Five common presentation mistakes

If you have been asked to prepare a presentation for your interview, you know you have a lot of work to do. A presentation is actually a great interview opportunity for you, though it might seem more stressful than a regular interview. You will get to showcase your industry knowledge as well as your communication and problem-solving skills in a very tangible way. Even with the best of preparation there can be things you might miss. Here are some common mistakes made in interview presentations:

1. Reading an essay out loud rather than giving a presentation.
Writing out what you want to say is a great way to prepare for a presentation, but you should not be reading more than a few words in an occasional glance. If you stand there and read from your presentation you are not interacting with your audience.

2. Too much material for the allotted time.
Cramming in too much information for your audience to absorb is a very common mistake. In an effort to get across all of your spectacular knowledge and insight, you can easily overwhelm your listeners. If you are afraid this might be the case, practice your presentation on a friend and see if they feel the material is too dense for the time you are being given.

3. Lack of excitement or connection with the audience.
Whether it stems from nervousness or a genuine lack of interest, failing to exhibit enthusiasm for your subject can be a deal breaker. You are presenting about your industry to your potential boss. You must demonstrate enthusiasm for the job you want. Engage your audience as often as possible so they can feel your emotional investment in the presentation and the topic.

4. Lack of variation in voice, tempo or language.
A wooden presentation is similar in disappointment to a lack of enthusiasm. If you simply lack good presentation skills you might need help with intonation and variation in your voice and pace. Practice speaking in a conversational tone to use in your presentation. Don’t depend on slide after slide to speak for you, either. This can be worse than a monotonous oral presentation.

5. Being long-winded.
This is different than being thorough. Remember that a presentation does not have to be long to be good. Making the pertinent points with enthusiasm and accuracy in a short amount of time is preferable to long-winded sentences and restating points over and over again.

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Becky Papp has been a professional writer for 20 years, working for newspapers, magazines and corporate communications. She currently contracts for clients all over the world, writing online and print articles, newsletters, blogs, and e-books. She resides in Phoenix, Arizona.