Ladies and Gentlemen

I've been asked to give a talk on my thesis work as part of a job interview. I need to create a brief abstract and bio about myself. Any tips or suggestions?

I have been with the same lab my entire career. I started off as a technician and worked up. I have a bachelors degree in engineering technology and a bachelors degree in electrical engineering, I am completing my Masters of Science this semester.

Should I mention all my education and the fact I worked my way up?

My thesis is on the design of a band gap voltage reference in Silicon Carbide.

Look at how the steps you've taken in your career, including education, will be an asset to your new employment. Defend your judgement like you'll defend your Thesis in your Masters program. Remember that you should stress how the past created the present, and how the present, will help the future. Be proud of what you've done but humble when it comes to what you can do for them.

If you're giving a presentation, your education/past work experience should fit in a single slide. In a academic CV, they fit inside a page.




The focus of your talk should be what you're working on.

In all honesty, if this is a job talk, most people would not include their educational background, since it's stuff that's easily visible in the CV. It's not interesting, and we already know about it otherwise we wouldn't be interviewing you.