I have an interview and I need to give a presentation

The presentation is to be entitled "Practical Ways to Deliver Outstanding Customer Service in a Modern University Library"; any tips?

Dunno what your field is at the moment, but read the hell up on e-Learning?

I'm currently in the Learning Spaces team, supporting the (university) library. Prior to that, I ran the film & music department of the library. The job is running customer services / circulation in the library across several site libraries, so essentially dealing with staff-to-student interfaces, self-issue equipment, loan policies, etc. The e-Learning side of things is run by a different team, with specific library e-resources handled by Collections & Research, who I'll be working closely with, but not of.

Can't help on the subject, but in terms of presentation it's always a good idea to make sure it's properly structured and start by telling your audience what the structure is. E.g.:
"modern libraries deliver outstanding service in two ways: customer-focused and internal-focus. I'll deal with these in turn. Customer-focus has three main elements: A, B and C. A involves blah blah - this means blah blah blah" and so on.
End by tying these together: "in summary, the crucial element in all these areas is communication. So my priority will be teamwork."

The benefit of this approach is you look super-organized, your audience has no trouble following where you're going, and if it's dull they know exactly how much longer you're going to be speaking for.

Specific presentation skills tips is probably more what I'm after, actually; those are great, Ismael!

don't use powerpoint or an overhead projector at all

Sadly I'm expected to do so... Time limit is 5 minutes.

oh well! i think a white board works better, if you need to have WORDS written BIG

In my heart I agree with Tracer, but maybe they're partly going to be looking for some sort of technical aptitude?

Unless thats an easier question than it seems 5 minutes is nothing - you'll need to be incredibly focused. I'd work out what my crucial two or three points are that I really had to make, write the whole thing out longhand, and then excise everything unnecessary, as if you were boiling down a really dense piece of short fiction. Try to get down to something that takes four to four-and-a-minutes to say out loud, then ditch the longhand and speak more slowly, either from memory or using a prompt card.

Technical aptitude is a big part of the job, aye. It's all about modernising library interfaces and attitudes.

and if it's dull they know exactly how much longer you're going to be speaking for

I never give presentations but someone once told me that they always put "slide x of y" in small text at the bottom of all their Powerpoint slides for much this reason and it seemed a good thing. This doesn't really apply for a 5-minute talk, I guess, but they said it also makes it more obvious to you that you're on the right slide and haven't accidentally hit "next" twice.

5 minutes = no more than 5 pages - easy, an opening statement of intent - 3 key sections (you won't be able to cover more in your allotted time) and a summary to finish - a minute on each page, don't ever, ever look at them yourself and don't have more than say 5 pieces of info on each.

Just coming out with random stuff here, and you've probably done it already, but if you need factoids, it might be worth looking at the national student survey results for learning resources for your place. One of the things they'll be wanting to hear is how yr going to improve the stats?

good shout. Bare slides are good because people read them as soon as they see them, and the less reading an the more listening they do, the better (sorry if this is egg-sucking 101)

Egg sucking is good; having my feelings re ppt confirmed is what I want.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/ppt2.html

jesus no don't ever use powerpoint templates etc for data, they're infamously awful. As a data monkey I have to do that sort of thing though so just put in my own excel tables on a blank page.

Powerpoint is pollution, but I know why you have to use it. The first time I had to make something with Powerpoint it took me way too long, not because the program is difficult, but because it's so much dumber than anything I'd ever used. The trick to using Powerpoint seems to be to imagine that you're wearing a helmet, can't so much as buy yourself a candy bar, and just do what it wants you to do. Forget that you're smarter than Powerpoint. It doesn't care.

In fact it is hostile to people who are smarter than it it.

Make sure to include two or three facts or metrics which are sourced externally, i.e. not just your opinion, about what makes for good customer service, or maybe data from a reputable source that shows research results about what customers expect from their library and whether it's being delivered. This frames the PROBLEM - now you have to provide a range of solutions and be convincing about why YOU are the person who is best-placed to deliver them. Quote the sources of the research or findings above, of course.

The advantages of stating like this is that it shows that you are aware of context AND you're customer focused.

So maybe in 5 mins:

Slides:
1. The Problem(s): as above
2. What that means from a customer prespective
3. What challenge this poses for the library
4. Alternative approaches to providing better service (preferably just 2, given the time constraints)
5. Outcomes expected from each approach. Remember to include COSTS! Give examples of approaches that have worked, either from your own experience or that you have read about. Have a couple of hard metrics to demonstrate that service improved if you can.

Don't use cue cards. Keep info on each slide to a minimum.

Best of luck.

Personally, I've found anecdotes to work well. The opening anecdote that leads to the statement of the problem/challenges, when used well, is a more engaging structure than the "Today I'm going to talk to you about this. This has three parts. Let me tell you them." format that reminds me too much of how we were taught to write essays as a kid.

Cartoons are good, too. Slides of cartoons are good when you don't have something that goes along with what you're saying. People like cartoons. If everyone else has bullet points and text, almost anything is more interesting.

Presenters who have boring slides and fancy transitions always bugged me.

Also - keep referring to the customer or 'library user' if 'customer' is too cheesy. They are all that matters here.

Is it out of date to refer to them as "patrons"?

Cartoons? really? I'd rather die than use a cartoon in a presentation that would decide if I got a job or not. Dr C's advice is comprehensively excellent.

sorry ... missed the part about it being a job interview. I used to have a job where I did sound and taped conferences. The presenters that had cartoons or quotes as opposed to just basic powerpoint templates stood out.

Presenters who have boring slides and fancy transitions always bugged me.

You are such a minority audience that you don't count. TRANSITIONS ARE AWESOME.

what you need are transitions with a blipvert that shout:

JUST GIVE ME THE FUGGIN' JOB

There's just a major disjunction when I saw a fancy transition between slides using the default layout, colors, and fonts. Considering the amount of time the slide is on the screen, versus the time transitions occur in, I'd rather have the stuff I have to look at the longest be less boring to look at. But again, I am a minority audience.

be prepared for questions too, they might not, but best be ready.

No transitions. No cartoons. Please!

Use a simple to read graph or chart if it helps you make a point.

Make sure that each slide is very simple and contains just the basic point that you're trying to get across. .

Even if you're in a small room with a panel of 2 or 3 interviewers - STAND UP to deliver the presentation. . It gives you an air of authority. Look them in the eyes (but don't stare them down). 'Lighthouse' around between them if you can. (Depends on seating arrangement and how many there are.)

Tell them you'll take questions at the end.

Important - even if you only have five or so slides - print out bound copies for each interviewer (take more than you need) and hand them out at the end of your talk so that they can make notes. You could add some extra information as 'back-up' pages if necessary, but if you do make sure you tell them that they are in there and that they are additional info, otherwise they'll wonder why you didn't present them.

This is an internal appointment with only internal applicants, and I know the panel well; one of them is our Comms & Marketing manager, who I've run projects for; he FUCKING HATES transitions.

Oh! Yes, take printouts; also take more than one copy of your presentation (USB stick, burnt CD, whatever). Friend claims he got last job because when USB stick didn't work he had a CD, and when that also wouldn't run he'd printed it out onto OHP transparencies. Got compliments for being prepared. (Maybe if your interviewer is super green then having unnecessary unrecyclable versions is not so good, however)

presentation tips
http://www.garrreynolds.com/Presentation/index.html

byrne on loving powerpoint
http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2005/03/08_byrne.shtml

tufte on powerpoint causing death and destruction
http://www.edwardtufte.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0001yB

where is gabbneb??

just cosigning on keeping your slides to a minimum w/only a simple heading or single sentence on each one. you want ppl to have to listen to you so talk through, don't write out, your content. for five mins. stick to a good solid two or three points w/a snappy intro and conclusion. seriously five minutes fucking flies by so know what you're going to say and keep momentum throughout.

gabbenb got wished away to the cornfield

like gabbneb could pull his head out of his ass long enough to give a presentation that didn't involve him talking with his ass

that's a lot of ass

Imagining gabbneb re-enacting the scene in Ace Ventura where he pretends his ass is talking.

And now... showering.

I CAN'T SHOWER IN MY BRAIN, THANKS A LOT GUY.

maybe try turning your face into a heart

scik mouthy is this helping

Summary & Next Steps

· Gabbneb in cornfield

· Talks from ass

· Cannot shower in brain

· Try turning face into heart

Now you just need a background image

This is definitely helping. Hopefully so will the £500 (reduced to £300) Italian suit I just bought.

You've been to M&S haven't you?

Burtons.

Re; background image: should I just use our division's corporate background, and keep it super simple?

btw wtf is "lighthousing"? (see upthread)

It's where you flash at the audience every two minutes.

It's the only practical way of ensuring they don't all run into you.

I have my three slides, I think. Just met with president of student's guild and a couple of PhD students & academics to get their ideas re; customer service. They were bloody delighted that I was being proactive. Feeling good about this.

got no useful advice that wouldn't repeat porkpie or ismael klata but good luck

I think this went well; the guy who'd be my line manager and who's devised the role wanted us to talk longer (I was in there an hour anyway) about how the role's going to develop, but said "it wouldn't be fair on other applicants". I hope that's a good sign.

Either that or he really wants to hurt your feelings later.

He doesn't SEEM vicious and inhumane...

After an extensive survey amongst a statistically representation of the working population (1) I propose these infrastructural ameliorations to enhance this company:

- soundproofing the toilets
- smellproofing the toilets

SOURCES:
(1) V., Chris, 2003-2009 (ongoing), how to take a poop at work., ILX, message 001-106 (currently)

(damn! forgot the "et al." )

Didn't get it.

HEIN?!?

shit, tough break dude - any feedback?

It was insanely close, apparently - I was marked 40/40 for my presentation - and out of the four candidates it was pretty much level pegging between me and the person who got it. I went to speak to her a little bit ago and I can see why she's better for the position than me, at the moment. Little more experience, little more... something. She's very good. Upside, if there is an upside, is that I've apparently "raised my profile" considerably, whatever that means in these troubled times. I'm gutted, and I've taken the afternoon off to hang with Cosmo & Bob.

Even though you didn't get it, you handled that really well.

I know it's crap, but that is about as good a set of feedback you could get without getting the actual job if you know what I mean. The profile raising is, as you say, essential right now too.

Aww, nuts! That's bad luck.

My initial reaction was that I was gutted and felt like I ought to look elsewhere for a job, but that was as much to do with how I found out as anything (office whispers as I was in late due to a hospital appointment - not the fault of management but rather one of the other unsuccessful candidates), and the more I've talked to people, the more I see this as something I can take a lot from. But yeah, right now I kind of want to cry a bit, cos I put a lot of preparation in and I just feel exhausted.

A couple of months ago I went for something at a company's behest and the HR working with me was very amped to begin with but after I had a similar 40/40 for aptitude/experience and didn't get job, grapevine told me he'd started to prefer another candidate in the middle of the process. They hired the other candidate, who quit a month after joining. Wondering if that's a mega black mark against the HR guy's judgement down the line?

Their loss. You'll get other - probably even better - opportunities.

:-(

I went through almost the same thing about a year ago, and had several leads that didn't pan out. In one case, I had 3 interviews, including an hour-and-a-half with the Vice-President, and someone with a bit more "local experience" ended up getting it. About a month later I got an unexpected call from someone who saw my resume online, and it turned into my current job. And it's actually better than the ones I was applying for. It sucks, and advice along the lines of "keep your head up" doesn't always help right afterwards. Take a little while to put it behind you, appreciate that you wowed them in the interview, and use any and all feedback to help you next time around. Good luck, I know how this feels.

Nat, turn that frown upside down - I bagged a literary agent two weeks after not getting job and HR dude will be getting it served cold by v. senior friend at company.