Monday, January 4, 2016

Sell me this pen/pencil...

We often comes up with such question during the interview which we can't understand how to answer. "SELL ME THIS PEN/PENCIL" is one such question that might have been faced by a lot of fresher candidates for marketing job interviews especially.

Below is one reply copied from the internet of course:

CEO: Do me a favor, sell me this pen. (reaches across to hand me the pen)

Me: (I slowly roll the pen between my index and thumb fingers.) When was the last time you used a pen?

CEO: This morning.

Me: Do you remember what kind of pen that was?

CEO: No.

Me: Do you remember why you were using it to write?

CEO: Yes. Signing a few new customer contracts.

Me: Well I’d say that’s the best use for a pen (we have a subtle laugh).

Wouldn’t you say signing those new customer contracts is an important event for the business? (nods head) Then shouldn’t it be treated like one. What I mean by that is, here you are signing new customer contracts, an important and memorable event. All while using a very unmemorable pen.

We grew up, our entire lives, using cheap BIC pens because they get the job done for grocery lists and directions. But we never gave it much thought to learn what’s best for more important events.

This is the pen for more important events. This is the tool you use to get deals done. Think of it as a symbol for taking your company to the next level. Because when you begin using the right tool, you are in a more productive state of mind, and you begin to sign more new customer contracts.

Actually. You know what? Just this week I shipped ten new boxes of these pens to Elon Musk’s office.

Unfortunately, this is my last pen today (reach across to hand pen back to CEO). So, I suggest you get this one. Try it out. If you’re not happy with it, I will personally come back next week to pick it up. And it won’t cost you a dime.
What do you say?

CEO: (picks jaw up off floor)  Yes.

The idea behind putting up only one reply is not to say that this is the perfect reply. The idea here is to make you understand that how to deal with such situations.

From above conversation, what we can understand on HOW to deal with situation is more important rather than looking to memorize this answer for our use.

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