This document provides guidance on public speaking and job interviews. It discusses key elements of public speaking like understanding the audience and purpose, preparing the presentation, and techniques for delivery. It also outlines important steps for job interviews such as researching the employer, preparing materials, interview etiquette, answering questions effectively, and questions for the interviewee to ask. The document emphasizes proper preparation and communication skills as essential for success in both public speaking and interviews.

2.  Public speaking refers to a delivery of a
message in the spoken form, usually to
a special group of people for a special
purpose.
 Generally, public speaking is a form of
communication in which one person
talks face to face to a relatively big
number of people.
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3.  Public speaking may appear in the
following scenes;
Lectures,
Seminars,
Meetings,
Workshops,
Interviews and so on.
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4.  Three major elements are involved in the
speaking process;
i. The speaker/sender,
ii. Speech/message and
iii. Listeners/receivers of a message.
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5. Public speech is normally delivered aiming
at any of the following purposes;
Informing an audience:
Persuading an audience;
Entertaining an audience: aims at making
pleasure to the audience e.g. comedy.
Demonstrating
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6. 1. Deciding on the topic and purpose
2. Analysing the audience
3. Appropriate application of delivery
procedures
4. Speaker’s liveliness
5. Handling Questions
6. Effective use of visual media
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7.  select a topic and narrow your purpose for a
speech,
 read intensively about and around the topic,
 collect and evaluate evidences,
 order the information obtained reflecting the
available time for presentation,
 outline activities to be done while presenting
and lastly,
 thoroughly edit your material by removing all
communication barriers.
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8. Analyse your audience and adapt your message
focusing on:
 education level,
 age range,
 language ability,
 socio-cultural background attitudes,
 professional profiles,
 sex- do females/males need special attention,
 appearance- do you appear similarly to them
and any other variable thought important.
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9.  What do all these help? They lead a presenter
to be aware of;
 what the audience is likely to know,
 what might interest the audience,
 appropriate method/s of presentation,
 appropriate level of materials to be presented
 and reasonable duration for presentation.
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10.  Apply a systematic delivery pattern- Introduction, body
and conclusion
4. Speaker’s liveliness
 not dull, adapt to feedback during the speech,
 composure and control-move eyes around the audience,
 Don't be nervous,
 dressing style- adhere to the occasion dressing code,
 talk from notes not reading everything,
 be generally polite and behave in a manner to make you
win the audience’s credits.
 Likewise, offer effective responses to questions-
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11.  Let your audience know when you allow
questions.
 Do not give answers which you are not sure of.
 Avoid running away from questions.
 Listen carefully & repeat each question to the
entire audience and direct your answer to the
audience, not to the individual questioner.
 Rephrase questions that are unclear and
rambling.
 Try to keep your answers short.
 If you don’t know the answer, admit it.
 Use evidence rather than your own opinion
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12.  A visual aid refers to anything that
communicates its message through the eye
rather than the ear.
 These are objects/drawings used to
demonstrate processes/systems in a visible
manner during teaching/presenting.
 E.g. maps, figures, flow charts, drawings,
tables, computer power point, actual objects
etc.
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13. Considerations:
 Choose appropriate visuals for your audience
basing on age, background, knowledge,
attitude and occasion,
 be sure of your ability to operate the visual aid
you have chosen.
 they need to be BIG, BOLD and BRIGHT,
 simple and appropriate to the topic and
audience
 Timing-Display each visual only as you talk
about it, focus on your audience not your
visual,
 And finally rehearse your speech to check
relevance on visual aid.
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14.  create interest and attraction,
 make complex ideas clear and simple,
 make abstract ideas concrete,
 make the audience’s attention withheld by the
speaker’s message,
 help audience to organize ideas,
 save time by compressing presentations,
 and facilitate memory retention to the audience
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15.  This is a state of developing an anxiety which is
expressed by shivering, sweating, and
experiencing rapid heartbeats facing many
inexperienced public speakers.
Remove/control stage fright by:
i. Recognizing that you are beneficial rather
than harmful
ii. Making a thorough Preparation to your
speech
iii. Arriving early
iv. Using the podium if available
v. Moving around the venue as you speak
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16. vi. Familiarizing with the venue/microphone
vii. Talking to people- audience to be/get familiar
viii. Feeling relaxed
ix. Reducing anxiety
x. Knowing that you can do your best as a
speaker
xi. Practicing/rehearsing your presentation
before the actual presentation
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17. 17

18.  Job interview refers to a practice in which
person/persons (interviewers) ask questions to
another person (interviewee) to see if one is
suitable for a job position to be filled in.
 Basing on the definition by Burke (n.d.), a job
interview is a process in which a potential
employee is evaluated by an employer for
prospective employment in their company,
organisation or firm.
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19.  Bear in mind that no matter how impressive
your background resume, and your
application letter, you may fail to be employed
if you cannot SELL yourself when you meet a
prospective employer.
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20.  The first step is to read the job description
carefully and understand the content. Having
understood the job description and decide that
the job suits you; the following steps should be
followed:
a. Researching the Employer/Organisation
b. Identifying Essential Items/Tools to Take
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21.  Information may be available from various
newspapers,
 trade publications
 employer’s annual reports,
 the internet,
 speaking to the current employees or
 speaking to people who referred you to the
employer
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22.  Writing materials:
 A portfolio containing original documents that
demonstrate interviewee’s knowledge and
qualifications for the job.
 Copies of interviewee’s CV and a list of
references arranged in a professionally
recommended order.
 A list of questions the interviewee expects to ask
at the end of the interview when given chance.
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23.  Timing –
 Dress in an appropriate manner-
 Be neat-clean hair, nails and shoes regardless the
nature of the job you are asking for.
 Check your appearance while waiting to be
allowed to enter the interview enclosure.
 Demonstrate self-confidence, assurance and
determination throughout your presence in the
interview premise.
 Make sure you turn off your mobile phone
immediately before entering the interview
enclosure. This is a sign of value to what is about
to take place.
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24.  Knock the door (three times) even if you have
been invited to enter (even if it is open) to seek
for permission.
 As you enter, walk confidently and look at the
interviewers as you approach. Your eye contact
should demonstrate confidence. Bear in mind
that confidence differs from arrogance.
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25.  Look around quickly and get the right greeting
address which caters for the interviewers.
 If there is unoccupied chair, do not sit on or
shift it unless you have been invited to do so.
 If there is an offer for a drink, you don’t have to
accept it unless it cannot interfere with the
interview process and make you judged
awkward.
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26.  Avoid picking your nose or teeth, chewing
gum, cheeks, smoking, licking lips, etc. These
may signal bad manner as well as lack of
confidence to the interviewee.
 Maintain eye contact otherwise, you will give
the impression that you are disinterested or
untrustworthy but do not stare at interviewers.
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27.  When inevitable to sneeze or blow your nose, do
it inoffensively to avoid embarrassment to
interviewers.
 Take care of your posture- sit upright and don’t
cross your legs (at the knees).
 Avoid irritating manners such as grunts, clearing
throat or gap fillers like eeh.., you know…,Ok…
 Attend to the interviewer's body language and
other cues to sense when the interview is
concluding; do not stay behind.
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28.  Show enthusiasm and laugh or smile only
when appropriate. Jokes should only be
initiated by the interviewers.
 Since tone, speed, pitch, volume and clarity
mark emotion and feelings, they need to be
regulated and handled with care.
 Do not respond to something you did not
understand. Ask for clarification or if you are
unable to respond satisfactorily, admit the fact.
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29.  Take few seconds before answering the
questions if you need to think.
 Be concise and precise to save time- Answers
need be sufficient but not too long to affect the
allocated time. Maximally, two minutes can do
for typical responses.
 Listen to the questions carefully- Avoid
assuming that you know what the question is
going to be as soon as the interviewer begins.
Wait till the interviewer completes talking (do
not interrupt or cut in a talk).
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30.  When the question is repeated stick to your
previous responses again and again.
 When paraphrasing what the interviewer has
said (for clarity) do not correct one.
 Hold your temper (especially when you face a
hostile remark). Sometime such remarks are
deliberately imposed to cause anxiety and
stress to decentre the interviewee to let one be
oneself.
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31.  Restrict your responses to what has been asked
only unless the addition is to your advantage.
 Answer the questions honestly, rather than
telling the interviewer what you think she/he
wants to hear.
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32. The Interviewee may ask few sensible questions
before leaving. The questions may be like:
 How soon will the decision for this position be
made and which medium will be used for
feedback?
 What are the opportunities for advancement in
your organization?
 What are the criteria for promotion in your
organization?
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33.  Does the organization provide additional
education for employees who want to develop
their skills?
 Are there any benefits provided by your
organization to employees?
 May you let me aware of the salary embraced
to this position? This may also be asked after
one has received a letter of offer for the
position.
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34. Thank the interviewers for short listing you
among the interviewees.
Leave with a warm smile and you may
handshake if entertained by the interviewers. Let
them initiate if not just leave.
You may write a follow-up thank you letter
expressing gratitude and asking to know any new
information.
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35. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE INTERVIEWERS:
 Decide on the purpose of the interview- This will be
obtained by critically analysing a job description of the
position to be filled in.
 Make arrangements for the time, place, and setting of
the interview- be sure that you will not be disturbed
anyhow (by interruption and distractions). These
chosen variables should be convenient for both you
and the interviewee.
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36.  Ensure that you are thoroughly informed about
the required abilities and qualifications to be
exhibited by the interviewee. This will enable
you to ask much more relevant and interesting
questions.
 Be informed with the interviewee - Before
interviewing a person, learn as much as
possible about him/her. Such background
information can be accessed from the
application letter and the CV of the
interviewee.
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37.  Prepare the opening remarks/statement- This
should involve the purpose of the interview
associated with some few questions. Like ‘May
you tell us why you are here?
 If writing notes is your choice, prepare the
interview questions in advance on separate
index cards or separate pages of a notebook-
This simplifies the recording of responses for
each particular question because as you ask
each question, you record the response
underneath it.
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38.  Plan and arrange the mode of recording the
interview- This could be done through writing
on the note book or tape recording.
 Maintain a friendly, interested attitude- Your
mind should focus on learning about the person
and not beyond. Always be polite, even if the
interviewee is furious.
 Be aware of nonverbal cues- Observe the
interviewee’s facial expression, posture, and
gestures. If a person looks puzzled, you may
have asked a confusing question that you need to
clarify.
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39.  Write good interview questions that require
clear, detailed but concise responses. Avoid
questions that can be easily evaded or
answered ‘yes/no’.
 Make progressive checks for understanding- If
it appears that you don’t understand
something said by the interviewee, ask follow
up questions.
 Organize your interview into an introduction,
body and conclusion- to make the conversation
flow smoothly.
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40. Ethics are morals and values abided by a person,
organization, or institution (culture).
 Truth/Honest- Provide true information. Don’t offer
false information to impress the interviewers.
 Concealment- Do not tell the entire truth, usually
present one side of an issue which favours you. Do
not tell what would jeopardize chances for success.
 Fairness - Question candidates within reasonable
and necessary boundaries. Avoid questions on
disability, family and relationship issues, race or
religion issues, personal history issues not related to
the position).
 Confidentiality and privacy- Don’t reveal
interviewee’s information to unauthorized person
without one’s consent or misuse them in unintended
task 40

41.  Skills and experience on certificates and CV do
not guarantee employee’s ability thus the actual
ability can be visualized through interview.
 Falsification of certificates and cv- some
interviewees give false information/forge
certificates.
 CV and certificates cannot reveal some skills like
oral communication proficiency, confidence,
good manners etc.
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42.  Interview enhances measuring critical thinking.
 Interview exposes non-verbal information like
physical appearance, sound regulation,
posture, reaction to questions etc.
 Interview provides a chance to confirm what is
presented in certificates and CV
 It gives chance to the interviewee to ask
questions on the working situations, salary,
criteria for promotion etc.
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43.  It enhances the interviewer to cross check the
extent to which the interviewee is aware of the
prospective employer.
 Ethical consideration is crucial in interviews.
How far is this statement true?
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44.  Effective communication- employers need
candidates with ability to get on with a wide range
of people.
 Team working- Candidates with abilities to
mobilize people and enhance working as a group
in accomplishing the organizational goals.
 IT Skills – Candidates who are computer literates.
 Flexibility- Candidates who are multipurpose i.e.
who can perform a variety of tasks to achieve a
common organizational goal.
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45.  Problem solving- Candidate who can identify
problems and look for their solutions.
 Quick learning- Employee who can learn and
understand faster thus able to take new tasks in
the organization.
 Good attitude-Employee who is dedicated to
hardworking, honest, polite and cooperative.
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46.  What are your future career plans?
 Do you consider your education valuable? Why?
 What do you consider to be your strengths and
weaknesses?
 Why did you choose your particular career?
 What qualifications do you have that make you
feel you would be successful in your field?
 What do you think determines a person's
progress in any organization?
 What personal characteristics are necessary for
success in your chosen field?
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47.  Do you prefer working with others or by yourself?
 What do you know about opportunities in the field
in which you are trained?
 What do you expect to be doing in five, ten or fifteen
years?
 What are the disadvantages of your chosen field?
 Do you feel you have received a good general
training?
 Have you ever had any difficulty getting along with
fellow students and teacher? How did you overcome
the situation?
 What jobs have you held? How were they obtained,
and why did you leave?
 What jobs have you enjoyed most? /or least? Why?
 Have you ever trained anyone to do a job?
 What do you know about our organization, and
why? Do you think you might like to work for it?
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48.  What interests you about our product or
service?
 What salary do you expect on this job?
 Is it an effort for you to be tolerant of persons
with a background and interest different from
your own?
 What are your own special abilities? How can
they help to accomplish the organizational
goals?
 Which area(s) of the field interests you most?
Why?
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49.  What experience related to this position have
you had?
 How would you summarize your overall
knowledge and skills in the field? (Mention
strengths and areas of special interest.)
 What is your educational background? (Start
from secondary to tertiary level not
kindergarten)
 Which race, sex, are you most comfortable to
work with?
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