Interview presentation advice

So I have an interview on Monday, with one of the stages being a 20 minute presentation on a scenario of my choosing (out of 2 possible choices).

Speaking to someone who has gone through the process before they were given scenario choices similar to the below:
A: A firewall has gone down in monitoring, what action would you take and why.
B: The company is launching a new web-based service, What resources would you need to implement it

Any advice on how to present in these situations? I know what i would do, and how, for what i would choose as my scenario, but havent been in the process of having to do so in the presence of an interview board before or how to format my moment in the spotlight.

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Comments

scaredoftests

I would do a powerpoint presentation and stick to the facts. And RELAX. It should be fine. Honestly, I have never had to present like that, I was always asked during an interview and I would just go through the scenario. Lucky you have a few days to prepare. Good luck.

EANx

These are very different scenarios, one is troubleshooting and the other project management. It could be that the first thing they're grading you on is the scenario you choose. For instance, if I'm hiring someone to be tier-2, they better choose the troubleshooting scenario. I'd suggest that you be careful to choose the scenario that most closely aligns with the job you're applying for.

Whenever I need to present, I take hours and do dry run-throughs. I work out what I want to say and tone and pace that I want to say it. It's amazing how many "umms" are eliminated when you have gone through what you want to say. Of course, you don't have the topics yet but you can certainly do dry runs of how to troubleshoot or how to start a project plan so that when the time comes, you inject a couple of variables and you're off and running.

Welly_59

scaredoftests wrote: »

I would do a powerpoint presentation and stick to the facts. And RELAX. It should be fine. Honestly, I have never had to present like that, I was always asked during an interview and I would just go through the scenario. Lucky you have a few days to prepare. Good luck.

This will be with a whiteboard and a marker!

Welly_59

EANx wrote: »

These are very different scenarios, one is troubleshooting and the other project management. It could be that the first thing they're grading you on is the scenario you choose. For instance, if I'm hiring someone to be tier-2, they better choose the troubleshooting scenario. I'd suggest that you be careful to choose the scenario that most closely aligns with the job you're applying for.

Whenever I need to present, I take hours and do dry run-throughs. I work out what I want to say and tone and pace that I want to say it. It's amazing how many "umms" are eliminated when you have gone through what you want to say. Of course, you don't have the topics yet but you can certainly do dry runs of how to troubleshoot or how to start a project plan so that when the time comes, you inject a couple of variables and you're off and running.

Not really much time to prepare for this one, the topics are given and then you have 5 minutes to prepare before entering the room. I think its going to be about process more thna anything - so follow ITIL incident process etc

scaredoftests

interesting, then practice, practice, practice on that whiteboard...

Ismaeljrp

20 minutes sounds intense. I can't imagine why they'd want to go through that. What type of role is it?

Welly_59

Ismaeljrp wrote: »

20 minutes sounds intense. I can't imagine why they'd want to go through that. What type of role is it?

Network Engineer / SOC cover

Nisseki

I've never had to do a presentation in an interview and I hope the day never comes lol.

shochan

I would study these whiteboard examples & you will do fine!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwbKYcBdVyk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDq0qeOXolA

Welly_59

Some good presenting in there but the topics could do some work

EANx

How would you have made them better? There's no better preparation than practice, even practice on different topics. If nothing else, you figure out your comfort level with breathing and discover things lie "if I talk for three minutes straight, I start to cough"

Welly_59

im practising

Im ready for monday, in fact i want to do it now!

yoba222

Film a video of your self giving it then replay it.

Welly_59

Just my luck I've woken up this morning with a swollen uvula which is making long sentences hard to pronounce. Gotta get down pharmacy

Welly_59

interview done! it went ok, even the presentation. I had to present on 2 scenarios (not one), and one of them was out of my comfort zone but i think i managed to pull it off.

Its a waiting game now until next week when i will find out the result