Interesting research shows that people fear public speaking more than death. So can you imagine how difficult it can get for an average person to speak in public, in-classroom presentations, meetings; especially when you are being judged by a good number of people?
Yes, practice does make a person perfect, but here are a number of things that can help you overcome your fears. Undoubtedly, building confidence is the only option, but here are some tools for smoothing the process.
Know your audience
Understanding your employer’s needs and concerns should be the main focus of your presentation. It means you should thoroughly research the company’s portfolio for what they do and how they do it. Moreover, you should also look into people who are going to interview you. You can get this information once you are called for the interview.
Tell a story
An effective way to prepare for presenting yourself is to do your own SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats). Then combine this analysis with your achievements. This process demands creativity but it is worthwhile. So you need to align your research with your SWOT analysis to create a persuasive story to demonstrate your potential employers that why you’re the right candidate for the job.
Create a call to action
Remember, always apply for the job that you really want to do, or if you have experience in the desired filed. Because once you are close to wrapping up your presentation, it is important to give a call to action (CTA). CTA is a summary of what you state in the presentation and what you plan to do for achieving the goal that the company is looking forward to achieving. It will be the last thing they will remember about you.
Rehearse for the interview
Effective presentations are often well-rehearsed. Get a friend or colleague to practise a mock interview with commonly asked questions. Practice will allow you to avoid mistakes during the interview. Practice introducing yourself, your storytelling style and delivering an effective CTA. This will reduce any nervousness, and make you look more confident and prepared for the big day.
Body language
Interviewers may already make up their minds about a candidate within the first seven seconds of the interview. You must control your body language so as to seem confident and positive.
Control over your speech
Presenters and public speakers need to have clear, strong and confident voices… so do candidates in an interview. Drink water before a case interview, your interviewers do not want to hear you croaking your way through the interview. Also, practice varying your speech in terms of pitch and volume. Remember, effective communication isn’t only about what you say, it’s also how you say it.
These six presentation skills are simple and effective for any job or case interview. Learn to master these skills and you will definitely be able to land any job you desire. Always remember, if you do your research, words and confidence will come automatically.
