In the arena of job interviews, one question often stands out like a spotlight on center stage - "Sell Me This Pen." It's not just a mere query; it's a challenge, an opportunity, and a test of your persuasive abilities.

 Imagine yourself in a high-stakes scenario where your ability to sell extends beyond products and services, and you're asked to sell a simple pen. 

Intriguing, right?

This question isn't just a riddle; it's a glimpse into your capacity to think on your feet and present yourself as the ideal candidate.

Why do Job Interviewers Ask, “Sell Me This Pen?”

 Employers across industries and job functions have adopted this question, turning it into a universal test for assessing candidates' communication skills, creativity, and strategic thinking.

Why is it so prevalent, you ask?

 It's not about the pen; it's about you. This question taps into your innate ability to weave a compelling narrative, showcase your understanding of client needs, and demonstrate your unique approach to problem-solving. 

Whether you're vying for a sales position, a marketing role, or even a customer service gig, your response to "Sell Me This Pen" could be the key that unlocks the doors to your dream job.

Employers always ask this question to know you better and whether you can fit into the roles of marketer, manager and sales team.

What’s the Best Way To Answer “Sell Me This Pen”?

To ace your interview, keep in mind a few things that will help you make an impression.

Prepare For This Question:

When you go for an interview, you already know that this question might be asked. It’s always good to prepare yourself by going through sample answers, finding out what makes the answer stand out, and how one can impress the interviewer.

One of the incredible ways to prepare is to study any copywriting guide that tells you what a salesperson does to sell things the best way.

I'm not saying that you have to become a bookworm and read a pile of copywriting books, but go through the main concept of “selling”. It will give you a good idea of how people sell and what makes others trust them.

Sell like crazy is a book that can help you know how to sell.

Stay Confident:

While answering the question, sell me this pen, a lot of candidates lose their confidence in their abilities. 

To answer this question, you must be able to maintain eye contact and adopt perfect body language that tells the interviewer who you are.

Your tone of answering this question must be professional and persuasive.

Talk About the Benefits:

The question Sell me this pen is all about knowing whether you can convince a person or not. That’s where your talent comes to showcase and mention the benefits of the product you’re selling and avoid speaking fluff.

Your answer must be relevant and persuasive in a sense that makes you sound like a problem-solver.

Present The Product as a Solution To Problems:

Convincing people or making them trust you is one of the hardest things to do in the world. While talking about the product, you must ask questions like:

EXAMPLE:

“What happens if you have no pen at your home and someone asks you to give one?” Isn’t that moment embarrassing that you can’t keep a pen with you?

EXAMPLE:

“Have you wondered why 70% of the students suck at writing”?That’s because they never believe in having a pen that writes smoothly. They’ve always got that one traditional pen with an ordinary tip and kept on writing with it for years. They never get an idea what exactly writing feels like! Do you want to know?”

These questions present the product as a solution or as something they can benefit from. The questions are persuasive and thought-provoking in the sense that someone listening will at least give it a thought.

Ask Questions To Your Prospect

So, at this moment, your prospect is your interviewee who wants you to answer to sell me this pen.

The finest thing to start with is to ask a few questions that help you know your prospect’s position, their thoughts and whether they are your target audience or not.

You may ask questions like:

“Have you ever run out of ink in the middle of exams? What was Your Biggest Regret At This Moment”?

“Are you here to buy a pen?” Would you like to transform your experience, or are you happy with your old choice?”

“Does Your Pen write Faster for you or each time you have to make it write?”

“What’s the most important thing you look for while buying a pen?”

Sell Me This Pen Answer Examples

Here are a few examples that can help you know how to sell a pen or any product.

Use AIDA Formula:

To answer this question, you can use the AIDA formula that presents “attention, interest, desire and action.

Attention:

“Write like no one else can in your class!”

Interest:

“Do you know you can now adopt a different handwriting style each time you write, and that too without any practice? This pen holds a significant feature: it has 4 types of pen tips and works like magic.”

Desired:

You never know what type of work you’ll get in the next minute or what kind of writing would you need to adopt. That’s where this 4-tip pen saves you. Its tips make you feel like a writer who writes poems in the forest surrounded by birds chirping. 

Action:

Grab this pen today, and you’ll know what writing a letter to someone feels like!

Example 2

“Can you miss writing a sweet birthday wish to your grandmother, who likes to get wishes with love and sentiments instead of ready-made cards and fancy posters?

No way! You’ll never want the moment to get spoiled. To enjoy their expressions and make them feel special, your own hand-written words do the magic. 

Don’t let the special moments go ordinary; invest in a pen that jots down your thoughts and gives life to your words.”

You Don’t Have To Prepare a Sales Pitch

When pursuing a sales position, anticipate facing a variation of the classic "sell me this pen" interview question. The reassuring aspect is that interviewers are expecting something other than a flawlessly crafted sales pitch. Instead, they aim to gauge your ability to handle pressure and think on your feet.

So, breathe deeply, steady those nerves, and employ the following tips to construct a response. Your goal isn't just to make the interviewer want to buy the pen but to leave a lasting impression that secures you the job.

Conclusion: 

You definitely don’t need to talk too much about pen and praise it but to satisfy your interviewer it’s important to discuss the features and benefits of using the pen.

Keep your tone persuasive, maintain eye contact and let them know about your sales abilities.