10 minute presentation for a job interview

A key part of interviews nowadays is to ask prospective applicants to carry out a 10-minute presentation. In this question and answer article, we asked our readers to see if they had any advice for these kinds of presentations.

10 minute presentation for a job interview

I’ve just been told that I have a job interview next Wednesday. I need to do a 10 minute presentation in front of the other candidates followed by a formal interview. The topic of the presentation is “What I can bring to this position” and “How will I adapt to make my job successful”. I’ve never had to do anything like this before and I just don’t know where to start!

Question by Sarah K.

I am also  preparing for an interview myself. I have to present myself and let them know what will I bring to the team. I have started my report by saying who am I, my academic background and now I am thinking of talking about my business qualifications and how my present job experience helped me be more responsible, organized, problem solver ext. I will present some cases where I was very much involved and that will show my professional attitude and mentality.

Answer thanks to Stefan.

I have been offered the following advice for my ten minute presentation for an interview this coming Tuesday, so I’m sharing it with you. I will be given the topic and given an hour to prepare it.

The structure: 

Tell them what you are going to tell them.

Tell them.

Tell them what you told them.

You should use minimal flip charts or slides, no more than 4 I would aim at 3 if possible.

1. Start with an introduction “I am”, “I will be talking about … and I will allow time for questions (at end).”
2. Depending upon what subject you get you may wish to consider using the SWOT analysis method of delivery which should contain about 3 or 4 Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. I often find subjects or the questions asked don’t fit easily into SWOT and should that be the case it is perhaps best to use the rule of 3.
3. Pick what your Focal point will be i.e Our Company should wear green ties not red ties.
4. Presuming that you will be given a flipchart at least, I would divide the body of the presentation into three points, and use a separate flip chart for each point. For example, discussing the cost, availability and quality.
5. Conclude with a summary backing up your point and maybe even a catch phrase or saying.

Other notes of advice:

Adhere strictly to time, try not to over complicate it, don’t talk to the flip chart, and practice if you have time. In terms of preparation before the day, rack your brains for questions and practice it at home. This will mean that your introduction will essentially be the same and a little bit like a ‘fill in the blanks’.

Answer thanks to Rach.

10 minutes on why I applied and why I am an ideal candidate. 

In a couple of weeks, I will have to give a 10 minute presentation for a prospective job opportunity. I have to answer two questions in this presentation, why I choose to apply for the job and why I am an ideal candidate.
I have done some research on the company and have a decent response for the presentation but I have recently found out there are a lot of other candidates and feel I need a hook or theme that the panel will remember and identify with. Do you have any ideas on how I can come up with a suitable ‘hook’ for the presentation.

Question by David Baughan. 

It is good to see you have done some research on the company, as my best advice for you is to read the job application form and the company’s web site, see what kind of qualities they are looking for. Usually in their company description or job description they will have words like dynamic, honesty, integrity, and innovation in it.Try to use these and others adjectives you think are applicable in your presentation.

Answer thanks to Anita. 

As much as possible use real live examples of why you are ideal, i.e. the challenges which you faced at your last company, some of which may face your prospective employers. Talk a little about the ways you have handled yourself and dealt with problems i.e., I handled this problem by using X, which resulted in Y. By doing this you are quoting experience, showing you understand their business, and sharing your knowledge… all good things to show in an interview.

Answer thanks to Amy Brown. 

Three successes and one failure presentation

I have to give a 10 minutes presentation tomorrow for a job interview. It has to be based on 3 successes and one failure. I’m going to concentrate on job related issues. Does anyone have any tips on how to pitch this?I have been advised to follow the Situation, Task, Action and Result framework for each item to ensure that I demonstrate the competencies required by the interviewers, but I’m worried that the presentation will end up being too detailed.Also, any views on how I should order each item? ie shall I cover the failure item last or is that too negative?

Question by Mandy Tipp. 

The best way to present a failure is to fail because of one of your strengths (e.g. I was so determined to get the job done on time, that we went slightly over budget) Effectively talk about the failure more as a trade-off, rather than as a failure. You don’t have to talk about your worst failure.Another one would be I lost the deal, but I was able to take the earnings and win the next one. Also don’t use the failure as the last item. It should go in the middle. People will remember the first and the last items, but not the ones in the middle. Ensure that you say what you learnt from that failure, and how to do it better next time.

Answer by Doctor. 

Have you got any tips for a 10 minute interview presentations? If so leave them in the comments box below.