I've just got an agenda for a day-long interview (compliance specialist in pharma/med device) and found that there's a 30 min slot where I'm being asked to present on a topic of my choice. They've even requested the Power Point in advance.

It's less than a week away and I've not a clue what sort of topic I should choose or how this should be done (not to mention I'm a bit miffed about having to create something like this in under a week for just an interview).

Help?

Drop the PowerPoint presentation. Choose a subject of your liking, and talk about for 30 minutes. :)

I've just got an agenda for a day-long interview (compliance specialist in pharma/med device) and found that there's a 30 min slot where I'm being asked to present on a topic of my choice. They've even requested the Power Point in advance.

It's less than a week away and I've not a clue what sort of topic I should choose or how this should be done (not to mention I'm a bit miffed about having to create something like this in under a week for just an interview).

Help?

Simple .... just present a topic of your liking and be prepared to take some questions.

Btw, have you finalised the topic for your presentation ?

I once had to do this so knocked up something about ISO9001 and Bill Deming and questioned the 'missing link' - intriguing I thought, lots of graphics, red beads, funnels, etc

I didnt get the job by the way !!

I had this requirement once so I did a 10 minute presentation on how to boil an egg. I got the job.

I had this requirement once so I did a 10 minute presentation on how to boil an egg. I got the job.

TOO funny :lmao::lmao::lmao: You must have co..... the size of grapefruits!!

TOO funny :lmao::lmao::lmao: You must have co..... the size of grapefruits!!

It's not that uncommon a topic really and can be used as a sort of metaphor for quality in that you need to make sure you have the equipment, you know the process to follow, the ingredients are in date, if it goes wrong you can rework it into an omlette or something etc etc.

Yes, funny thing was the other chap did a better presentation and got the job - he lasted 1 month before he quit. I got called back and offered the job on a contract basis result more money for me

Btw, have you finalised the topic for your presentation ?

No, no I have not and that's one of the hardest topics.

HR has not allowed me to schedule in a phone convo with the hiring manager so I have no idea as to personalities or aims they have for this position.

I'm leary of speaking on some topic like CAPA or quality audit tools or somesuch because I think everyone who would be there already has their own opinions and in giving a presentation you tend to advocate your position and that always seems to lead to people wanting to disagree with you and associate you you with this one opinion when in reality in a job, it's more about making the deicsions of to what extent does the ideal (CAPA steps, formality of audit skills, etc) need to be applied.

So yeah, I have no idea on the topic.

Does this position require you to provide training on compliance issues? Perhaps you could present a brief training session on some topic that you are especially strong on. Pretend the audience is the level of people you would be training. You could have some handouts and a brief quiz at the end.

So - I must be the only one who thinks this is a GREAT interview technique?

Here's the deal:
Today's Quality professional has duty (responsibility? obligation?) to help folks throughout the organization understand both

the value to the corporation
AND
the technique of using Quality toolsto deliver quality products and service to the customers of the organization.


Key to the success of a Quality Management System is the communication of the points and factors in that system to the concerned parties, including, without limitation:

managers
staff
suppliers
customers
government regulators
What better way to determine if you have the right person for the job of "Great Communicator" than to see and experience the ability of each candidate to actually communicate in a clear and concise manner, making the material "digestible" to a target audience?

Part of that communication is making an accurate assessment of what will "work" with a given audience. In that light, a discourse on cooking an egg would certainly work for me as an audience member, demonstrating how the candidate was able to make a clear, concise analogy between a common, every day activity and the common, every day activity of a well-run organization concerned about the quality of its operations.

The added point of using PowerPoint is to see how well the candidate is able to use and incorporate the PP technology into the presentation, without being the drone who merely reads his slides to the audience. Advance view of the PP means they want to look at the quality of the visual aid.

I've just got an agenda for a day-long interview (compliance specialist in pharma/med device) and found that there's a 30 min slot where I'm being asked to present on a topic of my choice. They've even requested the Power Point in advance.

It's less than a week away and I've not a clue what sort of topic I should choose or how this should be done (not to mention I'm a bit miffed about having to create something like this in under a week for just an interview).

Help?

Best of luck,only yesterday, had to do a presentation on a set scenario, informed on Wednesday, meeting Tuesday.

Created in basic Power Point, however, printed out slides, presented to the onlookers in a simple flip over files, their first comments - nicely presented you must have spent a lot of time on this !!!!!!!!!!!!

To right missed the weekend, however from the feedback on the presentation, the key to them was seeing the efford placed in presenting the work - a commitment from myself that I wanted the job! :cfingers:

Select a strong subject - best of luck

Okay, so I think I'm settling on presenting a discussion and run down of the Essentials of Effective SOP Writing. Should be of common interest to everyone, relatively simple to follow and uncontroversial. And I can add in examples to build up the time and to offer insight as to some of the procedures I've been directly involved with their writing.

Thoughts? Does the topic make you cringe? Do you think my extolling the virtures of using "shall" and never "will" might cause controversy?

Okay, so I think I'm settling on presenting a discussion and run down of the Essentials of Effective SOP Writing. Should be of common interest to everyone, relatively simple to follow and uncontroversial. And I can add in examples to build up the time and to offer insight as to some of the procedures I've been directly involved with their writing.

Thoughts? Does the topic make you cringe? Do you think my extolling the virtures of using "shall" and never "will" might cause controversy?

No matter what topic you choose, someone's going to cringe. It just goes with the territory. I think procedure writing is a good topic, so long as you feel authoritative enough on the subject. BTW, in writing procedures, there's no real difference between "shall" and "will." Both of them refer to something that hasn't happened, which is OK at times in procedures, ususally unnecessary in work instructions, and should be considered verboten for the most part in the quality manual. In the latter case, it's best to stick to the active voice--rather than "XYZ corporation shall maintain a quality system in accordance with..." it's better to say, "XYZ corporation maintains a quality system in accordance with..."

I've just got an agenda for a day-long interview (compliance specialist in pharma/med device) and found that there's a 30 min slot where I'm being asked to present on a topic of my choice. They've even requested the Power Point in advance.

It's less than a week away and I've not a clue what sort of topic I should choose or how this should be done (not to mention I'm a bit miffed about having to create something like this in under a week for just an interview).

Help?
JamiBeth,

It is not at all unusual for employers to ask for that sort of thing during the interview process.

I experienced one where the job requirements were:
1. Use of Minitab.
2. Understanding of statistics.
3. Presentation skills.
4. Teaching skills.

There was a two day interview process which included:

1. An examination solving Minitab problems.
2. An essay exam on statistical basics.
3. A presentation of a past project.
4. A class to teach on a subject of your choice.

Many employers are going to this kind of format for interviews.

If I were you, I would stop being miffed about anything and get to work.

If you want the job, get in there and fight for it. Otherwise, walk away.

Best Regards,

Jim Shelor
PMP, CSSBB

If I were you, I would use the time to sell yourself.Create a presentation around "Why I should get this job" or "Why I want this job" or "Why you should hire me for this job". You will have a captive audience. You can present yourself as you are, enhancing your positives. Talk about how you can contribute to the greater good by working in this pharma/med. device company. Talk about your ideals. Your ability to work as a team. Be positive. Be likable. Have some humor. Talk a bit about your personal life and professional experience, your hobbies, etc... The more you make the hiring people seeing you as a person, rather than a candidate, the higher the chances you have of making the cut. You are an expert in the subject of yourself. Sell it. And good luck.

Okay, so I think I'm settling on presenting a discussion and run down of the Essentials of Effective SOP Writing. Should be of common interest to everyone, relatively simple to follow and uncontroversial. And I can add in examples to build up the time and to offer insight as to some of the procedures I've been directly involved with their writing.

Thoughts? Does the topic make you cringe? Do you think my extolling the virtures of using "shall" and never "will" might cause controversy?
JamiBeth,

I would not try to second guess what they want or try to land on a presentation they will all know something about.

Chose your most knowledgable topic and present in that. If they do not know much about the topic, so much the better. They will learn something and will rate you higher as well.

Jim Shelor
PMP, CSSBB

Okay, so I think I'm settling on presenting a discussion and run down of the Essentials of Effective SOP Writing. Should be of common interest to everyone, relatively simple to follow and uncontroversial. And I can add in examples to build up the time and to offer insight as to some of the procedures I've been directly involved with their writing.

Thoughts? Does the topic make you cringe? Do you think my extolling the virtures of using "shall" and never "will" might cause controversy?

I agree with those that say you should sell yourself on your strengths. Most folks hate writing SOPs and may fall asleep if they have to hear about it from you for 30 minutes.

On the other hand, they may hire you so you can be the SOP guy/girl. Good luck. :agree1:

If I were you, I would use the time to sell yourself.Create a presentation around "Why I should get this job" or "Why I want this job" or "Why you should hire me for this job". You will have a captive audience. You can present yourself as you are, enhancing your positives. Talk about how you can contribute to the greater good by working in this pharma/med. device company. Talk about your ideals. Your ability to work as a team. Be positive. Be likable. Have some humor. Talk a bit about your personal life and professional experience, your hobbies, etc... The more you make the hiring people seeing you as a person, rather than a candidate, the higher the chances you have of making the cut. You are an expert in the subject of yourself. Sell it. And good luck.Well, this is a very clever solution, but I have an idea the Powers That Be who came up with this item as part of the interview would not be as receptive to such a presentation as I might be.

I'm leary of speaking on some topic like CAPA or quality audit tools or somesuch because I think everyone who would be there already has their own opinions and in giving a presentation you tend to advocate your position and that always seems to lead to people wanting to disagree with you and associate you you with this one opinion when in reality in a job, it's more about making the deicsions of to what extent does the ideal (CAPA steps, formality of audit skills, etc) need to be applied.
I would never fear presenting a topic the audience knows backward and forwards - they are not there to learn something new; they are there to judge your skill at presenting the material.

It is rare to encounter a really inventive and creative interviewer. For the most part, they take the interview process as an unpleasant chore and they will be upset at what they may view as "frivolous." My advice is to select a topic pertinent to the position.

This could be a two-fold test.

The first, how you handle time frames under some stress

The second, they want to see if you are capable of presenting information authoritatively.

In my opinion, I would focus on a topic that is known well and you feel comfortable with. If it is trying to specifically sell yourself as the best person for the job, or general topic even if there are some cringes.

Make sure to let us know how it went.