A presentation specialist creates PowerPoint® presentations, collaborates with sales and marketing departments to determine the best ways to present a product or service, and assists with overall product or service presentation. Professionals who work as presentation specialists typically have extensive experience with PowerPoint® and a deep understanding of the Microsoft® program. These specialists can work in a variety of industries, including media, finance, and nonprofit organizations; the position is typically associated with marketing and/or sales departments.
The planning, creation, design, and occasionally the actual presentation of a PowerPoint® slide show is the primary responsibility of any presentation specialist job description. PowerPoint® has long been regarded as a useful business tool for properly illustrating a product’s or service’s capabilities. Years of experience and training are used the PowerPoint® presentation specialist to create unique, memorable presentations that fully demonstrate the efficacy of a specific business’s offerings.
Before creating the PowerPoint®, the presentation specialist consults with the company’s sales and marketing departments to determine the most effective ways to present a product or service. He or she will determine the product’s strengths, learn its physical characteristics, and devise the most effective marketing strategies for the product’s target market. Collaboration with salespeople and marketing specialists to brainstorm appropriate avenues for selling goods or services is a common task.
In most cases, jobs in the field require the specialist to participate actively in the presentation. Whether or not the specialist is delivering the actual speech, he or she will be asked to assess how the presentation is progressing during the presentation. He or she can communicate with other staff members throughout the event to edit or alter the presentation as needed to better present the product at hand.
People in this position typically have extensive knowledge of PowerPoint® and the skills and education to back it up. He or she must also have excellent communication skills, as working with a variety of departments and personalities is a requirement of the job. Although many in the field have significant administrative and/or marketing experience, there is no specialized degree. While it may or may not be required for a specific job, it is also beneficial for a presentation specialist to be a strong public speaker who understands how to read an audience and gauge its reaction.