In a job interview, you’re ready to answer any questions the boss might have about your skills and why you’d be a good fit for the job. Then he holds up his writing instrument and says, “Sell me this pencil. ”.
This request is nearly as old as the job interview itself. It’s a simple question—typically geared toward candidates for sales positions— but it can be difficult to answer. And you might be surprised to learn what the interviewer is hoping to hear.
Most interviewers are looking for people who are confident and smart, says Brett Cenkus, a business consultant and lawyer in Texas who has trained salespeople. In general, interviewers use ts question to get a feel for your sales style and experience, he adds.
Ask a lot of questions. This is the famous answer from the movie The Wolf of Wall Street, in which Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, stockbroker Jordan Belfort, asks a friend to sell him a pen. The friend takes the pen and asks Belfort to write his name down on a napkin. Belfort says he can’t because he doesn’t have a pen, and his friend replies, “exactly.” This is not the best way to handle the situation in real life.
In fact, Belfort told Piers Morgan on CNN in 2014 that the best salespeople ask questions first.
Christopher Searles, president of New York-based Searles Media, who interviews sales candidates every week, says, “The best way for a sales rep to answer this question would be for them to start asking deep questions about me and my business that would help them figure out whether or not I really need a pencil in the first place.” “The most important (and often overlooked) part of being a good salesperson is being able to figure out what a prospect wants.” ”.
You can sell the pencil not as a good, but as a way to solve the buyer’s problem if you ask them questions.
You say: “I’d like to understand your needs surrounding pencils. What writing tool do you currently use? Where and what do you usually write with this tool? Are you satisfied with your current writing tools? If you had to choose a different seller for your writing tools, what would be important to you?
Know what they want and change your pitch if you need to. You’re trying to sell a pencil and ask the interviewer, “What do you use to write now?” He says, “Nothing, I never write.” ” What do you do next?.
“Don’t be afraid to say, ‘Oh, sounds like you’re not in the market for the pencil I’m selling. Do you know anyone who is?’” Cenkus says. “Don’t waste time pitching to people who don’t have any use for what you’re selling. ”.
If you don’t want to annoy someone into buying your pencil, don’t keep pushing him when he says he doesn’t need one.
Because you don’t need this pencil, you ask, “Is there someone else in your company who might?”
Keep the conversation going Plan your conversation to avoid dead ends. One common trap: Starting your sales pitch by rattling off all wonderful qualities of the pencil. When someone asks this question, Searles says, “The worst thing you could do is start selling me right away without checking to see if you have something of value to offer me.”
That’s it, Cenkus says. If you ask the interviewer to buy the pencil after you list all its good points and he says no, you’ve run out of things to say. Most applicants fizzle after this happens.
It’s OK to fake your confidence a bit to keep the conversation flowing. That beats sitting in silence. “The worst thing an interviewee can do is not try,” Cenkus says.
Farmer agrees. “The interviewer would see that as a person who is easily upset and could become unstable in a sudden event.” ”.
You say: “Well, I’m sure we can find the right product to meet your needs. Would you like to review this pen? It’s actually an upgrade from the pencil. ”.
Copyright 2015 – Monster Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. You may not copy, reproduce or distribute this article without the prior written permission of Monster Worldwide. This article first appeared on Monster. com. To see other career-related articles, visit http://career-advice. monster. com. For recruitment articles, visit http://hiring. monster. com/hr/hr-best-practices. aspx.
Getting hired at Monster Worldwide, one of the largest global employment websites, is no small feat. With its innovative technology and dedication to connecting job seekers with meaningful opportunities, Monster attracts top talent across industries.
So if you have an interview lined up congratulations! You’ve made it past the initial application screenings. Now it’s time to showcase your skills and experience to land the job.
In this article, I’ll share some of the most common Monster Worldwide interview questions candidates report being asked, along with tips to help you craft winning responses.
Overview of Monster Worldwide
Before we dive into the interview questions, let’s briefly overview Monster Worldwide as a company. Founded in 1994, Monster is headquartered in Massachusetts and operates in over 40 countries.
Some key facts:
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Monster has over 5000 employees worldwide.
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It operates a variety of job websites including Monster.com, Fastweb.com for scholarships, and Military.com for veteran employment.
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Monster has facilitated over 120 million job connections between employers and candidates.
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Its cutting-edge Monster Artificial Intelligence and Matching Technology powers job recommendations based on skills, experience and preferences.
Knowing this background can help you understand Monster’s priorities and workplace culture, allowing you to tailor your interview answers accordingly.
Common Monster Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
Now let’s look at some of the most frequently asked Monster Worldwide interview questions, with tips to ace your responses:
1. Why do you want to work at Monster?
This is often one of the very first questions asked. Monster wants to gauge your genuine interest and fit for the company.
Tips:
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Research Monster’s mission, values, culture, and products/services.
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Emphasize your alignment with Monster’s dedication to meaningful career connections through technology.
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Share specific examples of how you would contribute to the company’s success based on your skills and experience.
2. What can you bring to Monster that someone else can’t?
This behavioral question tests what makes you uniquely valuable. Monster wants candidates who can enhance their team.
Tips:
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Don’t be afraid to sell yourself! Now is the time to share your specialized skills.
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Give specific examples of achievements, awards, or quantifiable results you delivered in past roles.
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Tailor your answer to the role. If interviewing for a sales job, highlight how you consistently exceed targets.
3. Tell me about a time you successfully led a team project from start to finish.
Leadership and collaboration abilities are highly valued at Monster. Expect situational and behavioral questions like this.
Tips:
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Use the STAR method – Situation, Task, Action, Result. Set the scene, explain the goal, your actions, and the outcome.
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Share how you motivated your team, managed timelines, overcame obstacles, and delivered exceptional results.
4. How do you prioritize tasks when everything is a high priority?
Time management and organization are key in Monster’s fast-paced, results-driven environment.
Tips:
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Break down your systematic approach to prioritizing based on importance, resources, and deadlines.
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Share examples of when you successfully juggled multiple projects and competing priorities.
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Emphasize how you stay focused and meet tight deadlines without sacrificing quality.
5. Tell me about a time you failed and how you handled it.
Don’t be thrown off by failure questions! Monster wants resilience and learning agility.
Tips:
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Choose an appropriate, minor example where the stakes weren’t too high. Don’t use serious failures.
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Take ownership of what went wrong rather than blaming external factors.
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Emphasize the lessons you learned and how you grew from the experience. Share how it improved your performance.
6. Why are you leaving your current job?
If this question comes up, focus on the positive. Don’t badmouth your past employer.
Tips:
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Give a diplomatic, professional reason like seeking new challenges or lack of advancement opportunities.
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Emphasize your eagerness to grow your career and make meaningful contributions at Monster.
7. What are your salary expectations?
Tread carefully with compensation questions. Avoid naming an exact figure if you can.
Tips:
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Say you are open to discussing salary based on the details of the role and your experience level.
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If pressed, give a reasonable range based on research of Monster salaries on sites like Glassdoor.
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Focus on your interest in finding the right fit rather than salary alone.
Questions to Ask the Interviewer
Along with preparing your own answers, having thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer is crucial. It shows your engagement and interest in Monster.
Some good questions to ask:
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How would you describe Monster’s work culture? What do you look for in top performers?
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What are the most immediate challenges of the role that need to be addressed?
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What training and growth opportunities are available for employees?
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What are some of your favorite reasons for working at Monster personally?
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How does the team collaborate and communicate on a day-to-day basis?
How to Prepare for the Interview
Here are some final tips to ace your Monster Worldwide interview:
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Thoroughly research the company, role, and your interviewers ahead of time.
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Practice and polish your answers to common questions.
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Prepare examples and anecdotes to back up your responses.
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Review your resume and qualifications for the role – be ready to expand on anything the interviewer asks about.
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Plan your interview attire to convey professionalism – business formal is best.
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Arrive early to your interview to account for traffic/parking and show punctuality.
With preparation and a genuine passion for Monster’s mission, you’ll be equipped to have a stellar interview. Best of luck as you pursue this exciting next step in your career journey!
Monster Tips: Mock Interviews Are No Joke
How many interview questions are there?
Well, you’re in luck! You just landed on a page filled with over 100 interview questions and answers. And not just basic interview questions, but all sorts; including behavioral, technical, leadership, cultural fit, problem solving, and career-focused sample interview questions and answers.
How do I get a job on Monster?
Unleash a world of opportunities by making a free profile on Monster. Post your resume and let recruiters find you with exciting job proposals. Opt-in to receive customized job alerts that match your skills and preferences. Plus, receive unlimited access to our huge database of jobs and keep tabs on your applications.
Do interview questions matter?
Having effective interview questions won’t matter much if you’re not fielding the right applicants. Before you interview anyone, you need to write a good job description that will bring in the best candidates. In your job description, focus on skills and experience that your company values. Take that focus with you into your interviews.
What do interviewers want from you?
The key is understanding the “why” behind each interview question and tailoring your answer to showcase your unique personality, skills, and experience. Interviewers want: To know about the journey that led you right to their doorstep. A VIP pass to your past performances, seeking evidence of how you shone in real-world situations.
