Hi Paul,


Firstly, five slides is definitely enough (isn't five the limit?)


Secondly, I think you have picked up the point that the presentation is about you, not the technology. The projects are only there to give you an excuse to talk about how you go about your work. The only aspects that can be useful to get across are those that relate to the impact of your decisions: how big, or how new, or how safety critical the project is. Given that the interviewers see lots of applicants they only need a few cues to get that context right. Try to think like a salesperson (or presenting to a board of directors) - how can you get those key technical points across in a few short sharp bullet points. As is often said, the interview itself is a measure of competence D: can you get your message across clearly but concisely.


Personally I'd say only put enough on the slides to give you enough prompts to make sure that you say everything you want to say. You really want the interviewers to be listening to you, not reading your slides. After all, they've already read your application.


That's good that you've had the heads up about competence C. If your application was inadequate on competence C then you wouldn't have got to interview, but you could assume it means that it's borderline so you need a few more examples to hand, as you suggest.  


If you used a PRA for your application (or even if you didn't) you could always ask them to look at your interview presentation.


Good luck!


Andy

Paul,


Great advice from Andy which I would endorse, but also don't try to cover multiple projects in your presentation. Just one or two projects at most which show the appropriate competences. If you need to show lots of projects to cover the competences it will indicate to the interviewers that you are only intermittently working to the right level instead of working at that level all the time.


Run through with a PRA but also practice the presentation several times before even that to get the timing right. If you run through with a PRA and are significantly under or over the time you will have to make changes which might need a second run through (though running through a presentation that is too long with a PRA gives you the advantage of being told which bits to keep and which to cut)


Best wishes for your interview,


Alasdair

Hi Guys


As an Interviewer I always want to see the presentation ahead of the interview to sort out any questions that I may wish to pose. This is especially with the virtual interviews we are conducting at the moment.


I believe six slides is the recommended limit - there is no need to waste slides with a fancy front page telling us nothing other than who you are and a final any "questions?" slide is just wasting a slide.


As a PRA I usually suggest that the topic is a subject/project you know upside down and inside out. The clichè "a picture tells a thousand words" is very true - the words should come from the candidate as a way of explanation to the slide. I also suggest they get a colleague to quiz them on it and make any amendments/edits thought useful to make it better. Timing is important but if you're going to allow the interviewers to interrupt to ask questions then your 10/15 minutes can go out of the window very quickly. Try not to go off on tangent, keep to the point. Remember when explaining it's always "I" not "We" the interview is about what you do - the whys and wherefores of your actions.


I would recommend that just one subject/project should be adequate for the presentation - the rest of your project details should already be in your Career History/Achievements.


As for the degree - whilst very, if not extremely, important, this is used purely to "tick the box" of UK&U. There are many successful candidates that do not hold an accredited degree (some with no degree at all). Without it the Panels just have to work a little bit harder to recognise that you are working at that level and make the appropriate statement to that fact.


Any way - good luck - stay safe. Regards Jim W

Hi James,

Greetings, My interview is scheduled for early March. I want someone to go through my PPT and suggest to me if I am to the point. I am afraid and a bit nervous about the upcoming interview. If possible someone who can make a mock interview.


Thanks,

Ahmed

Ahmed


I would suggest, with respect, that a colleague would be an ideal person to check out your Presentation. Just as I indicated on my last post. The staff at the IET do their upmost to match Panel Members with the candidates so that the volunteers have some idea of the candidates background and expertise. I have no idea which field you are from so, as I say try a colleague who has similar experience to you.


I do have a series of interviews in the next week, so I am going to be a bit busy getting ready that those - so forgive me this time round.


Regards Jim W.