Does your job selection process require you to present on a topic of your choice?
Are you appearing for an internship which has a presentation but no topic?
If one is asked to choose the topic of one’s choice at work, it is a hard choice. What topic does one choose – one that you are an expert on or the one that will impress the interviewers/examiners? If your topic meets both criteria, you are sorted. If it doesn’t, here are a few tips on how to get cracking in this situation.
Since it is a formal presentation that decides whether you get the job or not, the topic needs some thought.
1. PICK WHAT YOU ARE GOOD AT
First of all, pick up a topic that you are good at. You will feel more confident delivering it. And if there are questions at the end of the presentation, which I guess there will be, you will have a chance to show the extent of your knowledge.
FREE DOWNLOAD: 6 simple strategies to communicate better at work
2. MAKE IT RELEVANT
Secondly, make it relevant. You may be great at philately or have envious knowledge of cricket trivia. But those may not be the right topic for a job related presentation. Nor should it be too technical so that it seems like you are showing off. Pick something that gives you an opportunity to showcase the skills or knowledge that the job requires you of.
3. BE SPECIFIC
Pick a specific topic in the subject you choose. Don’t try to cover everything possible. That will only spread the topic thin. So choose a strand you are really good at and stick to that. For instance, if it is a technical presentation, you can pick up the advantages of a software. If it is about HR processes, you can stick to recruitment and best practices to choose the right people.
4. MAKE IT INTERESTING
Prepare the presentation with care. Pepper it with stories, anecdotes, stats – whatever tools are relevant and makes the presentation interesting.
You can learn more about speaking tools that will keep your audience interested here
Pay attention to the ending. Don’t end with “that’s it”. Say something like, “I’ll be happy to answer If you have any questions”. Don’t bank on powerpoint to make the impression, become the hero of your presentation. Make sure that the focus is on you and your presentation skills.
5. PRACTICE WELL
Practice, practice, practice. Since you know your presentation is an important part of your selection, make sure that you practice the flow. Get comfortable with the gestures you will use. This will add to your confidence during the presentation.
6. ARE YOU HAPPY?
When it all over, don’t forget to analyse your performance. Even if you get a job, work on the feedback that you get to improve future presentations.
DO YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR PRESENTATION SKILLS?
I am taking on limited number of individuals this month to work with one on one with them. If you are interested, we can get on a 20 minute free session on phone with me to discover what areas you’d like to work on. Once we chalk that out, we can get together for personal or virtual sessions and bring out the confident presenter in you.
FREE DOWNLOAD: 6 simple strategies to communicate better at work
Drop me a line in the comments below or write to me on sumankher@sumankher.com and let’s make this year about impactful presentations!
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