[Closed] Powerpoint presentation help please !!

Pretty pictures, few words.

Does it have to be powerpoint or have they just asked for a presentation?

Don't just present a load of bullet points

Don't read what's on the slides, they can all do that

Don't use fancy animation effects, they just distract

Don't use a stock powerpoint template, they all look the same

Do make it personal

Do use images/quotes that relate to what you're saying then talk about them, keep the slides simple so they listen to what you're saying

Do rehearse the timings - 10 mins isn't long and you're likely to be quicker doing it for real (arf arf)

Don't pack too much in - quick intro, couple of key points and a wrap up, 1 slide a minute MAX

Do try to slip in a sly innuendo, it'll wake them up (15-18 yo's especially)

1. Powerpoint presentations are the least interesting thing, especially to teenagers.

2. Write your presentation first, ignoring the powerpoint bit.

3. Make summary slides on your main talking points. Keep them sparse and quick to read.

4. It will stand out based on your delivery, not on your slides.

It about making the presentation relevant and knowing what you're talking about more than using crap swooshy "features"

Edit: Use comic sans, not just for this - for everything!

no words if possible - pictures, talk about the pictures. That is guidance I try to use myself in any presentation now. If words are required, avoid bullet points:  use just a few key words and relationship diagrams, mind maps, etc

I did write some stuff, but the forum logged me out between me typing the stuff & posting it, so it all disappeared.

Keep the slides to an absolute minimum. Even one would do if you done it right. You could come up with a nice looking word cloud to fill the slide, make sure all the words are trade related, could be benifits, skills, opportunities, interesring facts etc and spend 10mins talking about them and asking the audience questions to keep them engaged.

Worst thing you can do is put together multiple slides with tons of text you read out. The slides are secondary to how you present, so you should focus on that more than anything. The slides should be a prompt only and not a script.

I expect they'll be looking for more than just the content of the PP. Also about your knowledge and importantly enthusiasm, authenticity, and 'selling' the role. As well as you confidence in delivery.

In terms of the content, keep it clean and simple, I'd go with lots of images and very short video clips if you can. Make sure the pictures a bold and interesting, and use these as hooks to hang your story. Short, upbeat, punchy, and positive would be the notes you'll want to hit.

Early doors (2nd slide maybe) make it clear what it is you are trying to say  - your one/two key takeaway message.

Which brings us on to the 'story' aspect - what is it you are trying to say? You have space in your 10 minutes and ~10 slides for one and a maximum two key messages. Not five or ten.

Try not bombard with dry statistics (maybe in this case % getting x qualification) - keep it light but tight and focused.

In terms of your delivery try to be authentic - if you're good at being humorous/witty etc. do it, if not don't. In this situation I'd try and target the audiences (15-18 y/o) hearts over their heads maybe - whatever that might be that motivates people to join the RAF (I've no idea...) sk yourself - what attracted you to the RAF? - and try and capture your energy and enthusiasm into the PowerPoint., and the presentation. The kinds of things that attracted you might be the kind of things that would attract others.

Whatever you do practice it many times - if you find the content you have produced dull, tr and change it.

Others will be along with better advice soon...

I got my current training and consulting job by *not* using PowerPoint when asked for 10 mins presentation....

I prepared some sheets with some feedback statements and puzzles / questions on. I then got the three interviewers to go around room and actually complete the sheets. Then we sat down and summarised the ideas. Apparently I was only person to do this, and they loved the fact I was more interested in doing training well than meeting a random interview criteria.

Are there practical demo type things you can include or interesting/amusing related stories (e.g. if as a sparky when was the last time you blew yourself up, and what did you learn from it :p ).

1) Tell em what you're gonna tell em

2) Tell em

3) Tell em what you've told em.

All the cool kids are using Prezi or something similar these days, but I agree with sentiments above - minimal is best, and should be secondary to what you're actually saying.

Edit: And another thing bears repeating loudly - DON'T READ OUT YOUR SLIDES. The number of times I have to sit through somebody reading their poorly formatted, grammar-less text boils my piss.

minimal is best, and should be secondary to what you’re actually saying.

This

All the cool kids are using Prezi or something similar these days, but I agree with sentiments above

see comments about fancy animation and swooshes above, it doesn't make a bad presentation good, the I thought the prezi thing had died on is arse when people realised it was just powerpoint working differently

For recruitment you probably want to get the message across how cool it is, how much responsibility you get, how they treat you like a grown up and then hit them with something a bit serious about making a difference to people - flying aid into places or something rather than your other delivery business. Like amazon for poor people

Just edit together 10 mins of Top Gun.

There's probably 10 mins in the film that isn't completely homo-erotic.

Thanks for the replies so far, really helpful!!

Its been 20 odd years since I joined the RAF and the recruitment role has changed quite a bit since then.

As a 41 year old its hard to know how to interact and get the attention of a 15-18 year old (need to be down wiv the kidz).

I thought the prezi thing had died on is arse when people realised it was just powerpoint working differently

I might not be hanging out with the really cool kids any more 🙂

Just edit together 10 mins of Top Gun.

I've been to a 10 minute presentation where the first 2 minutes was a dogfight from Top Gun. It was quite a good presentation.

The slides are for them, not you.

Any words theyll read read rather than listen to you.

Anything complex or hard to see theyll concentrate on, rather than you.

I do this stuff for a living, admittedly to a slightly older age group.

Good advice above about few words on slides and using the content of the slides as prompts

Don't patronise them; talk to them as normal people

Keep it simple- 10 mins is nearer 5 than 10 slides for me, and only 2 or 3 themes

Would it be worth using personal experiences? '20 years ago I was sitting where you are and...... ' What floated your boat about joining? What have the good bits been? What have the bad ones been? What have you done along the way?

If it's RAF every slide transition should be accompanied by a fast jet noise. It should finish with some scrolling credits accompanied by the Dambusters theme. Sorted.

Just tell them to join the army and be real men.....

Or a map showing enemy lines, then the next slide a picture of some airmen back in Blighty drinking tea?

As my dad said to me when I was 16, don’t join the army son, it’s a hard dangerous job, join the airforce for the WRAF’s!!

(Just kidding!!)

Having sat through  one yesterday I will repeat DON'T JUST READ OUT  THE SLIDES.

Please pass this advice to certain colleagues at my work.

Can you take in objects and bits of kit related to your topic? Get them thinking what the object is used for? Who uses it etc?

are you allowed props? such as pilot helmets,suits etc or a plane? for them or one or two to try on. We take a fire kit and other tools of the job when we do talks to kids and no PP presentation

All of the above is valid, especially the DON'T READ WHAT'S ON YOUR SLIDES bit, and keep it minimal.

However, no one has addressed the key issue here. If youreyou're speaking to an audience of da yoot, you need to speak their language. Isn't it though? Isn't it?

As above, don't read off the slides.

Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. That includes knowing when to click for the next slide/animation. If you're slick, you'll be able to do it without looking at the screen. If it's a military assessor, they will be keeping time of your presentation so use a watch.

Be clear on your format: introduce yourself, tell them what you are going to cover (the 'scope'), tell them (the content), then tell them what you've told them (summary). And bring it to life with a vignette/story if you can.

Oh, and rehearse.

Finally, even if it is just simulated, state that you'll be looking to take questions at the end. This will stop your presentation being interrupted and spoiling your flow, and it will also give the audience warning that you'll be inviting them to ask you something. If you're met with stony silence, make sure you have something to ask them to initiate a conversation!

(And don't forget to remind them that whilst the Army dig in, the RAF checks in).

This one from the US Army in Afghanistan should be just the job

Just tell them loads of dits and lies  That's what recruitment is nowadays 😉