How to Answer “Sell Me This Pen” Job Interview Question
“Sell me this pen” is one of the common questions you can expect in a sales interview. If you are eyeing a good sales job, you must be well-prepared to answer this question by demonstrating your excellent sales pitch. This blog will help you identify the right approach to answering this question. We’re also covering other interview strategies right here.
What the Interviewer Wants To Know
By asking you to sell a pen in an interview, the hiring managers want to check your confidence level, genuineness, your reaction under pressure, and other key competencies, including:
- Your sales skill and the ability to sell a pen with conviction.
- Your persuasion skills to close a deal.
- Your communication skills.
- Your level of confidence and comfort during a sales presentation.
- Your enthusiasm towards the challenge.
Examples of The Best Answers
These example answers will help you sell a pen to your interviewer or hiring manager:
- “If you are frustrated with replacing pens frequently, please consider our highly durable pens. These pens are the latest models and have a dark black surface, a steel nib, and a high-quality striped-rubber grip, giving them a rich, professional look.”
- “With this fountain pen, our company offers a 50% flat discount on our premium range of ink bottles. Also, for only Rs 200, you get a one-year warranty, free replacement, and a free plastic case!”
- “A cheap pen is troublesome, difficult to use, and can cause ink blots. They also often suffer from improper ink flow, poor writing experience, and can break down at any moment!”
Tips for Giving the Best Answer
As your interviewers will evaluate your overall demeanor, you must be both effective and impressive. With these tips, you will be able to deliver an impactful sales demonstration:
Be confident: Do not feel pressured and get caught off guard! Display your best sales pitch and tactics.
Ask questions: Cater to the needs and wants of your customers (here, it is your interviewer). Try to find out their requirements to make your sales approach better.
Emphasize the benefits and features: Promote the USPs of your pen. For instance, tell them about the comfortable writing experience, smooth ink flow, and durability.
Do not give up on trying: Your interviewer might be uninterested or hard to impress. Do not give up. Ask questions, strike an emotional appeal, and keep selling confidently.
Seal the deal: Offer deals and discounts to persuade your interviewer. However, be subtle in your approach and not pushy!
What Not To Say
Employers are always looking for sales professionals who can make a strong case and close deals efficiently. Therefore, you must not sound hesitant, uncomfortable, or underconfident while attempting this exercise. Additionally, you must avoid saying the following:
- “I am not comfortable selling a pen!”
- “Can I sell anything other than the pen?”
- “Can I choose to pass this selling exercise?”
- “If you continue to use a cheap pen, you’re a loser. Use our pen to look like a big shot!”
End Note
If you are applying for a sales position, you must be prepared to answer “Sell Me This Pen” job interview questions. While your interviewers do not expect a perfect answer or an extraordinary performance, they look closely at your responses in high-pressure situations.
So stay comfortable, take a deep breath and use our suggestions to ‘sell the pen’ and bag the best sales job!
