Interview Presentation - "Planning A Journey"?

Question

Hope you guys can help. I have an interview in a couple of weeks. As part of the interview I have to give a short (5 minutes max.) presentation. The title of the presentation has to be "Planning A Journey", but other than that, i'm free to do whatever.
I want to keep it very simple but make sure the interviews get the message. However, i don't really know what message to give!

i was told to be as creative as i want, so any ideas or tips would be wonderful!

thanks in advance!

thanks for the response so far guys.

the job is part of a Change Management department within a large organisation. the role involves training staff, generally on a 1-1 basis, often in small groups (not delivering courses) on new processes, new systems or working with teams who are moving to new stores/locations.

although the content of the presentation doesn't need to be extremely accurate, they are more interested in the presentation style, i need something relatively interesting to talk about to ensure i can deliver it well!

Answer 1

Sounds interesting! I've worked in the area of change management/organizational development and I like the question. Remember that there is a question behind the question. In other words, sure they're interested in your presentation style. But your answer will tell them a lot more about your approach to problems, how creative yet thorough you are, and how you deal with change yourself. So look carefully at the job description and identify the key skills and abilities you'll need for the position. Incorporate those attributes into your story. For example, incorporate identifying your journey's goal (are there others involved? Do you need to create a vision and get others on board with the vision?), how you'll know when you get there (what will the measurements be that you've 'made it'), how you'll have fun along the way (celebrating the small steps), how you'll adjust course as necessary (what are the possible roadblocks you might run into, and what is your plan for addressing them), how you'll stay balanced and on track, how you'll celebrate when you finally get there. It makes sense to take something from your own life that you enjoy, and talk from there. For example, I'm a sailor and if I was to be asked this question I would use sailing metaphors to talk about charting a course, making sure my crew was 'on board', setting the sails, adjusting the sails, watching the wind for changes, keeping my eye on the compass, making sure there is good food on board to keep the crew motivated, a bottle of champagne when we crossed the equator, enjoying the whole sailing process, and finally what we'd do when we got to our destination. Hope this all helps! Good luck.

Answer 2

A journey is a highly symbolic topic in all human life affairs. It can means progress, development, change, transition, progression, transformation or simple relocation from point A to point B, any of these or all of these things. I suppose you mean to convey the message that you are able to progress and adapt to your new role should you manage to acquire your desired post. Although you have been asked to be as creative as you can you must be objective with a clear sense of direction along the route you choose for your career development. A creative approach is encouraged just to give you an opportunity to express your intuitive self. This could be to see how innovative you are in your approach toward problem solving and dealing with situations where mere procedural method wont be sufficient.

It is important for you keep in mind where your symbolic journey starts and where it ends. It can objectively planned and creatively presented but does it take you closer to the expectations of your potential employers? Perhaps you need to read carefully the mission statement of the organisation you are applying for a job with, and consider their aims and objectives etc. Apart from that relax, don't over cook and add some humour if you deem it to be suitable. Sometimes we visualise interview too much. So much so that we end up building our own version of the interview that might not be totally in keeping with what actually happens. It is better to stay prepared than plan extensively, too extensively. Just the way we experience new things all along the way when we travel, expect new things – stay flexible even in your planning. A journey to me can also be an opportunity for fun. I am not sure what is in your baggage though?

Answer 3

What is the job that you are applying for? What are some of the key skills of that position? You should try to incorporate some of the key aspects of that job into your presentation. By that, it could partially be the content, but could also incorporate the way you are deliving your speech. More info from you about the job might help us give specific tips.

Answer 4

You could demonstrate the progression from paper maps/online routefinders/satnav.

Or you could go the 'Journey through life' road - think Shakespears 'Seven ages of man'

Or career progression - starting at the bottom and ending as master of the universe!!

Answer 5

reliable lord, no. that's an invite to catastrophe if I ever heard one. One hint at a job interview which you had a drink until now it and that i might say you're no longer getting the job. i might additionally be careful what I ate the day until now. Slay the interviewer with garlic breath and your possibilities in all probability shrink.