Q: They’ve asked me to do a ten-minute presentation at the start of the interview, but the instruction amount to just one word: ‘Challenges’. What’s a woman meant to do with the likes of that? Hemingway wouldn’t manage to cobble together something from that title. Any tips would be appreciated. (IK, email ).
A: I am starting to notice a trend towards terse and obscure titles for job interview presentations. Something is stirring. Somewhere, wherever HR professionals meet, in dimly-lit rooms, a new approach is being cooked up, writes Liam Horan, Career Coach, Sli Nua Careers.
When you get over the initial shock, you should start to see that opportunity lurks here. First of all, the one-word approach could rattle others. Presentations are tricky at the best of times and, without clear guidance, some candidates will struggle.
There could be two elements to your presentation.
1. The title - which, I concede, isn’t very instructive in your case. But it does tell you something. Draw it out: what challenges is the company likely to face? Any legislative changes in the offing? Is technology altering the way the sector functions?
2. The unasked questions you need to answer which might be summarised as follows: How well do you understand the job? What ideas have you got for it? What is the basis for those ideas? And, crucially, why are you the woman for the job?
Your presentation should seek to address those, however subtly. The beauty of a one-word or obscure title is that it allows you to interpret - it gives you the leeway to go where you need to go to answer the unasked questions.
So it’s not just good enough to identify challenges. Offer solutions. Present yourself as the best person to deliver those solutions.
And, most of all, prepare well beforehand. Know what you want to say before you design a single slide. Get your story right and generate your slides after that. In my experience, if you design the slides too early, they constrict you – figure out what you want to say, and let the slides follow, not the other way around.
New boss is struggling badly
Q: When push came to shove, I didn’t take the top job in my department. I was sounded out about it and it was mine if I wanted it. But it’s a lot of hassle. They appointed an external candidate and he lasted six weeks before he got the curly finger. Now they’re back at my door, but I’m still not sure I want to do it. Stick or twist? (AC, email ).
A: Only you can really answer that. However, I would be wary of taking a management job just because you fear someone else might come in and make a mess of it and/or make your life a misery.
Management is tricky. You need to be ready to do it, rather than just falling into it. If I were you, I’d be inclined to hold back for the simple reason that the company has shown a willingness to tackle the problem if the incumbent proves unfit for the role.
It strikes me that if the next candidate doesn’t measure up, they will make another change.
The companies of the world are full of reluctant managers. Be absolutely certain before you take it on that you are comfortable with the day-to-day reality of what it entails.
