Preparing for a job interview begins with a solid informative speech. An informative speech must be clear, concise and provide your audience with a succinct view of who you are as an employee. As a whole, an information speech functions largely as a more succinct version of your cover letter. Write the speech beforehand to avoid extraneous details and drawn-out stories.
Limit the speech to between 15 seconds and one minute. Aim for 150 to 300 words. The speech should use active voice, strong action (active) verbs and simple English. The speech must be concrete, not abstract, and provide relevant information without exaggerating facts.
Grab the attention of the recruiter with an anecdote, quote or amusing story at the beginning of your speech. Transition the anecdote into the central idea of the speech, such as your career interests.
Identify key points of your education, training and professional experience. Create a complete sentence expressing only your most important job responsibilities and qualifications.
Relate your experience to the position for which you are interviewing. Focus on talents, skills, and accomplishments this particular company must know about, such as a mastery of more than one language or an ability to work in a stressful environment.
Summarize the information in your speech. End with a sense of excitement and enthusiasm for the position.
Tip
Since you're in an interview setting, it's not necessary to start an informative speech with a generic structure like, “Hi, my name is John Q. Public. I will be graduating from National University with a degree in writing.” The hiring manager already knows who you are.
