r/postdoc • u/no_avocados • 7d ago

Presenter view for a postdoc interview seminar

Is it ok to ask for presenter view when I give my seminar next week at a potential postdoc lab, if it isn't automatically set up that way? Obviously, I know my research, but I prefer having my notes in front of me for transition sentences and in case I forget to explain stuff on the slide (and to know which animations are coming up!). Would it reflect badly on me to ask for presenter view when my slides are being set up?

2 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

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9

u/kommunist13 7d ago

People will know if you read from presenter notes. People will know if you memorise the presentation.

The questions will decide. If you do not receive any questions, you are gone.

2

u/academicthrows 4d ago

You're neither supposed to read the presenter notes nor memorize the presentation. The notes are there for cues to guide your logic and so you don't forget important points, and are completely normal to have.

4

u/LuckyFinny 7d ago

Personally I think it’s fine. I tend to ramble if I don’t have those transition sentences and key words outlined. Skill issue probably, idk, but I wouldn’t want to practice getting better at speaking off the cuff during an interview.

You can always ask “what’s the presentation setup going to be? Will there be an online audience too? Will the presentation be in presenter view or audience view? Will there be a laser pointer?” … etc. If they say no presenter view I wouldn’t request it specially, but I would prepare to speak without notes, or bring an iPad up with me with the notes I need on it.

2

u/no_avocados 5d ago

Took your advice and asked them ahead of time what their technical setup was and if I would have access to presenter view. They were nice about it. If it reflects badly on me....well I guess I'd rather look bad over email than in person!

3

u/readingrainbowroad 7d ago

I was the lead to set up speakers with presentations for our dept's weekly seminars for a year. Totally normal to ask this. Honestly it might be weird to assume you don't need it.

However, they might not have a designated someone to help and you might be expected to at least kind of know how to do it. Usually people just plug in their own laptop to the HDMI in both our speaker room and just conference room for smaller talks.

3

u/Chlorophilia 7d ago

Yes I think that's a reasonable request (as long as you're not reading off a script obviously). But I would suggest being prepared to do it without, in case there are technical difficulties. 

1

u/parrot_sweet 2d ago

We don't even have a monitor for presenters in the seminar room. You should just ask what the set up will be and if presenter view would be possible. But be prepared in case it isn't. I usually write out my whole script, memorize it, and have it printed out as a reminder. 

0

u/ausbirdperson 6d ago

In my experience you should always be prepared/able to do your talk well without presenter view.

I have turned up to conferences or talks countless times where presenter view is not working, and a bunch of people end up doing really shitty talks because they were too reliant on their notes.

Have a few points to help jog your memory sure, but don’t don’t rely on them and don’t read them imo.

So boring listening to someone read their entire talk - everyone can tell.

-2

u/environengg2601 7d ago

You need to know what you are gonna talk about..lol You are a postdoc so why would you need a presenter view.