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PowerPoint pitfalls
Interview presentations can be a great opportunity to showcase your knowledge and talent. If you're asked to present, PowerPoint can really lift and add impact to what you plan to say. But beware, although it's a brilliant tool, in the wrong hands it'll make a car crash out of a presentation. Avoid the following five mistakes to ensure you get your points across effectively.
1. Reading from your slides
You've been asked to give a presentation, not talk to your slides. Find time to practice and you should be able to talk and make eye contact at the same time. You'll be far more engaging and the interviewer will be convinced you know your stuff.
2. Animation overload
The best advice is not to use animation at all. Whizzing text and pinging pictures don't up the entertainment factor: they're just annoying. Ask yourself if the special effect you've chosen helps make your points any clearer to your audience or is just a pointless distraction.
3. WordArt
It's not art, it's an assault on the eyes. Stick to straightforward fonts like Times New Roman or Arial. And whilst we're on the subject, Comic Sans should not be used in a professional context. Or arguably, ever.
4. Themes
Be very careful here. You want your text to be legible so don't pick a background so dark, busy or loud it makes your words difficult to read. Less is more, so if you want to jazz up your slides pick something subtle. Think about branding the slide with your prospective employer's company colours or including their logo in the header or footer too.
5. Too much text
If you're going to include everything you have to say on your slides, word for word, your audience will be reading and not listening. Remember, PowerPoint is just a visual aid; use it to draw attention to key points and to clarify what you have to say.
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