How can you deliver a winning online interview presentation?

1 Plan your content

Before you start creating your presentation, you need to understand the purpose, audience, and format of your online interview. What is the main message you want to convey? Who are you speaking to and what are their expectations? How long will you have to present and what tools will you use? Answering these questions will help you plan your content and structure your presentation accordingly. You should also research the company, the role, and the industry, and tailor your presentation to highlight your relevant skills and experience.

2 Design your slides

Your slides are the visual support for your presentation, not the script. They should be clear, concise, and engaging, without overcrowding them with text, images, or animations. Use a consistent and professional design, with a simple color scheme, font, and layout. Avoid using bullet points and instead use charts, graphs, icons, or photos to illustrate your points. Make sure your slides are readable and visible on different devices and screen sizes. You can use online tools like PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Prezi to create and share your slides.

3 Practice your delivery

The way you deliver your presentation is as important as the content itself. You need to practice your delivery until you feel confident and comfortable with your material, timing, and tone. You can record yourself and watch the playback, or ask a friend or colleague to give you feedback. Pay attention to your voice, body language, eye contact, and gestures, and avoid filler words, ums, and ahs. You should also practice using the technology you will need for your online interview, such as your webcam, microphone, and screen sharing.

4 Set up your environment

Your environment can make a big difference in your online interview presentation. You want to create a professional and distraction-free setting, where you can focus on your presentation and communicate clearly with your interviewer. Choose a quiet, well-lit, and tidy space, with a neutral or plain background. Check your internet connection, battery, and sound levels, and close any unnecessary tabs or apps on your computer. You should also dress appropriately, as if you were meeting your interviewer in person.

5 Engage your audience

One of the challenges of online presentations is to keep your audience interested and attentive. You need to engage your audience from the start and maintain their attention throughout your presentation. You can do this by using storytelling, examples, questions, polls, or quizzes, depending on the format and style of your online interview. You should also show enthusiasm, passion, and personality, and use humor, anecdotes, or emotions to connect with your audience. Don't forget to smile and have fun!

6 Handle Q&A

The last part of your online interview presentation is usually the question and answer session. This is your chance to clarify any doubts, address any concerns, and reinforce your main points. You should prepare some possible questions and answers in advance, based on your research and presentation content. You should also listen carefully to the questions, answer them briefly and confidently, and provide examples or evidence if possible. If you don't know the answer to a question, don't panic, just admit it and offer to follow up later.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?