presentation for teaching job interview

How To Prepare For A Teaching Demonstration At A Job Interview

• Post author: Dr. Fawaz Al-Malood
• Post category: Podcast / Productivity / Professional Development / Teaching

This is the third in a series of articles to help you prepare for the teaching job interview. In the last two articles, I discussed how you can prepare for the Writing Assignment At Teaching Job Interview and how to Prepare For A Teaching Interview .

In this article, I’ll share four things to help you prepare for the teaching demonstration.

Teaching Demonstration

Most applicants applying for a teaching position seem have some teaching experience either as a Teaching Assistant (TA) in graduate school, or as an adjunct faculty, or as a trainer in the industry they’ve specialized in.  If you happen to be one of those, you’re fortunate enough to have some classroom or instructional experience.

However, that isn’t the case for all applicants, and it shouldn’t prevent you from still being able to perform a teaching demonstration and doing exceptionally well if you are prepared!

While prior teaching experience is helpful, what is more important is possessing excellent communication skills and the ability to connect and engage with students.

Since teaching demonstrations are relatively short, usually 10 minutes in length, you have limited time to show your hiring committee how well you are able to articulate your thoughts and break-down the concept you are teaching. You’ll also be assessed on your ability to peak students’ interest and engage them through your delivery, and non-verbal communication.

The following four tips will help you better prepare for your teaching demonstration:

1. Content Mastery

Your hiring committee will most likely provide you with the topic for your teaching demonstration in advance. Make use of the early notice to ensure that you familiarize yourself with the topic you are going to demo.  If you’re lucky, you’ll be assigned with a topic which you are very familiar with.

When I went through my teaching demo, the topic that I was assigned had very little to do with the discipline and college level that I would be teaching if hired. Thankfully, it was a topic that I was extremely familiar with because I’d studied, researched, and written about it in graduate school. Familiarity with the topic is extremely important because it will boost your confidence as you prepare for and deliver your demonstration.

So, make sure you know everything you need to know about that topic. Having said that, you need to remember that the hiring committee and your future students do not need to know everything you know. Your job is to cover the topic(s) that they need to know to help them achieve the lesson or course objectives.

 2. Content Structure

  Once you feel confident with your mastery of the topic that you’ll need to teach, it is time to begin creating an outline for what you need to include in your demo. Remember that you only have a few minutes to perform your teaching demo, so you need to be very selective about what you cover. As I stated earlier, your job is not to teach everything you know, but merely what your students or hiring committee needs to know about that topic in the allotted time.

  When planning your outline, you should include the following three things:

• The title of your topic.
• What will be covered (in list or bullet format).
• How or why it is relevant or important for the students to learn.
• Be enthusiastic and passionate about the topic.
• Make eye contact with the students.
• Share a relevant story.
• Conclusion:   You may be tempted to use up all of the time given to you to flex your intellectual muscles in front of your committee, but that’s not the purpose of the teaching demo.  You need to focus on teaching what you were asked to teach in an effective manner. Do not rush, and don’t feel pressured into adding more content to fill up the given time. Allow 1 or 2 minutes for questions.

 3. Visual Aids

When planning your teaching demo, identify the visual aids that will be provided to you by the hiring committee, if any, and determine which of them would best help you cover the content that you plan on presenting.

Some content is best delivered through a digital presentation software while smart boards or white boards are still effective for other types of content. The advantage of the digital presentations such as PowerPoint, Keynote, Prezi, or Google Slides is that you don’t have to use any of your demo time to actually generate the content on the slides since you would have done that in advance.

When putting your presentation together, keep each slide simple and avoid tiny text and overcrowding. A good rule-of-thumb is to limit each slide to no more than 6 bullets, with no more than 6 words per bullet. Some presentation designers even suggest no more than 12 words total per slide. Pick whichever works for you but avoid listing paragraphs and lots of text on each slide as that would be ineffective.  

In these two examples, the first slide contains (left) only ten words, while the second slide on the right contains only five words.

Students should be focused on what you have to say and not on busily reading and copying what’s on the slide. Bear in mind that you only have a few minutes to teach, so your presentation cannot be too long.  If your presentation is 10 minutes, I wouldn’t recommend more than 3-4 slides.  

Design Elements

There is a lot that can be said about design, and if you haven’t read Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds, I would highly suggest that you do so. The two key points that I do want to emphasis with regards to design are fonts and images.

Be sure to use a font style and size that are large enough to see and are easy to read off of a screen. I’d recommend using a member of the Sans-Serif font family such as: Arial, Verdana, or Tahoma.

  As for the size, remember that this is a presentation and not a word document, so go large. Your font size should be 40 or larger.

  If you choose to add an image to your presentation, be sure to include a large high quality image. You want your image to be easily seen and look professional. Avoid pixelated and blurry images, they’re unclear and will make you look like an amateur.  

In these two examples, the emphasis is on high resolution images with limited text on the slide. The images on both slides take up a majority of the real estate on the slide without looking pixelated and blurry.

Once you’ve completed your presentation, be sure to proof-read all of your slides multiple times.

Regardless, of the method that you choose to adopt, it’s helpful to have a back-up plan in case your experience any glitches on the day of the demo. If you’re doing a digital presentation, be sure to have your presentation saved in multiple formats including PDF.  

Sometimes the version of the PowerPoint or Keynote that you save your file in is not compatible with the version that the school has and in the event that you are not able to open your presentation file correctly, most computers will still be able open a PDF. The PDF version will not include any of the animation, sounds, videos, or transitions that you may have included in your original presentation, but at least you’ll have still-slides that you can use for your demo.

In addition to your digital presentation, I would also recommend providing a hardcopy of the presentation to the committee as well.  

4. Teaching Rehearsal

Your teaching demonstration will be assessed on a number of things including:

• communication skills
• presentation skills
• ability to engage and generate interest
• knowledge of the subject matter
• ability to teach within the allotted time
• ability to clearly and effectively answer questions

Prepare your teaching demonstration as early as possible, and then practice your teaching presentation over and over again and until you are comfortable delivering the material without referring to your notes or slides.

If possible, record yourself giving the teaching demonstration using a camcorder and review the footage to see what you did well and what you need to improve on.

When reviewing the video, ask yourself the following things:

• Do I look confident and comfortable with the material? You want to ensure that you’re not projecting nervous behavior.
• Are you projecting your voice loud enough, and do you sound enthusiastic about your topic? If you’re excited about your topic, your audience will get excited about it. You want to avoid sounding monotone or speaking in a low volume.
• Did you actually address the specific topic that you were asked to demo?
• Are you able to teach the topic within the allotted time, or do you need to revise your presentation? You want to make sure that you do not run out of time during your demo. And you also do not want to rush.

If you really want to go the extra mile in your preparation, ask a friend or colleague to give you feedback on your presentation video. Be sure to find someone who will actually help you improve your demo and not be too shy about providing constructive feedback.

So to recap, here are the four things that you need to do to prepare for a teaching demonstration at a job interview:

• Content Mastery: Familiarize yourself with your topic.
• Content Outline: Create a structure for your presentation that covers the title, what will be covered, and the purpose of knowing the material.
• Visual Aids: Make sure your presentation is concise, well designed, and backed-up in multiple formats including hard copy.
• Teaching Rehearsal: practice your demo repeatedly until you are comfortable and confident with the material and your delivery. Use a camcorder if possible, and solicit feedback from friends or colleagues.

Well, I hope you found this post useful. If you did, I’d be grateful if you’d help spread the word by sharing this with friends or colleagues on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, or any other social media platform you use.

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Dr. Fawaz Al-Malood

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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

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:

[ 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:

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? Check out our AI PowerPoint generator to create an entire interview slide deck in a couple of clicks, or just download a job interview template . Swipe down to learn from the either of the following job interview presentation samples.

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!”.

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.

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

Use This Template

2. Professional Curriculum Vitae PowerPoint Template

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

4. Multi-Slide Resume PowerPoint Template

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The academic job interview: Three do’s and don’ts when preparing for a teaching demonstration

By Barbi Honeycutt

Most faculty job interviews include a research presentation and a teaching demonstration as part of the on-campus interview process. Postdoctoral scholars are experts in research. They know how to design experiments, test ideas and hypotheses, and analyze the findings. But while a postdoc may feel confident and prepared for a research presentation, the same person may not feel as prepared for the teaching demonstration.

This is especially true if the academic institution has not provided opportunities to gain teaching experience in graduate school or during your postdoc appointment.

This article explores three tips to consider in preparing for your teaching demonstration to feel confident and ready to ace this part of the interview!

First, what is the teaching demonstration?

There are two main types of teaching demonstrations: the “in class” demonstration and the “open” demonstration. If asked to give an “in class” demonstration, the postdoc will be the guest lecturer for students in an actual course and will teach in their classroom. The topic will most likely relate to the course material and fit into the course syllabus.

In an “open” demonstration, the postdoc will be teaching to a mixed audience that may include undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, faculty, staff and campus leaders. The audience will have been uniquely invited and have volunteered to attend. The topic will most likely relate to the postdoc’s research or a course they would likely teach in that department. The “classroom” will probably be a conference room.

There are pros and cons to both formats and every department will do things differently. Make sure to know the type of teaching demonstration expected and learn as much as possible about the audience before the campus visit.

Here are a few ideas to consider in preparing a teaching demonstration.

Three do's and don't when preparing for a teaching demonstration:

1. Do teach. Don’t give a presentation.

Search committees want to see how faculty candidates facilitate students’ learning. Teaching is about organizing complex information and helping students make sense of it. Two common mistakes are to give a presentation about how to teach or to try to impress the audience/students with a breath-taking breadth of knowledge about the topic. In a winning teaching demonstration, the presenter will shift the focus from themselves and demonstrate their skill of knowing how to create an environment where the audience/students feel comfortable, engaged and ready to learn.

2. Do engage the audience. Don’t just lecture.

Search committees want to see how you connect with and engage students. Unlike a presentation, a teaching demonstration should be more of a dialog; if a postdoc is delivering a lecture they could give without any students in the room, they need to re-think the approach. Don’t talk “at” students the whole time. Talk “with” students, and give them time to talk with each other. The teaching demonstration is different than teaching a course because it’s a one-time event. The “teacher” most likely will not know any of the students and have to figure out how to establish rapport while also demonstrating how effectively they teach.

3. Do use an active learning strategy. But, don’t do something you’ve never done before.

In planning a teaching session, integrate at least one active learning strategy to engage students. However, this is not the time to experiment with an entirely new teaching strategy. It is hard to feel or demonstrate confidence if the outcome is unknowable, so it is important to use a teaching strategy previously tried in a classroom, or with a group of friends and colleagues. The goal is to provide guided active participation by conveying confidence and authority, and not to suggest things in the classroom will be out of control under your leadership.

Final Tips:

Remember, an invitation to teach at a campus is an admission of status on the final list of candidates. Getting this invitation is a cause for celebration! The search committee members have chosen a select group of postdocs they feel have the capacity to be a good fit for their department. They have invested time and resources and they want to cement a relationship.

Be authentic. Show them who you are as a teacher and what kind of colleague you will be.

For more tips to help prepare for a successful teaching demonstration and a list of questions to ask before visiting the campus, visit BarbiHoneycutt.com .

Republished with permission from Barbi Honeycutt, PhD. Dr. Honeycutt is a teaching and learning consultant in higher education. She is a speaker, scholar and author. Honeycutt teaches online professional development courses, facilitates in-person workshops and creates resources to help higher education professionals increase student engagement and improve learning. Learn more at barbihoneycutt.com .

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Complete Guide For Preparing Job Interview Presentation With Examples

Making a presentation during an interview can be intimidating! Still, it’s a terrific method for you to highlight your abilities, personality, and suitability for the position and an excellent approach for employers to learn more about your expertise and knowledge.

Your ability to effectively communicate essential information and the quality of your design can frequently make the difference between a failed and successful presentation. No matter how solid your research or ideas are, excessive slides, packed content, and unreadable fonts might turn interviewers off. However, developing an eye-catching presentation can support your expertise and give you more confidence. It is a skill you should invest time in learning.

In today’s blog, we will go through all the components you should include in a presentation for interview and how to deliver them efficiently.

What Is A Job Interview Presentation?

Before seeing what you should include in a presentation for interview, let us discuss what is an interview PowerPoint presentation: 

As your career advances, especially to an executive position, you might be required to give a presentation during an interview. These kinds of presentations help the hiring manager in doing employee performance reviews and let them decide whether you’re worthy of the position. 

You may have to assemble a business plan and present your ideas, finish a task and demonstrate how you approached it, conduct research and submit your findings to a panel, or even give a presentation about why you would be an excellent fit for the position. All these presentations and tasks can be classified as interview presentations as they will convey your knowledge about the industry, organizational skills, communication skills, attention to detail, creativity, and more.

Giving presentations is something that many people find scary, especially when they’re concerned about an interview. However, you might have to do it at some point in your career, so the sooner you learn how to do it, the better. So, in the next section, we will see what an employer expects to see in your presentation for interview. 

What Is the Employer Looking for in a presentation for interview?

The employer searches for a candidate who will stand out throughout the hiring process. They are looking for someone who will blend in with the business culture and who is knowledgeable about their profession. Another method to determine if candidates are qualified for the position is to ask them to give a presentation.

During the interview, your employer might notice the following crucial competencies:

• Your written and vocal communication style
• The way you interact with your audience
• Your profession and industry expertise
• Your capacity to adhere to a brief
• Your capacity for organization
• Your meticulousness

When an employer witnesses a blind presentation, they can additionally note:

• Your ability to function under pressure
• How imaginative you are

In the end, the employer is also determining whether you fulfill the requirements listed in the job description, so make sure to review it while you prepare.

What to include in a job interview presentation template

Here are a few components that you should consider while preparing a powerpoint presentation for interview:

Presentation type and topic

Choose a presentation style before you start getting ready for a presentation. It will impact the kind of template you make. For a virtual slideshow presentation, write a simple slide breakdown or a script for an oral presentation. The technologies used during your interview also influence your presentations. Consider contacting a recruiting manager with any queries before making any preparations if you need clarification on what they anticipate. When given a topic for your presentation, you can plan your study accordingly. Alternatively, suppose you have the freedom to select your topic. In that case, it’s advisable to focus on themes that ignite your passion and align with your expertise, ensuring you can effectively convey your message quickly.

Make a shorter presentation with tons of words, even if you want to impress your potential boss by showing how much effort you put in. Keep it simple with short slides that look good and convey your message. Aim for no more than ten slides, and make everything brief. It guarantees that the material you present will stick in the recruiter’s mind and make you stand out from the other applicants. Some recruiters might even allot a certain amount of time for your presentation; be sure to account for this and stay within it to avoid giving the impression that you lack time management abilities.

Include research findings and quotes from prominent figures in the industry in your presentation if you are performing research for it. It exhibits your business awareness and lends authority to your ideas.

Brand Style

Use the presentation and style of the company. It will demonstrate your diligence in research and draw attention to your brand awareness.

How To Prepare A Presentation For A Job Interview

To prepare a PowerPoint presentation for interview, follow these five steps:

1. Analyze the business

Be sure to research the company you are applying to before submitting your application. By exploring the business, you can incorporate crucial details into your presentation. To learn more about the company’s offerings, application procedure, market size, performance, leadership, and governance, visit their website. Examine news stories, features, and press releases recently covered by the media. If the business has a social media account, review the most recent updates to see the preferred tone and any new advancements.

2. Recognize your target audience

The audience for your interview will probably vary depending on the job you are applying for. It is essential to know who will be at your presentation, their departments, roles, and what they’re good at. For example, suppose you’re applying for human resources. In that case, your presentation will differ from someone applying for a sales or executive role. Hence, it will be more effective if you customize your presentation for the audience. Make a PowerPoint presentation that interests and is relevant to the audience’s technical and non-technical segments.

3. Get notes ready

Make notes on the company or sector you will present for. It’s crucial to be ready to discuss the topic you’ll be given during the interview. The interviewer can gauge your understanding of the more significant business the company works in, so include current industry news in your notes.

4. Adopt a rational framework

Make sure that the format of your presentation is well-organized. An organized presentation makes it easier for your audience to follow along and stay interested. A strong finish, exciting material, and an engaging introduction define a successful presentation. A strong opening grabs the audience’s attention, and your engaging facts persuade them that you are a standout contender.

5. Work on your delivery

Once your presentation is ready, practice delivering it. You can also catch presenting mistakes with proper practice. You can get prepared by using a camera to record yourself. You can also present in front of your friends and solicit their opinions on what went well and what still needs improvement.

How to Deliver Your Presentation For Interview

When delivering a PowerPoint presentation for interview, follow these tips:

• Seek advice
• Recognize your target
• Identify a central idea
• Tell an engaging tale
• Take a strategic stance
• Adopt a constructive mindset
• Get comfortable delivering
• Communicate nonverbally
• Conclude powerfully

1. Seek advice

Ask the recruiting manager for any clarification you might need before you start working on your presentation. Read and review all the directions regarding the presentation first. Ask the hiring team if they would prefer to hear about a particular topic or if you should develop your own if the instructions do not specify one. Next, determine how long you can expect to speak with the hiring team. You can show that you are detail-oriented, receptive to criticism, and have practical communication skills by asking for help.

2. Recognise your target

Find out how knowledgeable the audience is so that you can communicate at a level that is understandable and sophisticated. To better understand the audience and adjust your discussion to your audience’s knowledge, experience, and interests, think about asking for names and positions. Obtaining all your information will help you make your discussion more effective and relevant, raising your candidature rating.

3. Identify a central idea

Be careful to choose a focal point when deciding on a presentation topic. Ensure the audience understands your presentation’s main point by organizing it around a single idea. Reduce the points in your presentation to make it seem comprehensive, well-thought-out, and professionally prepared.

4. Tell an engaging tale

Some of the best ways to organize a presentation are through conventional storytelling techniques , whether you’re talking about a finished project or a highly technical subject. Using a proven method, you can make your message stick in people’s minds and grab their attention. To tell an engaging story, take the following actions:

• Describe the issue.
• Describe the significance of the issue.
• Talk about the difficulties you encountered while trying to find the solution.
• Finish with a powerful impact and resolution.

5. Take a strategic stance

Without being too commercial, use your presentation to establish yourself as the protagonist of your own tale. When feasible, use evidence to support your claims; otherwise, highlight your best traits and the most pertinent experience in your presentation. Seize the chance to show that you are a candidate who can quickly help the organization achieve essential goals.

6. Adopt a constructive mindset

Throughout your presentation, maintain an optimistic attitude while discussing your challenges. Consider emphasizing how you improved a problematic situation or discussing your efforts to overcome difficult circumstances. When appropriate, project an image of being proactive and emphasize your steps to resolve a problem. Let the information and data lead your presentation so the interviewers can grasp your thought processes.

7. Get comfortable delivering

To ensure you leave a positive first impression on the recruiting team:

• Practice your presentation multiple times in advance.
• Try presenting without consulting your notes or reading your script after a few practice sessions.
• Keep track of the time during each practice session to determine the perfect pace.
• Choose the main themes you want to discuss as you review each presentation segment to help it sound more natural and prevent it from coming across as too prepared.

8. Communicate non-verbally

Practice confidently expressing yourself while standing up and speaking. Face the audience directly, have a cheerful look, and smile naturally. To make points, keep your shoulders back and utilize small hand motions. Keep eye contact throughout your job interview PowerPoint presentation, particularly when making a crucial point.

9. Conclude powerfully

Create a memorable conclusion to ensure your presentation is as compelling as possible. A broad, open-ended question that came up throughout your study could be an excellent way to wrap up. A one- to three-word key takeaway that helps your audience recall the presentation’s primary point can also be used to wrap up. Integrating your message with an intriguing quotation next to the organization’s mission, vision, and goals is another effective wrap-up technique. In closing, raise any queries to show you are receptive to criticism and conversation.

Helpful tips For the Job interview Presentation

Here are some tips that you can use during the presentation for interview: 

1. Create the outline

When requested to give a presentation at an interview, you should have enough time to organize it according to a predetermined outline. If the interviewer still needs to provide you with all the necessary information, ensure you know how the process will work out regarding the topic, time limits, available multimedia devices, and participants. Remember that adhering to the brief is a necessary component of the evaluation process, so if you’re requested to do the task in less than or equal to 10 minutes, stay within that amount of time. After you’ve confirmed the nature of the interview, you should begin preparing a presentation that will wow the audience and showcase your qualifications for the post.

2. Establish a framework

Developing a presentation with a coherent framework facilitates the communication of your ideas. A well-considered framework conveys your thoughts intelligibly and concisely rather than jumping from one notion to another. Naturally, an introduction is the ideal place to begin. Set the scene immediately and emphasize how your solution makes a real difference. Next, compose a story using informative statistics and first-hand accounts. It should demonstrate how your skills and expertise help the business achieve its objectives.

3. Improve the visual assistance

Your audience shouldn’t just be able to read the slides from your presentation. They must endorse what you’re saying to keep their attention on you. It entails using fewer wordy slides and increasing the number of images to illustrate your arguments better.

4. Practice For The Job Interview Presentation

Although it may seem obvious, people must practice their presentations long enough. Even if you have a better idea than the other interviewees, there’s a considerable possibility the hiring panel will only understand the relevance of your speech if you convey it well. To find the ideal balance, practice with friends or family and ask for feedback on your areas of weakness.

5. Get ready to adjust

It would be best if you rehearsed to project a powerful presence during your presentation. Still, the hiring panel may try to knock you off balance. Consider potential question topics when you draft your presentation. It might assist you in preparing answers that demonstrate that you have thought through the issue.

6. Pay attention to the little things

Once the creation of your presentation is complete, focus on fine-tuning the minor elements. We’ve already discussed the need to speak deliberately. Still, to project confidence, you should also remember to make eye contact and display open body language. Your presentation will go more smoothly if you are more prepared. Ensure you arrive early on the interview day so you can set up your presentation. Ensure your tech gadgets function properly, bring extra batteries for your remote controls, and allow enough time for a final evaluation.

Lastly, you can ensure you deliver a standout presentation showcasing your most substantial skill sets by giving your job interview presentation more thought and preparation.

Job Interview Presentation Examples:

Here are some job interview presentation examples of a presentation template to assess a candidate’s ability to teach by having them give thesis statements:

What Is A thesis statement?

Introduction.

Brad Cooper

As a seasoned academic writer, I plan to teach English in middle schools. A thesis statement is a crucial sentence that sums up your paper’s central topic. I will define a thesis statement today and give you an example to see what one may look like in an academic work.

Defining a thesis statement

A thesis statement is a sentence that exposes the reader to the primary idea of a paper or essay in the opening paragraph. Your thesis statement is one of the most crucial sentences in your work and one of the first things the reader will see, but it may also be one of the most difficult to compose! 

An example of a thesis statement

It is an illustration of a thesis statement for a literary devices-related English paper: The central premise of this novel is that hardship can lead to triumph with hard effort and perseverance; the author presents this idea through metaphors and foreshadowing.

As I explained in my presentation today, a thesis statement is a paper’s central notion. Since it’s an essential component of the writing process, young children must know this subject as soon as possible. I appreciate your attention to my presentation. Do you have any questions concerning my credentials or the information I provided? I would be happy to help.

Job Interview Presentation Templates

SlideUpLift is well-known for its vast collection of expertly designed PowerPoint templates covering a wide range of subjects and businesses. One notable category within its repertoire is the Job Interview Presentations section. Here, you can find templates explicitly tailored for interview scenarios, enabling seamless presentations during job interviews such as job interview presentation examples. These templates come in various styles, such as making dynamic employee profiles and using the STAR system to highlight skills. 

Interview Resume Presentation PowerPoint Template

The Interview Resume Presentation PowerPoint Template aims to help people with different professional backgrounds increase their chances of getting hired. This template consists of 11 slides, including all the relevant information that a job seeker should include in their resume to seek an excellent job. Job seekers, interns or students, professionals looking for a promotion, independent contractors, consultants, etc. can all use it.

Presentation Agenda PowerPoint Template

The Presentation Agenda PowerPoint template is valuable for incorporating a structured agenda into your job interview presentation. The Agenda Presentation template features four dedicated agendas, providing a clear, organized layout highlighting key topics. The slide can be included in your presentation, allowing you to communicate the issues to be covered effectively. Whether you are outlining the interview process, presenting key points, or discussing specific aspects, this template ensures a professional and visually appealing agenda for a presentation.

Star Job Interview Presentation Template

The Star Interview PowerPoint template adopts a structured format featuring four blocks: Situation, Task, Action, and Results. 

This template is tailored for interviews or presentations using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Results) method to assess or communicate experiences. Each block provides dedicated space to articulate the specific Situation, Task at hand, Actions taken, and Results achieved.

30 60 90 Day Plan for Interview PowerPoint Template

A 30 60 90 Day Plan for an interview presentation is a structured outline that illustrates your intentions and proposed actions during the first three months of your employment in a new role. It’s a tool used to demonstrate your understanding of the position, your strategic thinking, and your ability to set goals and achieve them.

Animated Job Interview Presentation PowerPoint Template

This is another amazing resume PowerPoint template for you. The unique thing is that it comes with animations. These Animations make your presentation more exciting and attractive for the audience. Download it and customize it as per your requirements. Add your details, and you are good to go.

With all the information and tips in this detailed article, you can end your worries and prepare for your job interview presentation like a pro . You now possess all the specific presenting advice needed to ace the interview. If the design aspect overwhelms you, peruse our vast collection of PowerPoint Presentation templates and select particular components (such as data charts, shapes, and diagrams) to give your presentation the best visual appeal.

How long should my job interview presentation be?

Aim for a concise presentation, typically lasting 5-10 minutes, to maintain audience engagement.

What's the best way to conclude my job interview presentation?

The best way to conclude your job interview presentation is by summarizing key points, expressing enthusiasm for the role, and opening the floor for any questions from the interview panel.

What should be the key focus of my job interview presentation?

Prioritize showcasing your skills and experiences and how they align with the job requirements and company values.

How can I handle questions during or after the presentation for interview?

Be prepared for questions by anticipating potential inquiries related to your content, experiences, or the role.

How can SlideUpLift benefit me in preparing a job interview presentation?

SlideUpLift provides a wide array of professionally designed PowerPoint templates, including specific templates for job interview presentations. This resource can significantly help you create a standout and impactful interview pitch.

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10 Elements To Include in Your Demo Lesson for Teacher Interviews

This is your time to show them you know what you’re doing.

Sweating over needing to teach a demo lesson as part of your new-teacher interview process? We’ve all been there! That’s why we’ve gathered this list of must-have elements to include in a demo lesson. These are the lesson elements interviewers will be looking for, and including them will show that you know your stuff. Plus, we’ve included some ideas for demo lesson topics toward the end of this article!

Make sure you start off your lesson with an engaging hook. It doesn’t have to be very long, it just has to be interesting and connected to the learning goal. It can be a quick story, an interesting question, or maybe even a short picture book or picture. Keep it simple and engage your interviewer audience.

For example: If you’re teaching a lesson about about fractions, introduce the lesson by talking about pizza and how many slices make up the whole pizza. Make it fun and relatable.

2. Standards-Aligned Learning Goal

You need to create a learning goal that is aligned with the standard that you’re teaching. The learning goal also has to be measurable and objective, so use verbs like explain , describe , identify , and the like. Use the language from the content standard and make it a part of your learning goal too. This will show that you understand the standard that is being taught and how to use it in a learning goal.

For example: Let’s say you’re teaching CCSS.RL.3.3—Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events. A learning goal might look like this: “We are learning how to describe a character’s traits, motivations, feelings, and actions.” A second learning goal for this standard could be “We are learning how to explain how the character’s actions contributed to the sequence of events.”

3. Modeling and Metacognition

Show the interview panel that you know how to teach a skill by modeling it during your lesson. While you’re modeling how to do the skill (like finding a common denominator or determining the main idea), also use metacognition . Think out loud about your thinking and demonstrate to the panel how you will think out loud with your future students.

For example: Let’s say you’re teaching about determining the main idea. You might think out loud by saying that you didn’t quite understand the main idea the first time you read the passage, so you have to read it again. Then literally read the passage again and think out loud about how you focused in on key details to determine the main idea.

4. Check for Understanding

Another element for teacher demo lessons is making sure you’re checking your students’ understanding . When you check for understanding during your lessons, you’re showing that you’re monitoring your students’ progress toward meeting the learning goal. It’s also an opportunity to show how you’ll adjust the pacing of your lesson if students aren’t understanding the skill you’re teaching.

For example: You can do this by simulating that your interview panel has whiteboards and asking them to show their answers on their boards. If you’re teaching a group of students, you can pass out whiteboards or use sheet protectors with a white paper inside. You can also check for understanding by walking around as students write answers down or by listening to student conversations during think-pair-share moments.

5. Differentiation

When you’re teaching your lesson, make sure you use differentiation . Adding this to your lesson will show the interviewers that you know how to scaffold for students who need support and also extend the learning for your students who need more challenge.

For example: You can ask varying levels of questions while you’re checking for understanding. Consider bringing different levels of independent practice and end the lesson by calling a small group over to reteach, after you’ve noticed the students who need more support. Some other examples of differentiating during your lesson could be using various leveled passages or math tasks during the lesson, or showing that you know how to adjust during the lesson if students aren’t getting the skill right away.

6. Depth of Knowledge Questions

One of the other important elements for teacher demo lessons is using depth of knowledge (DOK) questions. While you ask students questions during the lesson, use DOK questions to make sure students are being challenged. The DOK questions vary from Level 1 to Level 4, Level 4 being the most in-depth and thought-provoking. Incorporating this type of questioning into your lesson will show the interview panel that you will challenge your students with thoughtful questioning.

For example: Level 1 is recall , so ask literal questions that students can answer based on their book or other printables that are in front of them. Questions that are Level 2 are more concept-oriented, so ask questions that make students distinguish items or determine cause and effect. Level 3 is strategic thinking . Students might have to cite evidence or come up with an argument when answering these types of questions. Finally, Level 4 is extended thinking . These questions challenge students to design, make connections, or prove a concept.

7. Opportunities for Student Talk

Don’t be the only one who’s talking during the lesson. Invite students (or the interview panel) to turn and talk , think-pair-share, or use A/B partnering to share ideas during the lesson. Students might work together on a question during the check-for-understanding portion too.

For example: If you’re teaching a math lesson, have students pair up to work on one of the problems together.

8. Closure Questions

Always ask students at the end of the lesson what the learning goal was. Students should be able to tell you what they were working toward when the lesson is over. You can also ask students additional questions that connect to the learning goal. They can be “how” or “why” questions or questions based on DOK.

For example: Closure questions can be something like “Why is it important to _?” or “How do you _?” Consider asking students to fill out an exit ticket so they have one more opportunity to show what they learned in the lesson.

9. Matching Independent Practice

If you’re going to bring an independent practice task to pass out at the end of your lesson, it must align with the learning goal. Come prepared with various levels of independent practice and be creative in how you want the students to show what they’ve learned.

For example: If you’re teaching a math lesson, you can bring a handout of math problems, task cards, or an interactive activity that’s done online. If you’re teaching an ELA lesson, bring a reading passage, writing task, or literacy activity for students to demonstrate their understanding. Just make sure it relates back to your learning goal.

10. Personality

One of the most important elements for teacher demo lessons is to show your personality. Have fun, be yourself, and let your passion for teaching shine through!

For example: Smile, make silly jokes, make connections to your daily life, and give a glimpse of how you are as a human. Be relatable.

Here are 10 topic ideas for elementary demo lessons:

• Determining main idea
• Comparing fractions
• Citing evidence
• Rounding numbers
• Comparing/contrasting story elements
• Academic vocabulary
• Comparing decimals
• Finding the perimeter
• Describing characters
• Determining author’s point of view

Here are 10 topic ideas for secondary demo lessons:

• Annotating text
• Figurative language
• Story structure
• Poetry analysis
• Square roots
• Coordinating planes
• Factoring by grouping
• Percentages

For more new-teacher inspiration or ideas for a demo lesson, check out the 10 Best Books for New Teachers .

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How to make a great faculty interview presentation? [closed]

I have a faculty job interview coming up in a few months. I am trying to prepare the presentation that includes my past (PhD and postdoc) research and future research. I am looking for some sample presentations or guides and tips online , so far could not find any. I would be grateful if anybody could point to me some good faculty interview presentations and guides or tips that could help me crack the interview.

Another question is: I have been a postdoc only for five months, therefore my postdoc research is very limited and major focus is on PhD research, will this affect the interview negatively?

• faculty-application
• presentation

• 1 There are several questions asking this on here... –  Solar Mike Commented Apr 14, 2019 at 17:27
• I suggest you review How to ask a good question? -- this is a shopping question and too broad (you didn't even give a field!). The last part might be answerable, but do you expect any answer other than: "yes, of course (relative to candidates with more experience), but do your best"? –  cag51 ♦ Commented Apr 27, 2019 at 2:37

3 Answers 3

You might find this guide useful: https://tomprof.stanford.edu/posting/1085

The key organizing questions are as follows: • What problem have I worked on? • Why would anyone work on this problem? • What is significant about what I have done? • How has my work made progress on the problem?

Here's a sample structure for a 45-minute research job talk:

Content * Time * Target Audience * Detail Level / Purpose

Background * 15 * Everyone present * Your parents would understand it

Your approach * 10 * People in related fields * Show you know the field

Your results * 10 * People who work in your field * Show that you are the world expert on something

Summary * 10 * Everyone in the room * Relate your results to the big picture

I found this structure particularly useful because it's easy to lose sight of how specialized one's work is. You need to make the talk relatable, and to speak to a broader audience than, for example, a conference presentation or a journal article. Even though these faculty might be in the same discipline and have phds, there is every chance they don't follow your subfield. Only part of your talk needs to demonstrate the cutting edge aspects of your research. Most of it should be broader.

Of course, your mileage may vary, but I found this advice convincing (and it worked for me!)

I think everybody's reaction might be different, so this is really just opinion. But, I think, the best presentation is one that is NOT just about you and your research. If you can connect what you do in some way with what some subset of the existing faculty does you might come off as "more connected" and therefore better.

It is also possible, in some cases and at some institution, to connect what you do with what students (at any level) might want to do.

Both of these dimensions are specific to the institution, of course, and take a bit of research to do it well.

But you want people in general, to say more than "That's interesting." You want them to say "We want this person."

Don't neglect speaking about that research of course. But connect.

I don't think so. For many, postdoc is a transition period anyway. Many just take a postdoc position to either finish up their PhD projects/papers. Few do it gain some extra experience for independent research. You can talk all about yout PhD research and then show you carried it forward to your postdoc.

Overall, for the presentation, try to distinguish it from your PhD defense seminar. What I mean by that is, do not go too much into technical details. In your defense seminar you go into every detail because you are trying to defend what you did by telling how you did and why. But here, they will be most interested in the bigger picture like, why the experiment was done, what you learned from it, how will this be implemented or how will it affect your career moving forward in the future.

Also, do talk about how will your gained experience help the department who is hiring you. Learn about some professors who are working in a similar area and try to find a common hook where you can help them. Maybe a common problem in the field that you think you can bring a fresh perspective on. Talk about collaborative efforts with other faculty in the department and outside. Identify and talk about some funding agencies that might fund your research.

That being said, ask your interviewer if the presentation is only about your work or about philosophy also. Depending on what you learn, modify your presentation accordingly. Good luck!

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged faculty-application presentation interview .

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Ace Your Interview Demonstration Lesson Plan to Land a Job Offer

Do you need to present a demonstration lesson plan as part of the teaching interview process? Does it give you the interviewing jitters?

You are not alone!

An increasing number of school districts include this step in the teaching interview selection process. Creating and delivering a demonstration lesson plan can either be a relief for the interviewee or a dreaded nightmare.  Let this process be a chance to showcase your talents by following these tips.

A Demo Lesson Plan is an Excellent Time to Show Your Teaching Skills

Your demonstration lesson plan is your big chance to share your value with the interview panel. Also, it is an opportunity to show what you do best in front of peers.

As a teacher seeking a new position, you need to impress the interview panel, so you want to be sure to come up with a presentation that showcases your strengths and incorporates key teaching strategies for your subject, grade level, and student population.

In these hard times of layoffs and budget cuts, the competition for excellent teaching jobs is fierce; to stand out from the competition, you need to have something extra to propel you forward.

The hiring committee would like to observe your teaching style and its value to the classroom. The panel would like you to back the claims you made when writing your teacher resume with action in the form of a demo lesson plan.

The Benefits of Preparing and Performing a Demonstration Lesson Plan

The demo lesson plan provides you with the opportunity to present a lesson in front of a group of students, teachers, or administrators in the school you want to work. View the demo lesson as your opportunity to shine. A demonstration lesson plan is a great opportunity for you if you don’t perform as well in traditional interview situations; you now have the opportunity to show the hiring committee your skills as an educator.

Rather than telling a committee or hiring manager about your teaching skills, you are fortunate enough to have an opportunity to use them.

In a demo lesson plan, the hiring committee is looking for:

• How well you engage students in learning.
• How prepared you came to deliver your lesson.
• How you present yourself as an educator.

How to Prepare for a Demonstration Lesson Plan

When you are first asked to give a demo lesson, make sure the hiring committee provides you with all the necessary information. If not, ask them practical questions to assist you in developing your presentation, such as:

• How much time will you have to conduct your lesson?
• Will, your lesson be a section of a larger lesson, or will it be its own class period?
• What grade level will you be teaching?
• What is the class size ?
• What is the make-up of the student population? (ELL, above, below grade level, at-risk, etc.)
• Should your lesson be dedicated to a particular subject or topic?
• What are the students currently learning?
• What learning materials and technology are available for your use?

Knowing the answers to these questions will help you prepare your lesson better and ensure the students will receive it well.

Plan The Demonstration Lesson 

Once you have the information about your class and the learning objectives, you will need to plan your lesson. You aim to catch the students’ attention and keep them engaged throughout the demo session, so you must choose a great lesson that includes hands-on activities.

Once you’ve selected your lesson, go over and over it until every single detail of it is well prepared. Review possible questions that might pop up and make sure you have ready answers.

If you need to create a lesson from scratch instead of using one from your arsenal, you will need to:

1. Start with a learning objective . Before beginning your lesson, decide what you want your students to learn by the end of the lesson.

2. Decide on the format of your lesson . Once you know what you will be teaching, figure out the structure, pacing, format, and activities to make up your lesson.

Once your lesson is created, ask yourself these questions to make sure it is ready to go:

• How does your lesson check for current knowledge?
• How do you plan to introduce your lesson?
• How do you capture students’ attention at the beginning of your lesson?
• What activities have you incorporated to allow students to practice the new concepts?
• How do you assess students’ learning?
• How do you check for understanding ?
• What adjustments have you planned to make in case students require extra practice or review?

After you prepared your lesson, you must review it thoroughly before your interview. You want to be familiar with your lesson’s content and sequencing, so you are more at ease while presenting.

• Create a written lesson plan for your demo lesson plan that you can refer to quickly throughout your lesson.
• Additionally, practice your presentation to ensure the timing is right and you’ve left adequate time for questions and activities.
• Practice your teaching demo in front of a few people. Ask them to provide feedback on your language, engagement, flow, speed, and other areas.

Elementary Demo Lesson Plan Tips

When presenting your demo lesson plan, remember to remain composed, confident, and enthusiastic. The students will react to your energy and confidence, and your enthusiasm will be contagious.

It will help your lesson go smoothly if you find out your students’ level of knowledge on the topic you are presenting before you begin your lesson. When beginning your lesson, ask the class some questions about the topic to gauge their understanding and knowledge level. This will help you when you deliver your lesson.

Your goal is to follow the lesson plan you’ve prepared. However, try to be flexible in your delivery and remember that you will probably have to make some adjustments as you go.

Throughout your lesson, do not forget to check for student understanding. You don’t want to wait until the end of your lesson to determine whether your students have learned the objectives. So check for clarity throughout the lesson to make sure they are on task and are learning correctly.

To ensure your experience goes smoothly and that the students stay on task, implement positive classroom management strategies. Positively reinforce students’ efforts, as well as their good behaviors and practices, while fairly and adequately dealing with off-task behavior. By implementing effective and positive classroom management strategies, you will ensure your lesson runs smoothly while also assuring the hiring committee that you have strong classroom management skills.

Secondary & Post-Secondary Lesson Plan Ideas

One of the most popular high school or college level lessons includes a PowerPoint presentation. This method puts you in front of the observers as a teacher that knows what he/she is doing regarding presenting information and using technology.

Organize your slides correctly and make your timing perfect. Practice the sequence over and over before the interview. However, have a backup plan just if the equipment fails to work or a power failure. Use advanced teaching techniques, including interactive and didactic teaching methods, to keep your audience engaged and the session lively.

Besides the teaching presentation format, you might be asked to do a research presentation; this is more common for teachers seeking jobs in colleges and universities. If this is the case, only choose a small section from your dissertation and go over it before the interview day. As stated above, be ready for any questions that will be thrown at you (this will indeed happen).

Your reading must be clear, audible, and straight to the point while you also make references to your conclusions and how you arrived at them.

Steps to Take After Finishing the Demo Lesson Plan

Once you have completed your demo lesson plan, don’t forget to take some time to reflect on how it went and what you could do to improve on it for next time. The hiring committee may also ask you what your thoughts are on how your lesson went. So be prepared to explain your choices and provide some honest feedback to them as well. It is important to explain your rationale for what you did during your lesson.

A demo lesson during your teaching job interview is a fantastic way to separate yourself from the crowd; it offers you the opportunity to prove that you earned your resume and are the right person to fill the vacant position.

Instead of only answering typical interview questions, the demo lesson plan offers you the opportunity to show off your teaching skills. On the whole, your performance in your demo lesson plan will boil down to proper planning on your end. As long as you prepare thoroughly, it will pay off in a well-organized and thought-out lesson that the students will enjoy.

Do you need help preparing for your next teacher interview, including organizing your demonstration lesson plan? I would be happy to help you! An interview coaching session will help you gain the confidence and skills to ace your next teacher interview.

If you’re nervous about the prospect of designing and presenting your demo lesson plan, our coaching service will walk you through the whole process. We can give you topic ideas, help you with lesson pacing and activities, classroom management strategies, as well as assessments that will impress your interview panel.

Please don’t wait until it’s too late! Let me help you gain the skills you need to ace your next teacher interview by learning the secrets to developing a great demo lesson plan.

Please find out more about our interview coaching  service.

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How to Prepare for the Sample Teaching Lesson During Our Interview

By The TFA Editorial Team

January 30, 2024

As interviews approach, applicants are signing up for their interview date, uploading transcripts, and preparing for the sample teaching lesson. One of these actions seems to cause more stress than any other: the sample teaching lesson. A five-minute lesson may seem like a daunting task, but the truth is that it's nothing to worry about.

What can I teach?

Anything! When we say anything, that’s really what we mean. Our only guideline is that it needs:

• To be 5 minutes long
• Indicate the grade you're teaching (Pre-K through 12)
• Have a specific subject area
• Include a clear objective. Really think about what you want your "student" to learn in 5 minutes.

The rest is up to you! We recommend teaching something you enjoy, even if it’s not academic. We’ve seen people teach music, physics, tying your shoelace, and more—the possibilities are endless. The subject doesn’t have to be your major or even the subject you’re actually interested in teaching if you’re invited to the corps. Pick something you like, and have fun with it!

How will my interviewer participate during my lesson?

Your interviewer will be your student. You’ll ask them questions, answer any questions they might have, and teach them your content.  Your interviewer will also ask you 2-3 follow up questions at the end of your lesson.   

I’m not an education major. How do I plan for this lesson?  

Your interviewer will not collect a lesson plan from you, but you should spend time considering the grade level you are teaching and planning a lesson that reaches your objective in 5 minutes.  

How strict is the five-minute time limit?

We keep exact track of time to ensure the interview is fair for all of our applicants, no matter when they’re interviewing. Don’t forget that in addition to your five minutes of teaching, all applicants are given one minute for "prep time." You will share the objective, subject, and grade level of your lesson during the prep time.  Prep time can also include sharing files, writing on the virtual whiteboard, etc. Don’t worry!  Your interviewer will guide you through the timing of your Sample Lesson during the interview. 

How do I plan for a sample lesson if I’m interviewing virtually?

The main thing to keep in mind for virtual interviews is to plan your lesson for the virtual format. For example, during your lesson you’ll control the screen of the webinar, and you can share files, programs, or your computer’s desktop. There is a chat feature that allows you to chat with your interviewer and a virtual whiteboard that allows you to type and draw and allows your "student" to do the same. Your "student" will also watch you on your webcam, but keep in mind your visibility is somewhat limited to what is in frame, so we strongly encourage applicants to utilize the virtual features offered.

How long does creating a sample lesson normally take?

Applicants report spending between 1-2 hours planning, preparing, and practicing for their sample lesson prior to their interview. 

No, really—what can I teach?

Anything you’d like—really!

This article was originally published in 2018. The publish date reflects the most recent update.

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What’s a Demo Lesson for a Teaching Interview?

Lisa shockley.

• July 14, 2021

Congratulations on being selected for a job interview to teach English online ! In most cases, the online tutoring company will have you do a demo teaching lesson as part of the interview to determine if you’re a good fit for them and possibly to decide what your initial rate of pay should be. This is your chance to showcase your personality and your teaching skills! Here’s what you can expect during a demo lesson for a teaching interview and how you can prepare to ace this important step.

Browse course options to earn your TEFL certificate online to qualify for more jobs.

What is the purpose of the demo lesson for an online teaching interview?

A demo lesson is part of the application and hiring process for most online English teaching jobs . Usually, the hiring process starts with an online application. Then, if you’re selected to move to the next phase of the application process, you’ll be asked to schedule an interview; your demo lesson (or mock teaching session) typically takes place during that interview.

The purpose of a live demo lesson for teaching English online is for the online tutoring company to see what qualities you bring to the table and how well you perform in a virtual setting. It’s also an opportunity for you to get a feel for what to expect when teaching English online.

The demo lesson is set up to look exactly like how your classes will be when you begin teaching online with the company. The company will evaluate you on the way you present yourself, your ESL teaching skills, and your ability to manage the online classroom .

See which companies are currently seeking online English teachers.

Teaching English online

When and how is the ESL teaching demo set up?

If you’ve made it to the interview stage of the hiring process with an online English teaching company, you can usually book an interview by choosing from the available time slots on the calendar the company will send you.

Instructions for your interview and demo teaching session will be given in advance before your scheduled interview to help you prepare. The instructions will include the demo lesson plan for your teaching session so that you can prepare and practice presenting it before your interview.

Find out more about the hiring process for online teaching jobs.

What can I expect during the interview and live demo?

In most cases, the online English teaching job interview process, including the demo lesson, will be no more than 30 minutes long. It’s a good idea to sign in about 15 minutes or more beforehand so that you can test your audio and equipment, review the lesson plan and material, and have time to practice before the actual interview session.

See how to prepare for a TEFL/TESOL interview.

Most interviews start with the interviewer asking you some questions about yourself, such as about your experience, TEFL certification , and background. Then the interviewer will go right into the demo lesson. Keep in mind that the person interviewing you will most likely play the role of the student in the teaching demo, so prepare to switch gears during the interview session. You’ll need to use your imagination and pretend that the adult interviewer is the young student that you’ll be teaching. This can be a little bit awkward, but try and have fun with it and you’ll do just fine!

Take a look at the most common interview questions and how to answer them!

The company has provided the lesson plan, so all you need to do is go through each slide with the “student.” Instructions are provided on each slide for what is expected from the teacher and the student. Keep your eye on the class time and pace yourself. Use positive error correction and lots of encouragement. The company wants to see that you can complete the lesson objectives efficiently while maintaining a good energy level.

Don’t make these 5 mistakes when applying to online teaching jobs.

An online interview

What is a recorded demo lesson?

Some online tutoring companies will give you an option to do a recording of a demo lesson for your teaching interview instead of a live interview. You’ll be given instructions on how to complete and submit the demo lesson video on the company’s interview page.

• The advantage of this method, of course, is that you can do the recording at your own convenience without the pressure of someone on the other side of the camera.
• The disadvantage to this is that there’s no interaction with a live person, so you have to be creative with the student and teacher responses while making sure you don’t finish the lesson too quickly, or you’ll run out of material to work with.

Where can I find teaching demo samples?

For examples of what a demo teaching lesson is like, use YouTube as your go-to resource for inspiration from other online English teachers. There are loads of videos out there by awesome teachers with ESL companies that will provide you with useful tips and tricks on how to ace your demo lesson during your teaching interview.

Check out this example of an ESL demo lesson for a teaching interview, by teacher Erin with VIPKid.

How can I prepare for my mock teaching demo?

In addition to preparing and practicing your demo session, there are a couple of other things to keep in mind when preparing for a mock teaching demo.

Set up your teaching space

The company wants to see that you have a quiet space set up to conduct your online classes. This area should be organized and free of distractions. Good lighting and a fun online teaching background are important. Set up your background to look like a classroom for the demo interview. Use educational materials, such as maps, animal pictures, the alphabet, or a calendar, for your backdrop. Anything fun and colorful will help grab the student’s attention and make your lesson more interesting.

Learn how to invest in your online teaching space!

Check your technology

Be sure to have a computer with high-speed internet connection. Good lighting and headphones are super important. Companies like VIPKid require that you have a proper headset with clear audio before they will hire you.

Find out more about the requirements to teach English online.

Online English teacher with a fun backdrop and props

What do companies look for during the demo lesson for a teaching interview?

Personality and presentation.

Smile and use lots of positive energy to encourage the student throughout the lesson. Also, speak slowly and clearly and use simple language appropriate for the student’s level. Have props related to the lesson (it’s recommended to have at least two) and use a lot of TPR (total physical response) as you teach.

Professionalism

Dress conservatively. A bright-colored T-shirt or any solid color top will work. You’ll want to look presentable on camera when teaching.

See the top 10 rules of etiquette when teaching English online.

The company will look for clear video and audio quality. No matter how good you think the audio is on your laptop or desktop computer, it’ll still be required that you get a headset. After teaching a few classes online, you’ll understand the reason for this.

Krzl teaching English online from Chile

Teaching skills

You’ll be evaluated on your language skills and how well you can give clear instructions to your student. Balance teacher talk time (TTT) and student talk time (STT) appropriate to the student’s language level (which should be specified on the lesson plan). Always be patient and give your student time to respond. Encourage the student, and remember to reward them when they do a good job.

If you’d like to learn more strategies for teaching in the virtual classroom, enroll in the Bridge Specialized Certificate in Teaching English Online (with an optional practicum). 

Use of online platform functions

The online tutoring company will want to see that you can effectively use their online platform and the tools available within it. The tools on the platform are there to create a more interactive and engaging lesson for the students.

Curious to hear about other teachers’ experiences teaching English online? Read about Maricela, an online English teacher from California living in Scotland.

A native Floridian born to first-generation Vietnamese immigrants, Lisa has developed a deep passion for cross-cultural communication and language learning. Through her experiences traveling and homeschooling her daughter, she discovered her love of teaching. Lisa completed her TEFL certification in 2019 and is now teaching English as a second language online with GoGoKid and VIPKid. Her interests include art, travel, and foreign languages.

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Acing a Presentation During Your Interview

Episode 27 of the HigherEdJobs Podcast highlights how to prepare, how to think on the fly, and how to ace a presentation during your interview.

Guest Steve Snyder, from the School of Theatre at Penn State University, shares his advice on preparation and determining what you need to provide for your audience. First Step

When preparing, Snyder says, "…the very first question I have to figure out is, who am I talking to?" For your upcoming presentation, who will be in the audience (virtual or in-person)? Will students, tenured faculty, deans, or directors be present? Determining who will be in the audience will dictate what you should include in your presentation for those specific audiences. Second Step

Next, Snyder says we need to identify the purpose of the presentation. Is the purpose of the presentation to demonstrate your expertise in your field, personality, cultural fit, or all the above? Some questions Snyder asks himself, "Why am I talking to them? What is it that I need from them? Or how am I trying to change them? Or what do I need to get them to do?" Third Step

Finally, Snyder advises that we think through our methodology in our presentation. We can ask ourselves, "How am I going to do this? What's my methodology? What's the step-by-step? What's the hook, the thing that's going to get their attention? […] How am I going to lead folks through this thing that I have to teach them, or elucidate, or guide them to a new understanding? […] What's the whole journey of this presentation? What's the story? How am I getting us to arrive somewhere different than where we began?"

_____________

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About the Author

Monika Sziron

Monika Sziron is an assistant director of editorial strategy, research and coordination at HigherEdJobs and HigherEdMilitary. She holds a PhD in Technology and Humanit...

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Job hunting tips for teachers: how to ace the presentation

Treat your job interview presentation like a three-act play, with an engaging introduction, memorable middle and exciting end

Most teaching jobs – whether you’re applying for a headship or first position – require candidates to do a presentation. You may be given a specific topic or a general theme. It might last as little as 10 minutes or as long as half an hour. But whatever the circumstances you will very much be on show and marked on your performance.

Think of the presentation like the structure of a three-act play, with a beginning, middle and end. Remember your beginning is very important, your middle is important too, but your ending is most crucial. Get this formula right and you will dramatically increase your chances of success.

The beginning is as simple as A, B, C, D

The first thing to consider is A for attention. Get your audience’s attention with a memorable quote, arresting statement, fascinating anecdote or snappy piece of data. For example, you could start with: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world … so said Nelson Mandela” or “Only 32% of white working-class boys achieved level 4 in this school last year …” In other words, get their attention and keep it.

B is for benefit. Tell your audience what they will learn from your presentation, even if you have been given the subject by the panel. Say something like: “In the next 10 minutes, I will explain how we can raise the achievement of white working-class boys in this school through year-on-year, systematic measures.”

C for credentials. Explain why you are the best person to be delivering this information. For example, you could say: “I have six years’ experience of working in schools in challenging and disadvantaged areas …” or “I think my background and experience are ideally suited to the challenge of being a new teacher in a school like this.”

Finally, D is for direction. Briefly elaborate on how you will do all this stuff. Say something like: “I will start by setting out the issues, provide relevant data, give examples of successful approaches and then lay out my strategy for providing better outcomes in your school.”

Write yourself a script, rehearse it and make sure you don’t take more than 20% of your allotted time for the beginning. If your presentation lasts 10 minutes, don’t use up more than two minutes saying all of the above.

The middle – the filling in your sandwich

This is where you talk about what you promised at the beginning. So in your opening if you said – “I will explain the issues, provide data, give examples of successful approaches and set out my strategy” – then make sure you do this. And make it interesting and varied. Populate your middle with the following:

• An anecdote (keep it short, illustrative and directly relevant).
• A chart, table, infographic or other visual image of data in your PowerPoint.
• An explanation of how your methods, techniques, approaches and strategy will succeed. Highlight why your teaching, management or leadership strengths have been successful in the past and how they will be in the future. Be specific.

As with any story, the middle is where we understand the plot and character. This is your chance to get across how you will deliver on your promises and get them to believe in you as someone they can trust.

Remember the basics too – adopt an active body posture, scan the panel and maintain eye contact, use hand gestures to emphasise a point, show some passion, smile and even crack a joke if appropriate. Don’t overuse or talk to your PowerPoint – limit the slides to eight or 10. It’s you and your story they want to hear about. The middle section should take up about 60%-70% of your allotted time.

The ending – the most important part

Just like the beginning, script, time and rehearse this bit. Try to make a link with the beginning to achieve a narrative arc. This section doesn’t have to be long, in fact it should be the shortest part (about 10%-20% of your allotted time), but it should be the most memorable.

The single most important thing you want to achieve in your ending is a call to action. For example, you could say: “I said at the beginning that only 32% of white working-class boys achieve level 4. If you appoint me, we can work together to implement this strategy and make that statistic an irrelevance for this school.”

If you are an newly-qualified teacher (NQT) you could say something like: “I want to be the best NQT this school has ever had. If you appoint me not only will I work tirelessly to achieve that, but I will also bring all my inventiveness and creativity to make sure this year 2 class gets a wonderful experience while I am their teacher.” End with something that leaves your audience inspired enough to want to appoint you over others.

One final bit of advice: don’t overrun. If you have been given 10 minutes then plan for nine and a half – script it, rehearse it, time it and stick to it. There’s nothing worse than being cut off before you can finish on that big bang of an inspiring ending.

Follow us on Twitter via @GuardianTeach . Join the Guardian Teacher Network for lesson resources, comment and job opportunities , direct to your inbox.

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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?

4th Jun, 2021

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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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