Fine Tuning Your Presentation

When we think about a presentation we usually think about standing before someone or a group of people to make a speech or presenting some type of project to an audience or judges; but this article will highlight self-presentation and the key presentation skills that will make you more appealing to potential employers.

Fine tuning your self-presentation should include preparation, confidence, and dressing to impress. When preparing for a job interview, preparation is one of the first keys to success. Time spent preparing for the interview is invaluable to your success. Research shows that people who prepare for interviews are more effective when answering and asking questions, more relaxed throughout the interview, and can sell themselves according to the company’s needs. Preparation comprises researching the company, planning for an early arrival, and listing potential questions and answers.

Confidence is another important component of self-presentation. No doubt you’ll have heard the phrase, “there is a thin line between love and hate”. There is also a thin line between being confident and being cocky. Being confident in your abilities lets your potential employer know that you can do the job and do it well. A cocky attitude portrays the opposite image of an employee who “knows it all”. Finding the right balance will convey to your potential employer that while you are confident in your abilities you are still willing to learn and take on new challenges.

Dressing to impress is a crucial element of self-presentation. Your appearance is the first contact that you will have with your potential employer. They will see you before they actually meet and you must make a good first impression. A bad first impression can eliminate your chances for success even if you are the best candidate for the job. Dressing to impress includes not just the clothes that you wear but also hairstyles, jewelry, and even cologne.

Now that you have the keys to fine tuning your self-presentation, you will be prepared, confident, and well-dressed for your interview. Your fine-tuned presentation will let your potential employers know that you are the best candidate for the job. Let your self-presentation do the work for you!