Prospective employers might ask you to make a job interview presentation for a number of reasons. They might want to gauge your public speaking skills and ability to connect with an audience or learn more about your professional background and accomplishments. You might have free choice of a presentation subject or receive an assigned presentation topic. No matter what you’ll be presenting about, complete enough research to sound professional and knowledgeable of your subject matter.

Suggestions for Improvement

You might make a job interview presentation about the prospective employer’s departmental needs. In this presentation type, it’s crucial to research current accomplishments or challenges faced by the department in order to generate ideas for improving processes or products. Steer clear of managerial lingo or tired industry buzzwords, according to the International City/County Management Association. Instead, focus on clear, purposeful solutions that directly relate to the company’s overall goals and the department’s specific mission. Don’t denigrate previous efforts, but suggest how your innovative thinking could help drive production or increase profits.

Response to Case Study

Another job interview presentation example includes case study analysis and response. In this instance, you’ll receive a case study provided by your prospective employer that details a specific scenario or problem. You’ll need to create a presentation that details how you would handle the situation. Avoid presenting yourself as the corporate savior, but point out the numerous ways you would use existing policies and processes as the backdrop to your solution. This shows you understand the value of formal processes, teamwork and collaborative solutions. While you want to emphasize your leadership role in the imagined solution, delegating tasks and responsibilities to others shows you’re a true leader.

Presenting Your Own Research

Companies might ask you to present your own research during a job interview. Although you might be passionate about your research topic, don’t assume interview panelists will have the same knowledge level or perspective you do. Provide context for the research question, cover appropriate vocabulary and terms and briefly describe your methodology. You should describe the effects or potential effects of your research and note whether your study was published or vetted by experts in the field. Make strong connections between the significance of your research, or the skills you used to complete the research, and the job at hand, recommends Stanford University.

Presenting Your Background

Some job interviews require that you present yourself as a candidate overall, providing information about your background, training and credentials that distinguish you from other candidates. Don’t just regurgitate your resume bullet point by bullet point; interview panelists can easily review your resume and cover letter. Use the presentation to present your overall academic or career trajectory, drawing connections between your experiences that show progression and depth. Photographs, diagrams and hyperlinks can keep audiences engaged during your presentation.