Presentation about a complex problem for a Second-Stage Job Interview [closed]

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I will soon be attending a second stage job interview with an IT firm specializing in security systems and financial fraud prevention.



I have been asked to prepare a 20 minute presentation regarding a "complex problem" about any subject I wished. What I am considering is if it would be a good idea to write a presentation about my Masters Work (I am currently in my final year). The research is mostly about wireless network performance and my contributions to the field.



I have done previous coding work in work placements before but I do not feel any of my previous projects could carry for 20 minutes. I would like to know if this sounds like a good idea or would the company prefer something closer to home, even if they said it could be about anything?







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closed as primarily opinion-based by Vietnhi Phuvan, gnat, The Wandering Dev Manager, Chris E, IDrinkandIKnowThings Apr 13 '15 at 16:57


Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.














  • You are to give a 20-minute presentation about the complex subject of your choice. Instead of complying with their request, you are reducing the task to a question whose answer is a matter of opinion. On our site, questions whose answers are opinion-based get filtered out.
    – Vietnhi Phuvan
    Apr 10 '15 at 10:51










  • The point I intend with this question is that I am applying for a software development position yet my presentation is about research I have done. I am asking if that company would prefer a more technical subject or does the "any subject" line indicate a degree of flexibility?
    – Valten1992
    Apr 10 '15 at 10:56










  • What do you think the phrase "any subject" means? 1. If you are that insecure about what the phrase "any subject" means, then the most appropriate safest place is to double check is the people who commissioned your presentation.; 2. You need to ask yourself why they used the phrase "any subject". They clearly are looking to evaluate something about you. Could it be your ability to scope an issue, lay it out, choose a point of attack for that issue and attack at that point successfully in a way whose rationality you can defend?
    – Vietnhi Phuvan
    Apr 10 '15 at 11:03







  • 1




    Could it be that they are looking for a problem solver rather than some random coder?
    – Vietnhi Phuvan
    Apr 10 '15 at 11:10

















up vote
0
down vote

favorite












I will soon be attending a second stage job interview with an IT firm specializing in security systems and financial fraud prevention.



I have been asked to prepare a 20 minute presentation regarding a "complex problem" about any subject I wished. What I am considering is if it would be a good idea to write a presentation about my Masters Work (I am currently in my final year). The research is mostly about wireless network performance and my contributions to the field.



I have done previous coding work in work placements before but I do not feel any of my previous projects could carry for 20 minutes. I would like to know if this sounds like a good idea or would the company prefer something closer to home, even if they said it could be about anything?







share|improve this question












closed as primarily opinion-based by Vietnhi Phuvan, gnat, The Wandering Dev Manager, Chris E, IDrinkandIKnowThings Apr 13 '15 at 16:57


Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.














  • You are to give a 20-minute presentation about the complex subject of your choice. Instead of complying with their request, you are reducing the task to a question whose answer is a matter of opinion. On our site, questions whose answers are opinion-based get filtered out.
    – Vietnhi Phuvan
    Apr 10 '15 at 10:51










  • The point I intend with this question is that I am applying for a software development position yet my presentation is about research I have done. I am asking if that company would prefer a more technical subject or does the "any subject" line indicate a degree of flexibility?
    – Valten1992
    Apr 10 '15 at 10:56










  • What do you think the phrase "any subject" means? 1. If you are that insecure about what the phrase "any subject" means, then the most appropriate safest place is to double check is the people who commissioned your presentation.; 2. You need to ask yourself why they used the phrase "any subject". They clearly are looking to evaluate something about you. Could it be your ability to scope an issue, lay it out, choose a point of attack for that issue and attack at that point successfully in a way whose rationality you can defend?
    – Vietnhi Phuvan
    Apr 10 '15 at 11:03







  • 1




    Could it be that they are looking for a problem solver rather than some random coder?
    – Vietnhi Phuvan
    Apr 10 '15 at 11:10













up vote
0
down vote

favorite









up vote
0
down vote

favorite











I will soon be attending a second stage job interview with an IT firm specializing in security systems and financial fraud prevention.



I have been asked to prepare a 20 minute presentation regarding a "complex problem" about any subject I wished. What I am considering is if it would be a good idea to write a presentation about my Masters Work (I am currently in my final year). The research is mostly about wireless network performance and my contributions to the field.



I have done previous coding work in work placements before but I do not feel any of my previous projects could carry for 20 minutes. I would like to know if this sounds like a good idea or would the company prefer something closer to home, even if they said it could be about anything?







share|improve this question












I will soon be attending a second stage job interview with an IT firm specializing in security systems and financial fraud prevention.



I have been asked to prepare a 20 minute presentation regarding a "complex problem" about any subject I wished. What I am considering is if it would be a good idea to write a presentation about my Masters Work (I am currently in my final year). The research is mostly about wireless network performance and my contributions to the field.



I have done previous coding work in work placements before but I do not feel any of my previous projects could carry for 20 minutes. I would like to know if this sounds like a good idea or would the company prefer something closer to home, even if they said it could be about anything?









share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked Apr 10 '15 at 10:30









Valten1992

1033




1033




closed as primarily opinion-based by Vietnhi Phuvan, gnat, The Wandering Dev Manager, Chris E, IDrinkandIKnowThings Apr 13 '15 at 16:57


Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.






closed as primarily opinion-based by Vietnhi Phuvan, gnat, The Wandering Dev Manager, Chris E, IDrinkandIKnowThings Apr 13 '15 at 16:57


Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.













  • You are to give a 20-minute presentation about the complex subject of your choice. Instead of complying with their request, you are reducing the task to a question whose answer is a matter of opinion. On our site, questions whose answers are opinion-based get filtered out.
    – Vietnhi Phuvan
    Apr 10 '15 at 10:51










  • The point I intend with this question is that I am applying for a software development position yet my presentation is about research I have done. I am asking if that company would prefer a more technical subject or does the "any subject" line indicate a degree of flexibility?
    – Valten1992
    Apr 10 '15 at 10:56










  • What do you think the phrase "any subject" means? 1. If you are that insecure about what the phrase "any subject" means, then the most appropriate safest place is to double check is the people who commissioned your presentation.; 2. You need to ask yourself why they used the phrase "any subject". They clearly are looking to evaluate something about you. Could it be your ability to scope an issue, lay it out, choose a point of attack for that issue and attack at that point successfully in a way whose rationality you can defend?
    – Vietnhi Phuvan
    Apr 10 '15 at 11:03







  • 1




    Could it be that they are looking for a problem solver rather than some random coder?
    – Vietnhi Phuvan
    Apr 10 '15 at 11:10

















  • You are to give a 20-minute presentation about the complex subject of your choice. Instead of complying with their request, you are reducing the task to a question whose answer is a matter of opinion. On our site, questions whose answers are opinion-based get filtered out.
    – Vietnhi Phuvan
    Apr 10 '15 at 10:51










  • The point I intend with this question is that I am applying for a software development position yet my presentation is about research I have done. I am asking if that company would prefer a more technical subject or does the "any subject" line indicate a degree of flexibility?
    – Valten1992
    Apr 10 '15 at 10:56










  • What do you think the phrase "any subject" means? 1. If you are that insecure about what the phrase "any subject" means, then the most appropriate safest place is to double check is the people who commissioned your presentation.; 2. You need to ask yourself why they used the phrase "any subject". They clearly are looking to evaluate something about you. Could it be your ability to scope an issue, lay it out, choose a point of attack for that issue and attack at that point successfully in a way whose rationality you can defend?
    – Vietnhi Phuvan
    Apr 10 '15 at 11:03







  • 1




    Could it be that they are looking for a problem solver rather than some random coder?
    – Vietnhi Phuvan
    Apr 10 '15 at 11:10
















You are to give a 20-minute presentation about the complex subject of your choice. Instead of complying with their request, you are reducing the task to a question whose answer is a matter of opinion. On our site, questions whose answers are opinion-based get filtered out.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Apr 10 '15 at 10:51




You are to give a 20-minute presentation about the complex subject of your choice. Instead of complying with their request, you are reducing the task to a question whose answer is a matter of opinion. On our site, questions whose answers are opinion-based get filtered out.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Apr 10 '15 at 10:51












The point I intend with this question is that I am applying for a software development position yet my presentation is about research I have done. I am asking if that company would prefer a more technical subject or does the "any subject" line indicate a degree of flexibility?
– Valten1992
Apr 10 '15 at 10:56




The point I intend with this question is that I am applying for a software development position yet my presentation is about research I have done. I am asking if that company would prefer a more technical subject or does the "any subject" line indicate a degree of flexibility?
– Valten1992
Apr 10 '15 at 10:56












What do you think the phrase "any subject" means? 1. If you are that insecure about what the phrase "any subject" means, then the most appropriate safest place is to double check is the people who commissioned your presentation.; 2. You need to ask yourself why they used the phrase "any subject". They clearly are looking to evaluate something about you. Could it be your ability to scope an issue, lay it out, choose a point of attack for that issue and attack at that point successfully in a way whose rationality you can defend?
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Apr 10 '15 at 11:03





What do you think the phrase "any subject" means? 1. If you are that insecure about what the phrase "any subject" means, then the most appropriate safest place is to double check is the people who commissioned your presentation.; 2. You need to ask yourself why they used the phrase "any subject". They clearly are looking to evaluate something about you. Could it be your ability to scope an issue, lay it out, choose a point of attack for that issue and attack at that point successfully in a way whose rationality you can defend?
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Apr 10 '15 at 11:03





1




1




Could it be that they are looking for a problem solver rather than some random coder?
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Apr 10 '15 at 11:10





Could it be that they are looking for a problem solver rather than some random coder?
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Apr 10 '15 at 11:10











1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
2
down vote













First of all, it depends on if they want a very in depth presentation or want you to do something from scratch. Do they want your presentation skills (not likely) or your analysis skills (likely)? When I ask candidates for a work sample, I usually send them a specific task because I want to see what they will create in a very limited time. I'm less interested in what they can create given unlimited time, since most people can produce something good given enough time. That would be a counter argument to basing it on your previous work.



Also think about if your Masters work is complex enough to fit into what they want.



As for your last paragraph - there are sometimes hidden demands testing your judgement. I don't ask my Ruby on Rails candidates specifically to do tests, but I expect a good RoR coder to know that it's very important by themselves. Seeing if you chose something close to what they do or not might be a judgement test.






share|improve this answer




















  • That is a very good point. I think it is best if I go over previous work and actually try to explain it in detail. This IS a software development position so research would not be as interesting as it could be.
    – Valten1992
    Apr 10 '15 at 10:59

















1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes








up vote
2
down vote













First of all, it depends on if they want a very in depth presentation or want you to do something from scratch. Do they want your presentation skills (not likely) or your analysis skills (likely)? When I ask candidates for a work sample, I usually send them a specific task because I want to see what they will create in a very limited time. I'm less interested in what they can create given unlimited time, since most people can produce something good given enough time. That would be a counter argument to basing it on your previous work.



Also think about if your Masters work is complex enough to fit into what they want.



As for your last paragraph - there are sometimes hidden demands testing your judgement. I don't ask my Ruby on Rails candidates specifically to do tests, but I expect a good RoR coder to know that it's very important by themselves. Seeing if you chose something close to what they do or not might be a judgement test.






share|improve this answer




















  • That is a very good point. I think it is best if I go over previous work and actually try to explain it in detail. This IS a software development position so research would not be as interesting as it could be.
    – Valten1992
    Apr 10 '15 at 10:59














up vote
2
down vote













First of all, it depends on if they want a very in depth presentation or want you to do something from scratch. Do they want your presentation skills (not likely) or your analysis skills (likely)? When I ask candidates for a work sample, I usually send them a specific task because I want to see what they will create in a very limited time. I'm less interested in what they can create given unlimited time, since most people can produce something good given enough time. That would be a counter argument to basing it on your previous work.



Also think about if your Masters work is complex enough to fit into what they want.



As for your last paragraph - there are sometimes hidden demands testing your judgement. I don't ask my Ruby on Rails candidates specifically to do tests, but I expect a good RoR coder to know that it's very important by themselves. Seeing if you chose something close to what they do or not might be a judgement test.






share|improve this answer




















  • That is a very good point. I think it is best if I go over previous work and actually try to explain it in detail. This IS a software development position so research would not be as interesting as it could be.
    – Valten1992
    Apr 10 '15 at 10:59












up vote
2
down vote










up vote
2
down vote









First of all, it depends on if they want a very in depth presentation or want you to do something from scratch. Do they want your presentation skills (not likely) or your analysis skills (likely)? When I ask candidates for a work sample, I usually send them a specific task because I want to see what they will create in a very limited time. I'm less interested in what they can create given unlimited time, since most people can produce something good given enough time. That would be a counter argument to basing it on your previous work.



Also think about if your Masters work is complex enough to fit into what they want.



As for your last paragraph - there are sometimes hidden demands testing your judgement. I don't ask my Ruby on Rails candidates specifically to do tests, but I expect a good RoR coder to know that it's very important by themselves. Seeing if you chose something close to what they do or not might be a judgement test.






share|improve this answer












First of all, it depends on if they want a very in depth presentation or want you to do something from scratch. Do they want your presentation skills (not likely) or your analysis skills (likely)? When I ask candidates for a work sample, I usually send them a specific task because I want to see what they will create in a very limited time. I'm less interested in what they can create given unlimited time, since most people can produce something good given enough time. That would be a counter argument to basing it on your previous work.



Also think about if your Masters work is complex enough to fit into what they want.



As for your last paragraph - there are sometimes hidden demands testing your judgement. I don't ask my Ruby on Rails candidates specifically to do tests, but I expect a good RoR coder to know that it's very important by themselves. Seeing if you chose something close to what they do or not might be a judgement test.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered Apr 10 '15 at 10:54









Andreas Ahrens

39913




39913











  • That is a very good point. I think it is best if I go over previous work and actually try to explain it in detail. This IS a software development position so research would not be as interesting as it could be.
    – Valten1992
    Apr 10 '15 at 10:59
















  • That is a very good point. I think it is best if I go over previous work and actually try to explain it in detail. This IS a software development position so research would not be as interesting as it could be.
    – Valten1992
    Apr 10 '15 at 10:59















That is a very good point. I think it is best if I go over previous work and actually try to explain it in detail. This IS a software development position so research would not be as interesting as it could be.
– Valten1992
Apr 10 '15 at 10:59




That is a very good point. I think it is best if I go over previous work and actually try to explain it in detail. This IS a software development position so research would not be as interesting as it could be.
– Valten1992
Apr 10 '15 at 10:59


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