How do you present data science projects to non-technical interviewers?

1 Know your audience

Before you start preparing your presentation, you should find out who are the interviewers and what are their backgrounds, roles, and expectations. Are they managers, stakeholders, customers, or domain experts? What are their pain points, goals, and interests? How familiar are they with data science concepts and terminology? Knowing your audience will help you tailor your presentation to their level of understanding, relevance, and interest.

2 Define the problem and the solution

The first thing you should do in your presentation is to clearly define the problem you are trying to solve and the solution you are proposing. You should explain the context, the motivation, and the objective of your project in simple and concise terms. You should also highlight the main benefits and value of your solution for the audience. For example, you can say how your solution can save time, money, or resources, improve performance, quality, or satisfaction, or generate new insights, opportunities, or recommendations.

3 Simplify the process and the results

The next thing you should do is to briefly describe the process and the results of your project. You should avoid using too much technical jargon, acronyms, or formulas that might confuse or bore the audience. Instead, you should use plain language, analogies, or examples to explain the main steps, methods, and tools you used in your project. You should also use visual aids, such as charts, graphs, tables, or diagrams, to illustrate your data, analysis, and findings. You should focus on the key takeaways, trends, patterns, or insights that are relevant and interesting for the audience.

4 Demonstrate the impact and the value

The last thing you should do is to demonstrate the impact and the value of your project. You should show how your solution can be applied, tested, or validated in real-world scenarios. You should also provide some evidence, such as metrics, benchmarks, or feedback, to measure and compare the performance, quality, or satisfaction of your solution. You should also mention any limitations, challenges, or assumptions that might affect your solution and how you plan to address them. Finally, you should end with a strong call to action, such as asking for feedback, suggestions, or approval.

5 Practice and get feedback

Before you deliver your presentation, you should practice and get feedback from someone who can represent your audience. You should rehearse your presentation several times, using a timer, a microphone, and a projector if possible. You should also ask someone to watch your presentation and give you constructive feedback on your content, delivery, and style. You should pay attention to your voice, pace, tone, gestures, eye contact, and body language. You should also anticipate and prepare for possible questions, objections, or comments from the audience.

6 Be confident and enthusiastic

During your presentation, you should be confident and enthusiastic about your project. You should show that you are passionate, curious, and proud of your work. You should also be respectful, polite, and professional with your audience. You should listen to their questions, comments, or feedback attentively and respond to them clearly and politely. You should also thank them for their time and attention and invite them to follow up with you if they have more questions or want to learn more about your project.

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?