Presentation at interview

[wintersett]

Yesterday I had an interview for a place on a register - I was informed by e-mail about month before of the date, time and venue. I was also informed that there would be a presentation for me to do. When I have done similar before I have been given topic days before hand, or given topic prior to going into interview with time to prepare.
A the beginning of the interview yesterday I was asked to give a 10 minute presentation about myself - which came as bit of surprise - didnt do well, and rest of interview could have been better!
Today I have received a letter in the post which was dated 12th Oct confirming the date, etc interview panel, and telling me that I would have to do 10 minute presentation about myself at start of interview.
I have e-mailed the company to let them know I only recieved letter today - but I feel as though I have been disadvantaged. Had I recieved the letter before the intereview I would have been better prepared and performed better. Any thoughts on what I could do?

[sammy snake]

Move on and look for another job, I don't think there is anything else you can do.

Personally, if I didn't receive a letter, I would have phoned them up and asked them what the presentation was to be on, especially in light of the recent postal strikes.

[JB]

Look on the bright side - if the postal strike was to blame, the other candidates would have been disadvantaged too! Unless, as SS said, they had the foresight to ring up and enquire.....either way, put it down to experience - you'll know for next time!

[Sasha13]

Yup - I'm afraid that I'm with Sammy Snake - there's no way I'd have gone into an interview knowing I had to do a presentation but not knowing what it was for.

Definitely should have called them to find out. By not doing so it may have given the wrong impression, i.e. you arrived for the interview unprepared.

Chalk it up to experience and move on to the next one.

Lots of luck!

[Thunderchild]

sounds like a company not worth working for.
I went for an interview in which the job advertised was autocad drafsman. sounded quite simple they were willing to train etc. only to be told well I've got blokes with degrees (I have nothing save the will to learn and work) whqt can you do about it ? I wanted to hit the ******* to here him tell me "frankly you only got an interview today because I was interested in your being fluent in italian but you failed to tell me that in presenting yourself and possible advantages you could have for us" I thought wonderful you for a job for one thing get asked how with no qualifications you are going to compete with a guy with a dgree to get told they were really interested in something different.... just some funny employers out there. I find the more down to earth and manula the job the more rational the employer these top hat jobs well some of them where the top hat oveer their eyes can't make a proper presentation themselves of the job requirements to the job centre and then call the wrongs guys down. just move on if anything tell them your not interested in their crapped up way of working