not be the presentation - a balance between death by powerpoint and too much talking without visual support is your best bet.  The latest version of powerpoint has an AI built in that can help with that balance - takes the load off you to concentrate on content rather than form.

edinburgher

@rtandon27 - my slides are pretty minimal - typically 3-4 bullet points/facts the panel will already be familiar with. It's the notes to accompany the bullets I'm worried about, I'm not actually reading out the bullets themselves at all 

Cheery_Daff

I agree - I wouldn't worry overly much about exact timing for each bit. I've heard one minute per slide but in my opinion that's far too rigid - some are quick, others warrant a bit more talking. I second the idea of recording yourself (video if possible - start a zoom meeting with yourself, share your screen and press record). You will cringe (i speak from bitter experience of many hours of recording online lectures during covid 😬) but you'll also get a good idea of where you're waffling on and where you tend to wave your arms about too much!

KajiKita

When I had this to do for an interview I didn’t record myself but I did time myself. Even with just that you become very conscious of where there are too many asides (or maybe that’s just me … 😉), where you run on, where there is arm waving etc. 

KK

rtandon27

@Cheery_Daff - what an utterly brilliant idea - I've used the timing trick but never recorded - will definitely pinch that one from you!

Cheery_Daff

rtandon27 said:

@Cheery_Daff - what an utterly brilliant idea - I've used the timing trick but never recorded - will definitely pinch that one from you!

@AgathaSquirrel said it first! I don't actually tend to do it that much these days, and I've never done it for an interview (because I've only had one since zoom was properly a thing 😂). But I do spend a lot of time presenting, and I've probably seen a LOT more recordings of myself than most people 😂😂 so at this point timing myself a few times is usually sufficient. 

I don't need to do a presentation for this interview (as far as I know) - first time ever! But I might video myself responding to practice interview questions - I never like the first time I've said something out loud to be on the day 😬

Good luck with your preparations Ed! You are inspiring me to get on with mine!

Watty1

Def record yourself. You want to do well   Do you have a support buddy who could then review the recording?

When VNM went for a job a while back I got him to practice every difficult question I could think of and asked him where he had stumbled in interviews before and practice that.

BTW in case it helps - a recruiter gave me an answer to that question  "is there anything you would like to ask us?" that panels throw in at the end.  Most people stutter over this or ask something that is focused on self rather than the job.   He suggested saying something along the lines of  "yes, I really want the job so are there any concerns you may have about appointing me?".  He said it shows confidence and allows them to reveal anything that might be raised when you walk out the door.    Have used it with good effect

powerspowers

Watty1 said:

Def record yourself. You want to do well   Do you have a support buddy who could then review the recording?

When VNM went for a job a while back I got him to practice every difficult question I could think of and asked him where he had stumbled in interviews before and practice that.

BTW in case it helps - a recruiter gave me an answer to that question  "is there anything you would like to ask us?" that panels throw in at the end.  Most people stutter over this or ask something that is focused on self rather than the job.   He suggested saying something along the lines of  "yes, I really want the job so are there any concerns you may have about appointing me?".  He said it shows confidence and allows them to reveal anything that might be raised when you walk out the door.    Have used it with good effect

I’ve never been brave enough to ask that one Watty, although I would like to! Although I’ve never been asked it as an interviewer and for some candidates would find it hard to answer on the spot. 

Good luck @edinburgher and @Cheery_Daff

edinburgher

I would worry the panel would think me a !!!!!! for putting them on the spot! 😅

Edit: smart bottom