Sell Me This Pencil

"Sell me this Pencil"; personnel and sales managersknowledge. The potential employee can reference the
used to ask applicants this question during interviewsportfolio while he or she answers the interviewer's
on a regular basis. Believe it or not, it is a relativelyquestions. This can be done during a webcam
effective way of finding out how well an individualinterview as well because the portfolio can be emailed,
thinks on his / her feet. Can she speak well and makefaxed, or snail-mailed to the human resources director
eye contact when she is surprised? Can he smile andor interviewer prior to t he act ual or electronic
behave professionally when he is at a loss for words?meeting.
Clearly, job applicants will do a better job of "selling thatIt is very important that an applicant's portfolio or visual
pencil" if they are prepared for the question and havepresentation be professional and of the highest quality.
some knowledge of various types of pencils.The design of the portfolio must reflect an organization
The one benefit of this interview strategy for theand demonstrate the culture of the profession. For
applicant is that the pencil serves as a focal point ofexample, an applicant hoping to fill a graphics position
discussion; it is a visual aid that actually allows somemust present a graphics-heavy portfolio, etc. Further,
description to be "acted upon" by moving the pencil. It isthe applicant should have his or her own copy of the
a real example with which the candidate can dazzleportfolio to reference during the interview.
the interviewer.The use of the document or portfolio allows both the
The point is that preparation and real examples of aninterviewer and the interviewee to maintain a solid
applicant's skills serve to illustrate the qualifications andfocus on the skills necessary to successfully perform
fit of that applicant. Human resource managers andthe job. Small talk is still essential to 'break the ice,' but
personnel directors should expect applicants to comethe majority of interview time will be spent in
in prepared with information abut the company, itsspecialized discussion related specifically to effectively
mission statement, and the available position.filling the available position. The candidate will
Candidates should prepare a "portfolio" or projectdemonstrate preparation for the interview and
review / summary in order to present a real examplequalifications for the job. Applicants will utilize the 'pencil"
of proficiencies, skills, technical and computerto sell the 'pencil" and, thus, themselves.