Surti - Ultimate Presentations: Master Interviews and Presentations to Land Your Dream Job

To my parents Vasu and Harry, whose persistence and can do attitude inspire me constantly. They taught me that putting in the effort is always worth it. Very simply, the next small step takes you closer to what you want to achieve.

The world has changed since Ultimate Presentations was first published three years ago. More people are working remotely and collaborating online through video conferencing rather than regularly meeting in person. There will be more of a balance of both in-person and online meetings taking place in the workplace virtual meetings have become part of our normal everyday work pattern.

Strong presentation and effective communication skills are more relevant than ever, especially with increasing competition in the job market and the need for leaders to be able to inspire and motivate teams against a backdrop of ever-increasing challenges. All of the content from the original book is still relevant and can be applied to both face-to-face and virtual interactions. However, delivering presentations or being interviewed online brings additional factors into play we now need to think about building rapport through a laptop camera lens and checking that the technology will not fail just before an important speech. I have therefore added a new chapter specifically dedicated to virtual presentations.

Whether presenting online or offline, using the tips and techniques in this book will help you to be the best presenter you can be. I wish you every success with that, and in your career.

Presentations are a part of life in the workplace they feature in all industries and in many different situations within those industries. Being able to master your presentation technique will help boost your career.

If you are just getting started on your career path, there are many chapters that will take you through the art of constructing your content and delivering it in a way that engages an audience, as well as showing you how to set yourself up for success when presenting at an interview or assessment centre. As you progress through your career and become more experienced, youll meet new challenges. No matter where you are in your speaking journey, if youre looking for new improvements to take you to the next level, youll find them in this book. Ill show you how.

The main focus of this book is based around presentations of course, but there are also many tools and tips that have wider applications in communication generally. For example well look at the impact of non-verbal communication and ways in which we all like to process information. This will give you the inside track on how to better understand and connect with team members, senior managers and clients. Ive also included a host of tips on how to tackle difficult questions useful not just in the context of the question and answer section of presentations but in any kind of meeting from interviews to business pitches. Each chapter is dedicated to a different topic to make it easy for you to skip straight to the one that you need. I would recommend that you look at all of the chapters even if you think you feel confident in some areas already its always worth refreshing what you know and perhaps youll come across a different way of looking at something or a new tip! I therefore suggest reading through this book from beginning to end as each chapter will build upon the previous one, and give you an all-round solid grounding in presenting. However, if you have a specific area you want to brush up on right away, you can skip to the chapters you need. For example, if you have an interview coming up, you might want to go straight to for tips on virtual presentations.

Ive shared plenty of examples demonstrating both good and bad techniques to give you insights as to the best way to apply them or keep improving some of those are from my own personal experience. I was once a young professional too one with very little presentation experience and not enough confidence. In my personal opinion, I dont think there is enough emphasis placed upon learning how to hone presentation skills in school and university and yet being able to present is a requirement in most jobs.

Over the years Ive coached and worked with people of all age groups in many industries and what most of them have in common is that they lack confidence and have very little idea as to how to be engaging when speaking to groups. Some people do seem like they are naturally talented and have a knack for speaking in public, but they are just more experienced and well prepared. The good news is that anyone can learn how to be better at presenting it just takes a little time.

Wherever youre starting from, if youre willing to put in the effort you will make a positive impression on any audience. You might even start to enjoy presenting, like I did!

Presentation skills are important in the workplace both for individual success and business success. In the competitive world that we live in, it is no longer enough just to have the necessary capability to carry out your job. You need to be able to communicate effectively as well. This means conquering your fears and learning to love speaking under pressure.

Whether youre speaking to a client on the phone, or presenting to an external audience, your presentation skills not only reflect you but also your organization. You act as a representative of your company every time you enter into an interaction with external stakeholders such as clients, suppliers or other partnership agencies. This is why employers are looking for individuals that can impress through a well-crafted and confident presentation. Honing these skills gives you the best chance of securing the career path of your dreams.

A good presentation can be a very powerful way to communicate an idea or message. It is a skill that is highly valued and is one that anyone can improve upon.

Becoming a good presenter will also raise your profile and enhance your personal brand. All too often people put too much focus upon the content and dont give enough attention to how they deliver it. It doesnt matter what career or industry sector youre in, we are all in the business of selling. Whatever roles you take on along your career path, you will need to sell an idea or concept in order to get buy in from others colleagues, managers or clients. Whatever industry you are in or looking to find a position in, here are some of the benefits of improving presentation skills:

• You become more visible and get noticed not many people take up the challenge of giving presentations. Those that do get more exposure by having the opportunity to get in front of people they dont see on a day to day basis sitting at their desks or within their teams.

• You are memorable by mastering presentation skills you build a reputation for being a great communicator.

• You are able to win people over to your ideas when you know how to connect with them and can set out your arguments clearly and persuasively.

• You are chosen to attend more client meetings and can become more integral to client relationships by virtue of the fact that you have a reputation for being an effective communicator.

• You come across as confident.

• You develop a wider network people get to know who you are and what you can do so will approach you more often.