Deliver a presentation that's worthy of a graduate job

If the thought of speaking in front of a mixed group of candidates and assessors has you going weak at the knees, follow our ground rules for a perfect presentation.

perfect presentations for a graduate job

The presentation is, without doubt, the chief cause of anxiety for most candidates. It might be a solo effort or you might join others in a group presentation; either way you’ll need to be prepared.

1. Every presentation needs a structure
On the day, you'll be nervous. Your mind might go blank. The last thing you need is the insecurity of having a presentation without a structure. A structure is helpful to the audience too. They know where they are and what's to come. Once you have a structure, you can decide what kind of notes you will use. Use what you are comfortable with but never speak from a script.

2. Be ruthless with the content
Inevitably, planning a presentation will involve you collecting too much information. Five minutes in front of an audience is only enough time for, say, four big ideas or messages. Remember what it feels like to listen to a speaker. Too much information and you begin to switch off, so prune down your talk to the essentials.

3. How you come across is very important
Most of the message of your talk is transmitted non-verbally, by the way you present. Your body language can make a huge difference to your presentation.

4. Don't start until you are ready
If you're nervous, your body will be screaming at you to begin and get it over with. What tends to happen next is that you start when neither you nor the audience is ready. Take your time. Before you say anything, pause and look round the audience. When they are settled and ready, you can begin.

5. Master the visual aids
You may be invited to use a flipchart, an overhead projector (OHP) or Powerpoint slides to support your presentation. There are certain things to bear in mind when using visual aids:

They must be visual: don't put too much written information on an OHP transparency, Powerpoint slide or flipchart. Try to use diagrams, charts or graphs to illustrate your points.

They must be a support not a crutch: only use visual aids to clarify what you are saying. You don't want the audience to concentrate on the visuals rather than on you.

Visual aids shouldn't conflict with what you're saying: never leave a visual aid showing if you are talking about something else. It's very confusing for the audience.
Don't talk to visual aids: talk to the audience and not to the flipchart or the OHP screen.

We asked Claire McBride, resourcing manager for Mothercare, about the use of visual aids. 'It's not so much about how it is presented as the actual content,' says Claire. 'Keep it simple and focus on expressing your points around the key aspects of the presentation brief you have been given.' Perhaps the most important thing to remember, therefore, is that aids should do just that - aid you. If they start to hinder then you're relying on them too much.

How to prepare

You are unlikely to be able to give a decent presentation unless you have practised one. If you are given the presentation topic in advance, prepare what you are going to say and actually give the presentation so you know how long it is and how it comes across. Overrunning is a capital crime and you will be marked down for it. If you can't practise in front of others, do it in front of a mirror. Prepare also for questions at the end. Try to anticipate what they will ask you and prepare some answers.

Bob Stead, author and occupational psychologist from the University of Hertfordshire Business School, gives his top five presentation tips

Practise the presentation with a fellow candidate (or friend beforehand) and get them to time it.
Be careful of your body language. Try not to bring your hands anywhere near your face.
Never point at people but use open palms.
Try to remember the facts and minimise the use of cue cards.
Think about using flip-charts, as they are more flexible than slides.

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