How to sell a pen in a job interview
For many job seekers, the interview becomes a rather difficult test – anxiety, constraint in communicating with a stranger, fear of making the wrong first impression affect. The employer, in turn, is in no hurry to create the most comfortable conditions for the applicant. One of the most common job interviews is asking to “sell” a pen or any other item on the table. So what can you do in order not to get confused and not to miss the chance to get the desired job?
Why is an employer asking to “sell” a pen at an interview?
The most common challenge faced by applicants for positions directly related to sales. According to the employer, the ideal candidate should have a high level of stress resistance, be able to react quickly and correctly in non-standard situations. Asking to “sell” something in a job interview is just such an unusual situation that can confuse even experienced salespeople. As a rule, the employer seeks to reveal the potential of the candidate, to see his persistence and desire to sell. Dialogue with the applicant during the “sale” process can demonstrate his communication skills, experience, persistence, adherence to the main stages of sales.
How to “sell” a product in an interview: basic rules
In fact, it doesn’t make much difference what kind of item will be offered for “sale”. Several golden rules apply to any item that needs to be “sold” (be it a pen, pencil, stapler, or anything else).
- Take your time. You have every right to ask for a couple of minutes to collect your thoughts and think about your next steps.
- Consider the “product”, pay attention to its features and characteristics. Any seller must have all the necessary knowledge about the product he is selling to properly present it to the buyer and answer all his questions.
- Stick to the sales stages. There are five of them: establishing contact, identifying client needs, presenting, handling objections, and closing the deal. In practice, “perfect deals”, during which the seller and the buyer go through all five stages, practically do not occur. But in a situation where you need to “sell” a pen in an interview, demonstrating theoretical knowledge can be beneficial to you.
- Don’t lie. You should not invent any incredible features of the item being sold. Remember that a customer can always ask you to demonstrate a product in action, so don’t attribute the ability to change ink color or write on your own if that’s not true.
- If the “sale” is successful, offer to buy something else. This could be a spare rod or a pad. The employer will surely appreciate this move.
Establishing contact with the “client”
Be sure to greet your interlocutor, introduce yourself and find out his name. From this moment, the process of “selling” and communicating with the employer in the form of a client begins.
Identifying the needs of the “client”
Understanding customer needs is the foundation of any sales. Ask your “potential buyer” a few questions to which he will answer in the affirmative. For example: “Do you often have to sign important documents?”.
Presentation
Show the “client” the pen, briefly describe its characteristics. You can also offer to independently evaluate the properties of the pen by trying it in practice. When presenting a product, focus on the benefits it will bring to the “customer”. For example: “This pen will allow you to write down important information wherever you are” or “This pen will highlight your business status when negotiating with partners and clients.”
Working with objections
A customer interested in buying will most likely not mind the seller. You should expect clarifying questions from him, which will allow you to better understand the advantages of the product, its special characteristics. But in a situation with the process of “selling” at the interview, the employer will try to find out if the candidate can work out objections. For example, a “client” might say that he already has a pen that suits him completely. Here is one of the options for a competent answer to an objection: “Of course, you already have a pen, because any business person needs it. But, you see, pens so often stop writing at the most crucial moment! I offer you a spare pen that can help you out in this situation. ”
Completion of the trade
When the “client” finally agrees to “buy” the pen, the deal should be nicely completed. For example, offer to “buy” another pen at a discounted price, or buy a pen and stylish notebook set.
What to do if the “client” flatly refuses to “buy”?
Don’t be afraid to improvise! Just because an employer is portraying an intractable buyer doesn’t mean you are not the right fit for them. Try to find a non-standard approach to the “client”. For example, ask him to autograph you. When the interlocutor does not have a pen for this, offer him yours. By the way, this technique was used in the popular Hollywood film “The Wolf of Wall Street”. Or tell us that pens will soon become a scarce and unique product due to the proliferation of digital gadgets.
An example of “selling” a pen in an interview
On the Internet, you can find many videos that clearly demonstrate how to properly “sell” a pen at an interview. Here is one of them:
Be sure to try on your own to come up with several options for how to “sell” a pen at an interview. In most cases, employers value candidates’ creativity and ingenuity. Be polite and confident, but be sure to avoid being pushy and aggressive and you will succeed!
