1. First, find out whether a presentation is expected and what the requirements are
Check the invitation email and interview instructions: Is a presentation requested? Is its topic or length specified? Do they explain how to submit the file? If this information is missing, ask the hiring manager whether a presentation is expected and, if so, what the time limit and submission format are. Don’t guess at unspecified requirements; they may vary by interview.
If a presentation isn’t requested, you can prepare a brief spoken introduction instead of making slides. In your answer to “Tell me about yourself,” connect your background, current focus, and goals to the position. The Harvard FAS career guide recommends keeping your answer brief, relevant, and tailored to the role; the Isenberg guide also recommends connecting your experience and skills to the position (Harvard FAS guide; Isenberg interview guide).
2. Choose a central message that fits the position
Identify the skills and responsibilities emphasized in the job posting. Then match them with examples from your résumé, coursework, internship, or other experience. Ask yourself: Which example shows that I’m suited to this role? What was my contribution? What do I want the interviewer to remember?
Choose one central message, such as, “I can understand customer needs and develop practical solutions through team coordination.” Let the slides explain and support that message. Avoid unrelated details or repeating your entire résumé chronologically. If you have limited relevant work experience, you can draw on examples from a class project, volunteering, or an internship; clearly describe the nature of the experience and your role.
3. Create a short, clear structure
Don’t assume there is a universal rule for slide count or presentation length; follow the interview instructions if provided. If no time limit is specified, prepare a short presentation outline and ask the interviewer whether it is appropriate. Each slide should have one main idea, with a title and text that help the audience follow your presentation.
A structure you could use: a brief introduction and target role; a strength relevant to the role; an example that demonstrates this strength; the result and what you learned; and how you could contribute to the position. You can thank the audience and invite questions in your closing. Your presentation may be more detailed than your spoken introduction, but keep the core message consistent in both. You don’t need to put every detail on a slide; save some points to explain as you speak.
4. Support your experience with evidence and distinguish your contribution
Explain your example in a clear sequence: What was the situation? What were you responsible for? What did you do, and what was the result? When describing teamwork, distinguish what the group did from your own contribution. If you include a numerical result, verify what it measures and what information it is based on. If you don’t have a reliable measurement, explain the observable result or what you learned instead of giving a number.
For example: “I noticed customers often asked for help with the same issue, so I grouped the frequently asked questions and prepared a response guide for the team. This work demonstrates my responsibility for organizing information sharing.” If you don’t have an actual measurement, don’t claim a result such as “I reduced support requests by X percent.” Make sure you can answer the question “How did you do that?” about each claim you make.
5. Sample presentation: candidate for a customer success specialist role
The person and events below are fictional. In a real presentation, use only information based on your own experience that you can verify.
- Slide 1 — Introduction: “I’m Deniz, and I’m interested in customer support and process improvement.” Deniz briefly states the role they are seeking.
- Slide 2 — Need: Deniz explains that, during an internship, they noticed customers often asked for help with the same issue.
- Slide 3 — Contribution: Deniz explains that they grouped frequently asked questions and prepared a short response guide for the team. They clarify their own responsibility for preparing the guide.
- Slide 4 — Result and learning: In the fictional example, the team has started using the guide. Deniz says, “I saw how standardizing responses could contribute to information sharing within the team.” Deniz does not claim an unmeasured percentage reduction.
- Slide 5 — Connection to the role: “This experience shows how I approach listening to customer needs and improving information sharing within a team.” Deniz then invites questions.
What matters in this example isn’t the number of slides but the clear connection between the experience and the target role. If you’re applying in a different field, adapt the same structure to the priorities in the job posting.
6. Rehearse and check the file
Present the material aloud from beginning to end; if a time limit has been specified, check your timing during rehearsal. Rather than memorizing the text word for word, try to remember each slide’s main idea and the example you’ll share. If you like, ask a friend to tell you the main message and the example they remember. If the message isn’t clear, simplify the content.
If you’re using a presentation, open the file on the device you’ll use in the interview and check that the text and visuals appear correctly. If a specific file format or submission method is required, confirm it in the instructions. If you need to present in an online interview, it may be helpful to test screen sharing in advance, taking the platform and conditions into account; check the platform’s or interviewer’s instructions for how to do this. Be prepared to deliver the presentation’s main message verbally if an unexpected technical issue arises.
7. Final check and frequently asked questions
Use this checklist before the interview:
- Is my main message clear and relevant to the target role?
- Have I distinguished my own contribution from the team’s work in my example?
- Can my results and numerical claims be verified?
- Have I checked the time limit, file format, and submission instructions?
- Have I rehearsed the presentation from beginning to end and confirmed that the file opens correctly?
- Does my closing leave room for questions or for the interview to continue?
How many slides should a self-introduction presentation have?
If the interview instructions specify a number or time limit, follow them. If they don’t, prepare a short structure that presents your main message and relevant example clearly; don’t assume a specific number.
Should I bring slides if I haven’t been asked to prepare a presentation?
Check the instructions first; if you’re unsure, ask the hiring manager. If slides aren’t requested, you can use the same approach to choosing a main message and example for your brief spoken introduction.
Related practical guides
You can explore a relevant step in more detail with the guide How to prepare a ten-minute job interview presentation. You can explore a relevant step in more detail with the guide How to prepare a presentation about animals for kids.
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